76: Tracy Vadakumchery - The Bad Indian Therapist

This podcast takes aim squarely at the templates that many of us in the South Asian diaspora grew up with – around the ideal career path, marriage, and managing our mental health.

It’s therefore gratifying to connect with others in the community who question the norms and fight against the status quo that has caused us great turmoil over the years. One of these iconoclasts is Tracy Vadakumchery, aka "The Bad Indian Therapist."

Tracy is a licensed therapist in New York, California, and Florida. She helps South Asian Americans who struggle with toxic guilt, shame, and cultural stress and trauma. Tracy continues to challenge her own toxic guilt and shame as it relates to cultural norms about mental health. She is currently taking on new clients in the above states.

In this episode, she and host Nikhil Torsekar examine many issues, including:

• The rationale behind Tracy branding herself as "The Bad Indian Therapist," and her goal of providing a platform and safe space for Indian Americans who think they are "not Indian enough," or feel guilt for not conforming to the norms of our collectivist culture.
• The active use of Instagram, TikTok, and other channels by South Asian mental health therapists for drumming up awareness and brand building.
• How the idyllic portrayal on social media may conflict with the challenging reality of being a South Asian therapist in private practice in 2024.
• The concept of toxic gratitude, and how being thankful may give way to inadequacy, shame, and invalidation of powerful feelings.
• The rationale for South Asian clients in selecting a therapist with the same, or different cultural backgrounds, through services such as southasiantherapists.org.
• How "self-gaslighting" can manifest in issues with mental and physical health for members of the South Asian diaspora.
• Tracy’s multifaceted journey to becoming "The Bad Indian Therapist," which included group practice, private practice, as well a stint at Rikers Island

To connect with Tracy, please visit thebadindiantherapist.com, or connect with her on Instagram at @thebadindiantherapist.

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