Born and raised in the heart of Himalayas, I bring a culturally grounded, compassionate approach to therapy. I believe there is no single path to healing—each person's journey is unique. My eclectic, trauma-informed practice is shaped by both lived experience and clinical training, and I hold space for clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, and life transitions. I offer therapy in Hindi and Nepali.
As a cancer survivor, mindfulness and spirituality are integral to my life and practice. I support individuals and youth using evidence-based approaches including Internal Family Systems (IFS), DBT, CBT, EFFT, and Narrative Therapy, grounded in anti-oppressive and anti-racist principles. My eclectic, trauma-informed practice is shaped by over two decades of experience as a social worker in Canada and more than a decade of work with marginalized communities in the Global South. I currently work as an educator in the School of Social Work at McMaster University.
At the heart of my work is the therapeutic relationship—a sacred space for healing, growth, and transformation. My Approach Includes:
Areas of Support: I primarily support individuals and youth experiencing:
Nirja (she/her) is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with a Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology (awaiting degree to be conferred) from Yorkville University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. Xavier’s College (India). Nirja, is passionate about destigmatizing mental health and normalizing seeking support for day to day conflicts, even when you may not be in crisis. Just like we don’t wait for our teeth to fall out to go to the dentist, she aspires to create a space where people feel encouraged to come for a regular check in of our emotional selves. She is interested about working with people who are seeking support from day to day conflicts, to people who have experienced complex trauma, using trauma informed, somatic approaches. She brings humility, curiosity and a relational approach to the room. She loves working with individuals, couples and families and strives to understand different relationship dynamics. In her previous role she has extensive experience working with people with autism, ADHD or intellectual disabilities. Nirja has seen first-hand the impact caregiver guilt and burnout can have, so she also works with family members and caregivers of people with different needs. Her practice is grounded in a person-centered, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive approach. She has a strong commitment to creating a safe, affirming, and inclusive space for marginalized groups, 2SLGBTQIA+, BIPOC, people with disabilities and Indigenous communities. She mainly uses a psychodynamic framework and integrates other modalities below as your needs evolve. Nirja offers therapy in English, Hindi and Gujarati languages.
Nirja has training and experience using the following modalities in her practice:
148 1/2 Welland Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2R 2N6
5679 Main Street, Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2G 5Z3
70 Seventh Street, Welland, Ontario, L3B 5B7
203-1038 Garner Road West, Ancaster, Ontario, L9G 3K9
136 Gilmore Rd, Fort Erie, ON L2A 2M2, Canada
534 Brant St, Burlington, ON L7R 2G8, Canada