Vidushi Duggal (She/her)
Co-founder & Clinical Psychologist (RCI)
Qualifications
M.A. Clinical Psychology, M.Phil. Clinical Psychology, UGC-NET Qualified (Assistant Professor)
Practicing since
2018
Areas & themes of work
trauma-informed, grief, identity, life transitions, adult ADHD, neurodivergence, substance use, boundaries, emotional regulation, self-exploration, relationship dynamics, couples, families, caregivers, parenting, Gottman, DBT, CBT, affirmative, psychodynamic, queer-affirmative
Languages spoken
English, Hindi
Contact
Vidushi's Story & Therapeutic Philosophy
Star-Crossed Lovers
Clinical Grounding with a Holistic Lens
Long before I had the language for it, I was already observing, questioning, and absorbing the emotional realities of the people around me. Yet, my tryst with psychology is a little bit like a romance novel – where the protagonists finally meet after a series of missed chances. Despite an instant love affair with the subject in school, I went on to graduate in History and spent a brief chapter as an editor in a publishing house. As with all happy endings, I was serendipitously pulled back towards the space where I felt I always belonged – culminating in my co-founding Accept.
I hold the awareness that our inner world is in constant dialogue with our environment – our history, identities, family, culture and socio-political realities – and that these constructs inform and influence the stories we tell ourselves.
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At the same time, I believe deeply in our capacity to rewrite these stories – to take accurate responsibility, to break free from conditioning, and to step into a more conscious, integrated self. In my therapeutic work, I look to explore this symbiotic relationship to help make sense of our emotional world with more clarity and compassion.
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While my work is relational, reflective, and exploratory, it is also grounded in solid clinical training and experience. I bring with me a strong foundation in psychological and psychiatric concepts and an ever-deepening interest in neurobiology and somatics – particularly in how body-/brain-based insights can support therapeutic work, deepen our understanding of our experiences and mindfully integrate the often dichotomized constructs of ‘body’ and ‘mind’.
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Equally, I bring to my work an academic and personal fascination with history, literature and spirituality – fields that offer profound clues into the complexities of human nature. These interests allow me to connect micro experiences with macro realities, and to help clients lean into thinking for themselves – not just react, but reflect, reframe, and reclaim.
My Approach
to Therapy
With the therapeutic relationship as the cornerstone, my approach is active, person-centered, affirmative, and insight-driven that invites you to come as you are. My work is informed by a psychodynamic and systemic lens and is grounded in a trauma-informed and social justice-oriented perspective. I strive to create space for reflection and exploration where you can begin to understand yourself not just in isolation, but in relation to the people, experiences, and systems that have shaped you.
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My style blends containment with challenge, presence with curiosity. I aim to meet each person as a whole, holding space for the full complexity of what makes someone human. Rather than relying on any single framework, I draw from a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches including, but not limited to, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), and psychodynamic and insight-oriented work. I strive to remain flexible and creative in how I work, always attuning to what best supports the person in front of me. Therapy with me is a collaborative, feedback-driven, evolving process rooted in your unique experiences, values, and pace.
The Heart of the Work
The heart of my work lies in fostering self-exploration, emotional expression, self-determination, and accurate responsibility, within the context of our varied yet unique socio-cultural realities. Whether it’s untangling internalized narratives, deconstructing inherited roles and conditionings, or simply learning how to make room for the yet unsurfaced, yet unacknowledged truths and difficult feelings, my aim is to support meaningful change that is driven by awareness and agency. Since insight alone isn’t enough, I also focus on translating this awareness into small, consistent shifts – making conscious choices, and gradually strengthening the muscle for healing and change that is rooted in self-compassion.
Who I Work With
& What I’m Drawn To
The prominent themes in my work include self-criticism and shame, loss/grief, caregiver support, trauma, neurodivergence, substance dependence, self-regulation, boundary-setting, procrastination, questions around self and identity, and relationship challenges, including the relationship with oneself. I work with individuals, couples, families and caregivers. My practice is LGBTQ+ affirmative and grounded in values of inclusion, respect, and safety.
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I'm especially drawn to the rich, complex terrain of interpersonal relationships and communication – how we relate to ourselves, to others, and how those dynamics shape our inner world. This includes a particular interest in the intersection of early development and parenting: how formative experiences shape the adults we become, and how mindful, conscious parenting can help break intergenerational patterns and foster safer, more connected relationships. I’m especially keen to work with parents – or those preparing for parenthood – who wish to bring greater awareness, intentionality, and compassion to their parenting journey.
When I’m Not
in Therapist Mode
You’ll probably find me cleaning/organizing, growing my Sims empire, reading old and new books from my ever-expanding library, or carefully curating my wanderlists.
You Might be
Surprised to Know
I’m a sun-chaser that struggles to be a morning person, run away from anything involving math or numbers, and seriously question the hype around Marie Kondo.