Bhakti Shah

Masters of Social Work | Therapist at Wiidookodaadiwin | She/Her 

“When I find it hard to guide my child, I try following them instead.” – Jessica Milburn

Parenting can be one of the most meaningful experiences in life—and one of the most overwhelming. Many of the parents and caregivers I work with come to therapy feeling exhausted, stretched thin, or unsure of how to respond to the challenges they are facing. They may find themselves reacting in ways they don’t want to, struggling with guilt, feeling disconnected from their children or partners, or wondering why parenting feels so much harder than they expected.

I offer a compassionate, non-judgmental space where parents and caregivers can slow down, reflect, and reconnect with themselves. Together, we explore the stressors, patterns, and experiences that may be contributing to overwhelm, conflict, or emotional reactivity, while building greater confidence, connection, and self-understanding.

As a parent, therapist, and relational trauma survivor, I understand how closely parenting is connected to our nervous systems, personal histories, relationships, and cultural experiences. Parenting often brings old wounds, unmet needs, and family patterns to the surface. It can also raise questions about identity, belonging, and how we want to show up for our children and ourselves.

My own path into this work began while navigating immigration, caregiving, and the many competing demands of life. Through my own therapeutic journey, I came to better understand the impact of stress, trauma, and disconnection, and the importance of slowing down with compassion rather than judgment. This experience continues to shape how I support the families I work with today.

I have a particular interest in supporting parents and caregivers of young children who are navigating parenting stress, burnout, attachment concerns, co-parenting challenges, cultural transitions, and the impact of intergenerational or relational trauma. I am especially passionate about working with immigrant and multicultural families who are balancing different cultural expectations while trying to build strong, connected relationships within their families.

My approach is relational, holistic, and grounded in the belief that you are the expert on your life and your family. Rather than focusing on fixing or correcting, I support parents in understanding themselves more deeply, strengthening their relationships, and finding ways of responding that align with their values and hopes for their family.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, emotionally reactive, disconnected, or simply looking for support as you navigate the realities of parenting, you don’t have to carry it alone.

Who I Work With:

• • Parents and caregivers of children from pregnancy through age 12

  • Parents experiencing stress, burnout, overwhelm, guilt, or emotional reactivity

  • Families navigating attachment concerns, family conflict, or co-parenting challenges

  • Immigrant and multicultural families navigating cultural expectations, identity, and raising children across cultures

  • Individuals working to understand and interrupt intergenerational patterns and relational trauma

  • Clients seeking culturally responsive, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and decolonial care

Session Format:

• Virtual across Ontario

Languages Offered:

• English, Hindi, Gujarati

Therapeutic Approach:

My style is trauma-informed, client-centered, and grounded in both clinical and cultural humility. I integrate:

• Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

• Circle of Security Parenting, Attachment Parenting

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

• DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy)

• SFBT (Solution-Focused Brief Therapy)

• Attachment-based and bottom-up, body-based, mindfulness practices

• A systemic lens that honors the cultural, social, and structural realities that shape mental health and family dynamics

I work closely with families to create lasting support—long after therapy ends.

In Our Work Together:

You’ll find a gentle, curious presence and a deep respect for who you are and what you want in life. I’ll support you in slowing down, making space for your truth, and finding new ways of moving through what feels stuck.

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