Dr Anasuya Jegathevi Jegathesan, PhD

Grounded and practical initially I lean on approaches that help you make clear choices and take workable steps. My training in Reality Therapy (Choice Theory) keeps us focused on what you can do now to move life in the direction you want. Think fewer spirals, more steering towards a goal.

When issues and situations presented by clients are repetitive, deep seated and sourced from trauma and scars from the past, I switch to Insight Based Therapy which is a Psychodynamic therapy that address sources of trauma in a compassionate manner that promotes health healing.

I work extensively with grief, loss, suicide concerns, and post-crisis recovery. My background includes certifications in crisis intervention and “grief following trauma,” and my research focuses on the lived experiences of suicide survivors so our work stays compassionate, ethical, and real-world relevant. We’ll pace gently, titrate carefully, and prioritize safety. (sites.google.com)

Grief-wise and thanatology-informed. Grief is not a pathology; it’s a profound human experience. As a thanatologist, I help you make room for pain without losing sight of meaning, ritual, and connection—especially when loss collides with work, family, or faith. We’ll honor what (and who) matters, while rebuilding a life around the absence.

Culturally and spiritually attuned. I’ve taught, practiced, and researched across multicultural and spiritual contexts. In session, that means I listen for the languages you live in—family, culture, community, and belief—and we use those strengths to heal. Therapy should feel like a good fit, not a costume and spiritual beliefs when present are a crucial area of our mental wellness.

Body-and-brain savvy. I integrate Brainspotting to help process stuck survival responses and difficult memories in a way talk alone sometimes can’t touch. When useful, I also borrow from evidence-based strategies shown to reduce suicide reattempt risk (for example, CBT- or DBT-informed skills), adapting them to your culture, values, and goals. No jargon for jargon’s sake—just tools that fit.

Creative and collaborative. I sometimes use experiential tools—like my “Journey Through Life” therapy cards, psychological drawings or sandtray methods—to make hard conversations safer and more tangible. You bring your lived expertise; I bring a well-stocked toolkit; together we design sessions that work for you. Also: we can laugh when it helps. Humor is a legitimate coping skill.

I balance empathy with evidence: tracking what helps, revising what doesn’t, and staying current through research, teaching, and community trainings on suicide response and mental health. If we try a strategy, it’s because there’s a good reason—and we’ll review results openly