Creating a safe space to explore identity and embrace authenticity with compassion and understanding to be the best version of yourself!
About Sumathy
Welcome.
Hello! My name is Sumathy Karuppannan Applewhite, LCSW. I am a South Asian and Caucasian cisgender woman dedicated to helping individuals create coping strategies and find joy while addressing anxiety, PTSD, and depression, especially when they relate to holding intersecting identities (racial, ethnic, sexual, gender, etc.).
My approach is rooted in collaborative, client-centered therapy. I believe that every person brings their own unique life experiences and perspectives, which we will explore together to gain clarity and focus on becoming the best version of ourselves.
I strive to provide a warm, open-minded, and supportive environment. Occasionally, I use humor to ease the stress of processing complex identities. I am the person I wish I had had when navigating these challenges throughout my life. Together, we will explore what brought you to therapy and work toward achieving the goals you set for yourself at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
Sumathy teaches courses at Columbia University School of Social Work including Decolonizing Social Work: Power, Race, Oppression and Privilege; Direct Practice with Individuals and Families and Advocacy in Social Work Practice. She brings nearly two decades of direct practice experience to her teaching.