
Kalm Psychiatry
Alleviating suffering, Fostering hope
Focused on you, not your diagnostic labels




My Story
I was born and raised in northern India. My hometown is Chandigarh, a beautiful and thriving metropolitan city nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas. I was raised by my physician dad and History Professor mom who gave up her career to be fully present in my siblings and my life. One of my parents' enduring legacy is the empathy they displayed towards those who were less fortunate. They unfailingly treated everyone with respect, extending a helping hand even if they were struggling themselves. This laid the foundation for us to appreciate humanism and the giving way of life.
I was always passionate about becoming a doctor. As a child, I spent countless hours running around my dad's clinic and marveling at the magic of medicine done competently and empathically. There were a few phases during high school when I wanted to pursue fine arts to become a caricature and charcoal artist. However, ultimately my love for healing trumped everything else. I am a trained portrait artist and continue to do charcoal, pastel, and oil paintings.
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After immigrating to the United States as well as a lot of soul-searching, I decided to break away from the traditional and expected pursual of residency. Instead, I decided to complete a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. Although the path was difficult sometimes due to self-doubt and worries of being on a non-traditional path, I kept swimming. This risky endeavor ended up being one of the best decisions of my life. I loved psychotherapy, teaching, and clinical research. Another curveball in my professional life came when I was offered the opportunity to complete psychiatry residency immediately following my psychology fellowship. I have never said no to opportunities being curious and self-challenging by nature, so I took it up. My professional life came full circle. I felt complete as a mental health clinician.
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Along the way, I got married to a wonderful and supportive husband and now am the proud and doting mother to my two wild children who sometimes drive me nuts but are the joy of my life.
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I have worked extensively with indigent, highly traumatized populations with a variety of psychiatric illnesses. I strongly believe that an individual is not their psychiatric diagnoses, they are someone who happens to have psychological challenges. One of the most important lessons for me has been that when we treat the individual and not the diagnostic label, the outcomes are so much better. It helps establish meaningful therapeutic relationship that facilitates change for the patient. I am beyond grateful to have found my calling. I do not take this privilege lightly and strive to be a better clinician everyday.
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I hope we can work together and that I can help you find the peace, calmness, and answers about your life experiences you may be seeking.