Meet the Founder
Gaya Kodiyalam, LCSW, MPH is an Indian American, millennial therapist who has extensive experience working clinically with individuals, couples, and families. Her vision behind founding the group was to introduce somatic and emotion-focused healing to the South Asian diaspora with the intention of de-stigmatizing mental health.
Education and Clinical Training
Gaya holds a BA in Psychology from Barnard College of Columbia University, and both an LCSW and an MPH from the University of Pennsylvania.
She has received advanced clinical training in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Therapy (AEDP), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS).
Together, we will retrain your mind to support you rather than hurt you,
so that you can live the meaningful life you deserve.
As the Founder and Executive Director of Gaya Therapy, Gaya hones in on her passion of collaborating with colleagues and clients from diverse backgrounds. Being a child of immigrants, Gaya deeply understands the experience of straddling two very different cultures and trying to “do right” by both.
As a therapy recipient herself, Gaya knows the impact of being misunderstood by mental health professionals who don’t hold similar life experiences. In an effort to bridge this important gap, Gaya has poured her heart into creating a space where Asians and people of color can finally feel seen.
Gaya’s clinical orientation and supervision style is unique, as it diverts away from a passive stance and adopts a fully engaged and active style of communicating. Clients and colleagues of Gaya especially appreciate her openhearted demeanor and her capacity to make those she encounters feel unconditionally loved.
