Richa Agarwal

Associate Marriage & Family Therapist

In my work with clients seeking therapy, I often give them an empty bag and begin to add one stone at a time, with each stone representing a feeling. After each addition, I ask them “How does it feel to carry the bag?” More often than not, they start with “I don’t feel a thing” to “It’s too heavy for me to hold and walk”. That’s what unexpressed feelings do to us- they weigh us down. Whether it is anger, sadness, loneliness, guilt, or shame, I try my best to create a safe space for you to share your innermost self without fear of judgment.

I grew up in an environment where I saw stigma, oppression, and the resulting culture of secrecy up close. I saw how it impacted people’s sense of self and their emotional, physical, and mental well-being. It is now my effort to help individuals identify and modify their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that don’t serve them well.

I operate from a strength-based and trauma-informed lens and support clients experiencing issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems, difficulties with life transitions, grief, and loss. To facilitate growth and recovery, I utilize various cognitive, somatic, and experiential modalities. I attempt to help clients focus on what’s in their control, learn to accept what they cannot change, and cultivate a practice of mindfulness and gratitude so that they can minimize their suffering.

Qualifications

School: Palo Alto University

Year graduated: 2022

AMFT 138575, APCC 13579

Supervised by: Karla Moran-McFadden