LMHC, New York State
10 years of clinical experience
MA in Psychological Counseling,
Teachers College, Columbia University
EdM in Mental Health Counseling,
Teachers College, Columbia University
BA in Psychology and Gender Studies, Marymount University

anjali jacob, lmhc

Welcome again! I'm a second-generation South Indian American women (she/her/hers) practicing as a licensed mental health therapist in New York. I've listed some of the approaches I take as a therapist below; first, though, I'd like to introduce myself to you as a person: friends and family know me as a deeply creative person, intensely aware of interpersonal dynamics, and someone who has no use for facts, figures, or tangible evidence (in fact, my friends sometimes joke that I astral project to another plane of existence when someone starts talking about numbers or administrative things).

This is all to say that, as a therapist, it matters very little to me if you believe nothing has "happened to you" or that there's no "real reason" for you to start therapy. I always telling my clients that feelings are legitimate evidence in themselves, and enough reason to reach out for guidance. If you feel lost, afraid, or simply disconnected from everyone and everything around you, that's all I need to know.

Whether you’re looking to continue your therapeutic journey or it’s your first time, we’ll start with where you are.

my values as a therapist

anti-capitalism + anti-racism

I'm part of a growing coalition of mental health clinicians who have studied the physical and mental impacts of capitalism and white supremacy on individuals. My mission, as a therapist and as an activist, is to spread awareness of how toxic productivity, racial microaggressions, and other ways in which oppressive systems are responsible for the declining mental health of today's generations. As such I aim to remain a part of the movement to decolonize therapy.

cultural sensitivity

I come from a close knit community from South India who gradually migrated to the states in the mid-80s. I’ve spent a lifetime watching their collective struggles to survive and assimilate evolve into the relational dynamics and challenges between members of different generations (including myself). I can therefore say with confidence that I am deeply aware of the particularities in navigating important aspects of intergenerational relationships.

relational cultural therapy

This modality emphasizes the relationship between client and therapist. It is known to be especially helpful when doing working involving attachment wounds, interpersonal and relationship issues. In practice, it may feel a bit like you’re talking with a friend, with the added benefits of processing our dynamic in a safe and accessible way. It also helps client move away from intellectualizing their issues. Read more here.

somatic based therapy

There are limits to talk therapy, which is why I often integrate somatic-based practices into sessions. This may involve “checking in” with your body and incorporating mindfulness to foster greater attunement to your body’s “language”.

Somatic therapeutic techniques are especially helpful working with trauma, which can lead to a sense of detachment and lack of safety in the body,. Grounding and tracking sensation can help clients reconnect with their bodies in a safe way.

feminism

The traditional, Western, and colonial method of therapy places the therapist in a position of authority over the client, in which a power dynamic is imposed and reinforced in session. The therapist assumes their assessment of the client is the correct one, while limiting input from the client.

As a feminist therapist, I work to eradicate the power dynamic in the therapeutic alliance as much as is possible. The client is the sole authority of their own experiences, in which I defer to their preferences and comfort level in terms of treatment. My role instead is to act as a guide, gently challenging, offering alternatives, courses, and suggestions.

modalities I draw from

trauma-informed

In my work, I actively and consistently reject the Medical Model (linked). Instead, I help my clients understand their current struggles through a trauma-informed lens, where we are able to take away pathology and approach their symptoms from a humanistic framework. As philosopher and spiritual leader Jiddu Krishnamurti says, “It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society”.

internal family systems

IFS is a modality of therapy that conceptualizes clients as being made up of several “parts”, all of which have a relationship to one another. I have drawn from this modality for both individual and couples work, and find it has been immensely effective when helping clients navigate complex trauma, conflicted emotions, and conflict in general.

In my years working with clients through IFS, I’ve found clients are able to deepen their connection to themselves. This helps them continue to foster a sense of self-trust that may have been missing.

queer + gender affirming care

Gender and queer identity are essential psychosocial factors in therapy. Our work will take these factors into consideration when exploring your feelings, experiences, upbringing, and more. This will help you foster a deeper understanding of yourself and become more internally aligned.

I strive always to affirm my client’s understanding of their identities, and believe in the importance of understanding gender and sexuality as fluid and on a spectrum.