Rediscovering Purpose: A Male Therapist’s Journey Back to Healing

I was hired to join the Shanti Psychotherapy team right from the beginning of the practice in 2022. Shortly after joining, I decided to take a hiatus from private practice to fully embrace the responsibilities of parental leave, dedicating myself entirely to staying at home with my son.

The role of a father goes beyond providing; it involves nurturing, guiding, and supporting. Being there. As my family of four embarks on this lifelong journey of learning, growing, and evolving, I find my core-self challenged often during moments of frustration and chaos. Having an understanding of Child Development, Relationships, and Attachment has played a pivotal role in enhancing my effectiveness as a father and therapist.

In my personal life and professional practice, I recognize the importance of creating space for myself and my clients to recognize the impacts of cultural and gender-based nuances in shaping relationships and parenting dynamics.

Take the steps with me towards building resilient and nurturing relationships with your people. Whether you seek assistance in navigating generational differences, communication barriers or simply wish to enhance your parenting skills, I am dedicated to fostering a supportive therapeutic alliance. Together, we can embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth, tailored to your individual needs and cultural context. It would be an honour to support you on your journey to becoming your most authentic self.


As a Registered Social Worker and a child of Trinidadian immigrant parents, I know how hard it is to reach out for help, for fears of not being understood and accepted without compromising your essence.

I want to reassure you that I approach my practice from a client centered, holistic approach to meet my clients’ where they are at. I have over fifteen years of front-line experience as a Child and Youth Worker in various community and counselling settings including schools, residential, day treatment, Children’s Aid Society as well as supporting youth and caregivers in their homes.

As a Registered Social Worker, I provide treatment for severe mental health, trauma, anxiety, depression, caregiver/family support, and difficult life transitions. My goal as a therapist is to establish a meaningful, collaborative, and trusting therapeutic relationship in which you feel respected, heard, and safe to explore your concerns.

I am experienced in offering individual and family therapy to various age groups and populations. My practice is trauma-informed where I integrate evidence-based models, including but not limited to emotion focused, attachment, cognitive-behavioural, solution-focused, psychodynamic, and mindfulness-based therapy. I work from a client-focused and culturally-sensitive framework. As an immigrant, person of colour who has overcome battles of my own, I recognize the role that intersectionality plays in our mental well-being.

I understand how daunting it can be to reach out for help and tackle the cultural or faith-based stigmas surrounding therapy. I realize that seeking support can be a difficult step. I am here to help you feel comfortable with your decision in the context of a warm, trusting, professional and accessible service – regardless of complexity.

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Being raised by a narcissistic parent can shape an entire life!A child learns that love has to be earned and that their feelings come second. Those lessons follow them into adulthood, affecting relationships, self-worth, and self-perception.Choosing distance is rarely sudden. It usually comes after years of trying to be seen, heard, and loved.In her new article, Shanti clinician Rashmi Kumar, RP, who specializes in healing from narcissistic abuse, explores:• Why children are wired to seek a parent’s approval, and what happens when love comes with conditions• The lasting toll: people-pleasing, hypervigilance, self-blame, and trouble setting boundaries• The breaking point, when no amount of effort will change their behaviour• “Ambiguous loss,” grieving a parent who is still alive, and gentle ways to create your own closure• What estrangement can mean for your relationship with the other parent• Cultural pressure: when “family comes first” adds guilt to an already painful decision • How therapy can help you rebuild self-worth without losing your cultureEstrangement isn’t about ending love. It’s about ending harm.It’s more common than you think, and you are not alone. You can heal from this, and we’re here to help.📖 Read the full article: link in bio
📞 Free 20-minute consultation: (437) 747-0692
🌐 shantipsychotherapy.ca#narcissisticparent #narcissisticabuse #familyestrangement #adultchildrenofnarcissists #ambiguousloss

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My high five "why": NO ONE should have to put aside their culture before they can heal.I'm Angie Agrawal-Holstein, proud mom of three, a trauma therapist, and the founder of Shanti Psychotherapy.I grew up second-generation South Asian in Southern Ontario. After 25 years in mental health, I know culture is the missing piece in care.Research shows culturally adapted therapy brings 4.7 times greater odds of symptom remission (Hall et al., 2016). Yet most people have never heard of culturally relevant therapy or language matching. So they settle for one-size-fits-all care, and too many end up back in a revolving-door system.At Shanti, therapy is offered in 15 languages by clinicians who understand family expectations, faith, stigma, and what it's like to live between cultures. You don't have to translate your feelings or explain where you come from. You can simply begin.If we win the High Five Grant, it will fund a Canada-wide awareness campaign so people know this kind of care exists and can find it:• A video series of our clinicians explaining culturally relevant therapy, in their own languages • Targeted outreach to newcomer and international student communities • Translated pamphlets for campus events, including our seven Laadliyan university chapters • Subsidized sessions through our Making Therapy Accessible ProgramCulture isn't a bonus in therapy. It's essential.Thank you @usbank and @highfivegrant for investing in mom entrepreneurs.#highfivegrant #culturallyrelevanttherapy #languagematching #mentalhealthcanada #momentrepreneur #shantipsychotherapy

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Violence and aggression toward education staff are increasing, raising important questions about the mental health and behavioural supports available within schools.In a recent CBC News article, Shanti founder and trauma therapist Angie Agrawal Holstein speaks to the growing expectations placed on educators:“It is not possible for teachers to wear all these different hats of behaviour specializations, diagnostics, as well as the emotional counseling support.”Supporting students also means ensuring educators have access to the right professionals, resources, and systems around them.🔗 Read the full CBC News article for more on this important issue in our bio.#shantipsychotherapy #mentalhealthinschools #teachermentalhealth #studentmentalhealth #mentalhealthsupport educationhttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/violence-against-education-staff-in-n-w-t-on-the-rise-union-says-9.7322079

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Do you find yourself replaying conversations, expecting the worst, or getting stuck in the same thoughts over and over again?Anxiety can make it difficult to switch off, even when you know your thoughts aren’t helping. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps you identify unhelpful thinking patterns, challenge them, and develop practical tools to respond differently.Learn how CBT can help you break free from cycles of worry and build healthier ways of coping.📞 Book a free consultation to learn more: https://www.shantipsychotherapy.ca/#CBT #AnxietySupport #Overthinking #MentalHealthSupport #Psychotherapy

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Meet Sonomi, Registered Psychotherapist at Shanti Psychotherapy. 🌿Sonomi supports parents navigating stress, overwhelm, family challenges, and the everyday realities of raising children. She is passionate about helping parents build stronger connections with themselves and their families through compassionate, practical support.📍 Virtual and in-person appointments available
📞 Book a free consultation to learn more#MeetTheTherapist #Psychotherapy #ParentingSupport #mentalhealth

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