As a psychologist, I realized how passionate I was about working with children of immigrants, just like me. I’ve been able to witness how having a wellness professional with shared identities and truly understands your struggles can be transformational. It’s been amazing witnessing my clients feel liberated from guilt for defying cultural expectations, self-doubt, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and more.

Unfortunately, I also realized how rare it was to receive care or support services from someone with shared identities and experiences because of limited availability of wellness professionals, limited financial access, or an inability to receive services because of family or cultural stigma/constraints. I wanted to be able to share this support with more people—and not just people who might be struggling but also people who simply want to grow and unlock their fullest potential. I wanted to create the support I craved and needed growing up and that I know so many others crave as well.

And so, the idea for The Liberation Collaboration (TLC for short) was born. But I sat on this business idea for over a year. I was afraid to be trolled by all the aunties and uncles for giving other South Asian women permission to unapologetically be their full selves. I was afraid to take up space, which is engrained into us as South Asian women. Yes—I still struggle with these issues myself because it’s a constant and ongoing journey to de-program harmful messages that have been and continue to be pushed on us. But after moving through that fear of being seen (and also just the anxiety and risk that comes along with starting a business!), I was reminded that what I was creating was gold and that if I didn’t create this space, I would be depriving others of something that is so needed.

While we are just starting out, I’m excited for all that The Liberation Collaboration will become. In addition to 1:1 coaching, I hope to offer group/community spaces, self-led online courses to increase accessibility (including financial) to knowledge, and maybe even some art that can allow other South Asian women to unleash their power.