
Hi,
I'm Nivedita Ashok (she/her)
FOUNDER, MSc, MCP, RCC
Registered Clinical Counsellor
About Me
Welcome to my practice! I’m glad you’ve found your way here.
My name is Nivedita (people call me Niv), and like many immigrants, I came to Canada with a lifetime of stories, longings, and transitions. I was born and raised in India, and my journey here has been shaped by both the visible and invisible challenges of starting over—culturally, emotionally, and spiritually. I bring to my work a blend of Eastern and Western perspectives, and my approach is grounded in trauma-informed care, cultural sensitivity, and deep respect for your lived experience.
As someone with Indian/South Asian heritage and global experience, I understand the nuances of bicultural identity, immigration stress, and the unspoken silence around mental health in our communities. And while I hold that cultural awareness close, my door is open to every background, faith, gender, and orientation because healing belongs to all of us.
My Journey
I didn’t always plan to become a counsellor, the path unfolded slowly, through conversations, quiet moments, and the trust people placed in me over the years. Even in everyday interactions, I often found myself listening to stories that were tender, raw and real. I didn’t always have the perfect words, but I could be present and that presence seemed to matter.
Over time, I came to realize how healing is not only something we think about but something we live and feel in our bodies. My own journey has been about finding the parts of myself that had been silenced or overlooked, and learning to return home to myself with compassion. That process shapes the way I sit with others: attuned not just to thoughts, but also to the quieter layers beneath, where grief, resilience, softeness and tenderness often live.
I am deeply grateful for the early experiences that showed me how powerful it is to simply be with someone without judgment or urgency. They taught me how much we all need spaces where we can speak honestly, fall apart a little, or simply be seen. For me, counselling isn’t about fixing people rather, it’s about creating that space of connection, where someone can feel less alone in their pain and begin to find their own way forward.
This work feels like a continuation of all of that, and I hold it with care, humility, and deep respect for the uniqueness of every person’s story.
Outside of my work, I find joy in reading, making art, spending time with my dogs, wandering in nature, and sharing conversations that remind me of both the beauty and the messiness of being human.

If you're considering therapy with me
here are few things that may matter
My approach is integrative and grounded in curiosity and compassion. I draw from IFS informed parts work, Compassionate Inquiry and inquiry based approach, attachment theory, somatic practices, and nature-based therapy. With couples I draw on Relational Life Therapy (RLT).
I'm less interested in fixing symptoms quickly & more interested in understanding how your nervous system learned to survive
I work slowly and deliberately. We pay attention to emotional patterns, to relationships, and to the meaning you've made over time. Insight matters but integration matters more.
I don't push catharsis, forced positivity, or "regulation" as a performance. I'm attentive to pacing, consent, and what your system can realistically tolerate.
Therapy with me is not about becoming a better version of yourself. It's about becoming more connected to who you already are, without the constant pressure to manage, explain, or override your inner experience.
If you're looking for depth, containment, and long term change rather than quick techniques, my work may be a fit.
Education
Master of Counselling Psychology (MCP)
Adler University, Vancouver, Canada
Master of Science in Counselling Psychology
Indian Institute of Psychology and Research, Bangalore, India
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Sociology & Economics
Christ University, Bangalore, India
Certifications
RLT Certified Couple Therapist (ongoing)
THE PORTAL: Conception, Pregnancy, Birth, and the Postpartum Period Training
Compassionate Inquiry
Suicide Attention Training
Compassionate Inquiry
Gottman Method Couples Therapy - Level 1
Gottman Institute
Indigenous Canada Certification
University of Alberta
