Padmini Singh Jagpal LMHC

Born to Guyanese immigrants who sought a brighter future in America, I am their eldest child, proudly raised in Queens, NY. Like many others, I initially aimed to make my parents proud by pursuing pre-med or pharmacy. While I loved the idea of healing people, I realized that becoming a doctor wasn't my path. I explored psychology courses and was drawn to the potential of healing others through this discipline. The attraction was deeply personal: whenever others confided in me, I felt frustrated at not knowing how to navigate these conversations or what to say. This feeling of helplessness, combined with my struggles with depression and a sense of isolation due to cultural misunderstandings, led me down the path of becoming a therapist.

As a vast Anime lover - what inspires me most are shows like Naruto, Bleach, One Piece., etc. During my teen years, this was considered the Big Three, all coming out together and something I would guiltily enjoy. I love Anime for many reasons, but watching these "cartoons" allowed me to navigate the world differently. It also has influenced me personally with life lessons but also a helpful addition to influencing me as a therapist. One of the most significant themes for these shows was the idea of community. No matter how much we try to do things alone – we all yearn for the Let's take One Piece. One Piece is an anime built on a journey filled with adventure and the pursuit of dreams. This is an excellent example of the therapeutic journey; it, too, has its ups and downs, discoveries, and personal growth. Even when the character in the show meets a roadblock, they attempt to explore more. This Anime relates to the many different challenges and complexities of life, especially when you are the main character. The Straw Hat Pirates are a diverse group of individuals, and everyone in the crew except the others's quirks, past, and dreams. This crew illustrates the importance of self-acceptance and the value of a supportive community. Lastly, Luffy (our main character) is also constantly seen talking about his goal to become the Pirate King. His goal is a great inspiration for us to discuss our life goals, our motivation behind them, and our steps to achieve them. Naruto another anime that follows the journey of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja that dreams of becoming a strong leader and seek acceptance from his peers Naruto’s story has much adversity; he experiences isolation and hardship, yet his determination and positive spirit allow him to persevere. Naruto is another excellent example of how finding your inner strength and building resilience in challenging times can help you face adversity. Naruto's journey also highlights the importance of relationships and communities, and the more he accepts himself, the more connections he makes. In therapy, the impact of social connections and support networks are vital to feeling like you belong. Naruto also has a lot of personal trauma and wounds he has to navigate through, including battling his inner demons like negative thoughts or self-doubts. Naruto often finds a way to transform his pain and face these struggles head-on. These struggles are a crucial example of how therapy is not a destination but a journey, and there is an ongoing effort for change. Bleach is a problematic anime, but it was a core enjoyment during my teen years and something that helped me through it. Our protagonist, Ichigo, finds himself unpacking and trying to understand his unique identity, which blends different worlds. As an Indo-Caribbean, I often navigated different worlds as a Caribbean, an Indian, and an American. His journey mirrors the therapeutic journey of exploring and reconciling various aspects of yourself. You can be all the above as much as you believe it. Not to mention, Bleach often dealt with the concept of souls and the afterlife, rooted in the loss of Ichigo's mother. I also lost people, friends, family members, and grandparents, and navigating that grief was difficult. Grief inspired me to have conversations about grief and the ways people cope with losing their loved ones. Another aspect I took from Bleach was the redemption arcs of characters like Rukia or the Visored. Rukia Kuchiki, another character in Bleach, faces severe consequences for her actions. As she admits to this wrongdoing, she goes through a process of reflection, accountability, and ultimately redemption. She understands her mistakes and strives to make amends by moving into positive changes. This concept can apply to therapy, the discussion of forgiveness, the understanding of redemption, the encouragement of self-reflection, and finally, growth. The content we consume can always teach us more about ourselves. It can even create hope and resilience to see another entity attempting to navigate the world. Anime makes me more aware of some of the complexities that we as humans navigate, and all of these animes, plus others, feed into my therapeutic approach.

• New York, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, 012525