Resident in Counseling
Grief is just love with no place to go. ~Jamie Anderson
Sumona is a Clinical Mental Health Resident Counselor and a NBCC Foundation Master’s fellow (National Board of Certified Counselors). She earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler Graduate School in Minneapolis and an undergraduate degree in Bioscience from St. Xavier’s College, India.
Sumona understands that life can be hard, navigating relationships can feel like moving mountains, and the quest for belonging and finding a purpose can be daunting. As an Adlerian at heart, Sumona draws on the concepts of Individual Psychology, which emphasize Gemeinschaftsgefühl (community and sense of belonging) and Teleology (every behavior has a purpose). Sumona works with her clients to find that purpose and explore what healing may look like for an individual.
As an immigrant and being in the USA for decades, Sumona understands the challenges of assimilation and also the beauty of the society that is a cultural melting pot. Sumona integrates holistic approaches such as breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness, along with psychosomatic approaches, in her practice. Drawing on her own life experiences, Sumona is dedicated to helping people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. People of color may struggle with acculturation, gender disparity, generational trauma, and the stigma in the peripherals of mental health. Sumona is a culturally sensitive counselor who can empathize with clients and approach them with humility.
Sumona has effectively worked with individuals with Depression, Anxiety, Grief, ADHD, Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Disorders, Addiction, and PTSD. Sumona provides evidence-based counseling services to diverse clients across the lifespan. She integrates a person-centered foundation with skills of Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Parts Work to support clients on a ‘here and now’ basis.
Sumona strives to create a safe, gentle, and non-judgmental space for her clients, ranging from young adults to the golden generation and beyond. She is also a recipient of the NBCC Minority Master’s Fellowship, reflecting a commitment to counseling the underserved communities. Her multilingual capability (English, Hindi, Bengali, and Urdu) further strengthens her ability to build rapport and provide culturally informed care across diverse settings.
As a Resident in Counseling, Sumona is involved in Virginia’s state licensure process to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She works under the supervision of Grace Kim, LPC, at Healthy Minds Therapy. For any questions or concerns related to Sumona’s work, Grace can be reached at gracek@healthyminds-therapy.