Ajay Sahota

The following core values guide my life and my work with you: acceptance, courage, freedom, self-compassion, and hope. These principles are the foundation of my moral compass. Here’s why these values are important to me. Acceptance Acceptance is important for change. This means first acknowledging hardships, struggles, and one’s self before growth and change can take place. I live this core value by acknowledging painful experiences and taking action for my own healing. Acceptance and change are difficult. In addition, my practice is built upon accepting you in as you are. This includes welcoming what makes you different. I accept others with cultural humility. Courage Taking steps to acknowledge a painful reality and work toward change takes courage. Yet we need courage and able to be vulnerable to grow. I was 15 years old when I formed my first therapeutic relationship. Accessing counselling at a young age helped overcome my fears and worries about being vulnerable to a stranger. Having a safe space to voice my personal truth led to greater self-awareness and authenticity. This could be true for you too. Freedom Freedom to decide how you want life your life and live your truth is vital for happiness. I understand that there can be many variables that can make it hard to be yourself and live freely. I celebrate freedom in general and especially having the freedom to be different. I understand how outside pressures and fear about what others think can stifle freedom. In my own life I have found that connection with like-minded and supportive people bolsters freedom. In my practice I place great value on freedom of thoughts, freedom to have different and various viewpoints and expression, and the freedom to conquer barriers to freedom. Self-Compassion When I feel nervous, a little down, or lonely, I practice self-compassion. It helps me let go of negative feelings and thoughts and instead be present in the moment. Recognizing your suffering and sending it compassion is, as is hope, at the core of my practice. I find it tremendously helpful for myself but also for clients who are struggling with everyday challenges as well as those experiencing depression, anxiety, or trauma. Practicing self-compassion helps you heal and focus on the present and the positive things in your life. Hope It is important to me as a therapist to foster a sense of hope in my clients. Hope fosters optimism and agency in your life. Hope is, in my practice, at the heart of therapy. Even though you might be uncertain, you enter counselling in the hope that you will experience a change for the better. Hope has a lot to do with the idea that where there is a will, there is a way. We may explore together how you were able to manage difficult situations before, or times when you were very much in charge to foster hope as you make your way through tough times.