Today we’d like to introduce you to Shikha Patel.
Hi Shikha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My desire to help has been ever present since childhood. As I discovered the field of social work, I knew that it was a path that aligned with my values and beliefs. In my home state of New Jersey, I worked in non-profits and a hospital, supporting individuals, groups, and communities by offering clinical trauma therapy. When I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2021, I knew that my expertise as a trauma therapist and a social worker was meant for a more significant endeavor. I decided to pursue my passion for therapy and bridging holistic healing through my private practice, Collaborative InSights. My identity as a South Asian woman and a daughter of Indian immigrants informs much of my work. I understand how significant culture and community impact mental health and wellness. Whether it be the bright parts of celebrating culture or dismantling taboos relating to illness, I knew these factors needed to be integrated into offering therapeutic services. Expanding services and education to marginalized communities is part of our mission at Collaborative InSights.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Doing something that takes passion, courage, and love also takes acceptance of the hardships that come with it. Entrepreneurship started as a rocky road with many bumps. Learning the ins and outs of business operations was one of my most significant challenges. Many healthcare providers don’t go to school for business, leaving us questioning how to carry out this dedication to our expertise. Throughout the last few years, I have learned many business management skills, both self-taught and with the support of other professionals! Another struggle has been the emotional toll of burnout – both clinically as a therapist and as a business owner. Although I have a great love for being a therapist, after a long day of therapy sessions and supporting others, finding the energy to complete operational tasks can be very daunting. I have learned to take care of my “being needs,” which include a lot of self-care, disconnecting from work, and grounding myself in my own why. This has supported me in managing burnout and continuing to pursue my passion.
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Collaborative InSights?
Collaborative InSights is a private therapy and wellness practice in Charlotte, North Carolina. We provide clinical mental health services as well as holistic wellness practices. Holistic at Collaborative InSights doesn’t just mean seeing the whole person; it means integrating decolonized and culturally informed alternative healing practices with clinical therapy. My team and I strongly believe in the power of Ecotherapy (nature-focused therapy), Yoga, Reiki (energy healing), and Mindfulness. We learn these practices at their roots and strive to offer them in ways that honor land, community, and ancestry. Expanding services and education to marginalized communities is part of our mission at Collaborative InSights. At our practice, we believe in a community-based economy. Our therapy services are out of pocket (we don’t take insurance), which supports funding for community programming and partnerships to support access to education, advocacy, and mental health workshops that are free and low-cost. When anyone works with us as therapists, they also support a community of people who want but can’t always afford therapy. I am most proud of how people believe in this model of care to provide access to holistic healing and health! I can’t take sole credit for this journey. I’m honored to work alongside team members, community partners, and individuals participating in our services. This work as a social worker and therapist is only possible with like-minded people supporting our mission.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I greatly rely on my family, friends, feline, and nature family’s support to encourage and motivate me to continue this journey. Offering nature-focused therapy to others also means that I take much of my time to deepen my relationship with plants, animals, and the natural world around me. This connection keeps me feeling grounded and grateful at my core. Whether taking mindful walks, getting my hands in some soil, or lying in the sunshine, I must embody these daily practices. As for books, I am currently reading Decolonizing Therapy by Dr. Jennifer Mullan, and Permission to Come Home by Jenny Wang, and I’m looking forward to reading But What Will People Say by Sahaj Kaur Kohli. When my body and spirit need nourishment, I enjoy participating in Tejal Yoga’s online classes or taking a movement-focused class at my local YMCA. A few of my favorite podcasts include Indigenous Earth, Medicine Stories, For the Wild, and Selling the Couch.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.collabintherapy.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/collabintherapy
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/collabintherapy
Image Credits
IMG 1577: Our office is located at 3623 Latrobe Drive, Suite 215, Charlotte, NC 28211. IMG 7449: From left to right: Weston McNeely, BSW, Anna Marchese, LCSW, Shikha Patel, LCSW (team at Collaborative InSights) IMG 2034: From left to right: Sucharita Tyagi, Prince Bhojwani, Sachini Rajapaksa, Shikha Patel, Naina Agrawal-Hardin, presenting at Yale University’s South Asian Youth Initiative Conference in February 2024. IMG 2107: Ecotherapy mental health support groups at The Urban Farm at Aldersgate in Charlotte, North Carolina
