Ambika Kasbekar, M.S., LPC, NCC

• M.S., Mental Health Counseling, Minnesota State University, Mankato
• B.A., Economics, Northwestern University

• Licensed Professional Counselor, Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, No. 76891
• National Certified Counselor, National Board for Certified Counselors, No. 632659

I see therapy as an opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of our emotional experiences and compassion for our own humanity. I use a collaborative approach with students as they work toward change that brings them closer to their personal goals and values. I enjoy working with students’ personal, academic and career concerns in group and individual contexts.

Areas of special interest to me include, relationship concerns, identity development, and the change process through group therapy.

My understanding of issues of diversity and social justice seems to constantly be evolving. Growing up in India, I became aware of my privileges based on ancestral religious identity, class, caste, and skin color. After I moved to the United States, I became increasingly aware of my own internalized racism and implicit biases that influence how I interact with different groups of people, as well as my privileged identities that were not obvious to me during my childhood. As a clinician who is committed to fostering mental health and wellness, I am more attentive to how systems of oppression impact individuals’ relationships with themselves and others. My previous involvement as a member of the Social Justice Conference committee and as a member of the Diversity Initiatives Committees is inspired by my belief in the power of dialogue, curiosity, and empathy. These elements have been vital to my own development as a clinician and as a human being. I aspire to bring these elements to my work with students and trainees so they may be empowered to work toward a more equitable and inclusive world.

As a supervisee, supervision was often a secure base for me to bring my doubts and insecurities as a clinician, and also develop the confidence and trust in myself to explore different clinical styles and approaches in the therapeutic relationship. I have gained a deeper awareness of myself from my supervisors’ curiosity about my identities and how they shape my worldview. I aspire to bring this curiosity to my role as a supervisor, and establish a space that empowers trainees to discover strengths outside of what’s comfortable.