Shana is joined by Tracy Vadakumchery, who goes by the moniker “Bad Indian Therapist”. As an Indian-American therapist, Tracy wants us to unpack what it means to be a “good desi”. Her clients are South Asian Americans who are struggling with desi social norms and expectations and beauty standards. 

For most of us, self-criticism is natural. We judge ourselves against log kya kehenge (what will people say), model minority myth and idealized perfection. Tracy helps us see that by people-pleasing, living in guilt and shame, our mental health is under constant attack. She empathizes with our lived experience, because it has been hers too, and she wants us to know that our authentic inner voice can co-exist in harmony with our culture and community. 

Follow us on Instagram @herkajalwontsmudge and check out our website www.herkajalwontsmudge.com.

Follow @thebadindiantherapist on Instagram.

CREDITS:

Host and Creative Director: Shana 

Head of Visual Design: Minal Jadeja

Visual Designers: Akshat Agarwal, Shaumik Kanvinde

This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Junior Producer: Quoyina Ghosh

Sound Editor & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni, Lakshman Parsuram, Nihar Temkar