Meet Neha Kulkarni, Mental Health Therapist

Meet Neha Kulkarni, Mental Health Therapist, aspiring gardener, and teacher of self-compassion. Neha, pronounced NayHA, joined LifeWorks NW in 2024.

“I heard about this position through some friends of mine who had great things to say about it,” Neha recalls. “During the interview process, I felt a very good vibe from everyone.”

Creating a supportive space

Neha is now an integral part of creating that vibe for clients at LifeWorks NW’s Beaverton site.

“My job is making this a good therapeutic space and making sure that anyone who comes through the door feels heard, feels listened to, and they’re given a space,” Neha explains.

It is in that space that she supports people as they process their experiences and feelings.

“The most rewarding part of my job is when I see that my clients have their ‘Aha!’ moment,” she says. “They kind of put all the pieces together.”

Another reward is when Neha’s language skills create a more familiar environment. She is fluent in four languages, three of which are from India: Marathi, Hindi, and Kannada. Neha is from Pune, a city near Mumbai. Once she was able to conduct sessions with someone from Afghanistan who had lived in India. His first language was very similar to Hindi, Neha explains.

“He knew Hindi, so we could communicate,” she recalls. “There was a great therapeutic alliance because of that.”

Creating a home

When Neha is not working, she enjoys baking, reading, and exercising. She also enjoys tackling home improvement projects with her husband, Rahul.

Over the past year, the couple has transformed their backyard, from power washing and sanding to installing and filling planter boxes. The elbow grease was well worth it, and their beautiful garden now boasts roses, lavender, hibiscus, marigolds, and even a few vegetables!

“It’s been so nice seeing everything come together,” she says.

A lighthouse

Rather than self-care, Neha encourages self-compassion during her counseling sessions.

“That’s the main thing I lead with because I feel like self-compassion can be the root cause of anxiety,” she shares. “People are really hard on themselves.” That often takes the form of affirmations or mantras. One of Neha’s favorites is simple: “I am safe.”

When safety is established, Neha is then able to support more positive changes.

“I think of myself as someone who’s like a lighthouse. I don’t want to fix anyone’s problems but just give them more clarity.”