Meet Priya Tahim | Practice Owner, Psychotherapy & Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Priya Tahim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Priya, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Kaur Counseling has always been a dream of mine. I’ve always wanted to give a voice to those who felt like they never had one. The name Kaur comes from my middle name, and Sikh tradition. Kaur is a surname given to Sikh women, that translates to “princess” or “crown prince”. The idea behind this surname was to create equality amongst men and women. I wanted to create a space that is EQUAL to all! I created Kaur Counseling with the belief of fostering hope and creating a safe space for individuals/couples/families to process, as well as find healthy solutions and problem solving skills. My passion is helping others find confidence within themselves, and/or within relationships.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Starting a business is not easy. I can do therapy. I can talk about the importance of therapy process, methods used, as well as finding the right therapist for your needs. BUT,,..starting a business is a whole new ball game. I have done so much research on tax, forming an LLC, hiring a contractor (and i still don’t feel like i know everything). It’s a never ending cycle, just like learning new skills for practicing therapy. The latter comes naturally to me, but i’m learning to become business savvy as well,

Kaur Counseling is a practice i created to welcome all. We are a multicultural practice and focus on providing services to those communities that therapy may still be stigmatized. We strive to create a healthy therapeutic relationship with each individual/couple/family, in order create a judgement free zone to process thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Our goal is to help develop a treatment plan that meets an individual’s needs and most importantly ensures that they are able to gain insight into their recovery and progress.

I am also excited to share that i recently published my first children’s book, The Adventures of Naya and Gumbo: Case of the Worries. The idea behind this book is to help being taboo topics into all households at a young age. Feelings and emotions are normal. It’s time we start to show kids that it’s ok to feel, and there are things we can do to help make that feeling more manageable.

If i had to give advice to a new practice owner, or new therapist, it would be to be open to re-learning concepts you think you’ve already mastered. There are so many ways you can solve one problem, which always means there are many different ways you can provide a service. I choose to provide a service through the lens of adapting, learning, growing and working together.

i want people to know that just because a dream seems far away or blocked by hurdles; not to give up. Cliche, i know, but in all honesty, dreams don’t come easy. I can confidently say, the harder you work, the feeling of success tastes so much better. When i moved to Washington, DC from Texas, i lost 2 years of clinical work, then lost another year when i began working here. It took.3 years to obtain my full license in DC, not because i wasn’t talented but because of misinformation and things out of my control. I thought about giving up so many times, but i’m glad i pushed through. Those sleepless nights, crying spells and feeling of failing paid off. I am living my dream as a practice owner and therapist. I love my job. My advice is to remember why you started in the first place.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Washington, DC. If my bestie was in town, i’d take her to brunch at Founding Farmers or Boqueria. Both places have amazing food, and the atmosphere is just a vibe. Then we would take a walk around the national mall, maybe grab an ice cream from one of the food trucks. Sitting in the National Mall grass (on a nice day) is perfect. It’s fun to people watch, as well as enjoying the scenery. I’d maybe even try to sneak in a Smithsonian Museum.

The thing i love about living in this area is that there is always something going on. Whether it’s a new exhibit at a museum, or going to see some cool historic place, you will never be bored. 30 minutes from DC are beautiful wineries, and if you don’t like wine, there are also breweries. It just such a cool place, and the history here is unreal.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Honestly, i have so many people in my life that have influenced me to want to dedicate my life to helping others. I think it would start with my grandparents. I was blessed with the best grandparents (on both sides), and they taught me the importance of hard work and family. They also taught me to follow my dreams and not to shy away from hard work. My family also instilled the importance of Waheguru in my life. I turn to Babaji often, when i’m looking for encouragement and i’m thankful that my family shared the importance of faith with me when i was younger.

My dad, is one of the hardest working humans i know. He used to travel weeks at a time, when i was younger. Then he would come home and do house stuff, and make sure that we had what we wanted. My mom is the definition of a superhuman. No matter what was going on, she made sure that my sisters and i were never without love or things we needed and/or wanted. My parents always taught me to become independent and to not give up when things got hard (and believe me, my journey hasn’t been easy.) My sisters also always cheered me on, and are simply my best friends. I also have to shout out to my hubby, who pushed me to achieve my dreams of being a practice owner (3 years ahead of my original plan!)

I also don’t think i’d be half the clinician i am today without my first clinical supervisor, L. Kay Byers. She is the most encouraging, kind, and patient soul i know. She showed me that private practice was doable, while working a full-time job. Kay also continued to encourage me not to give up on my licensure, after i moved to a different state (and let’s just say transferring your professional license is not as easy as it sounds!) Meredith Gardner, my Washington D.C. clinical supervisor, also helped support me in so many ways. I don’t think i have words to show how much i appreciate both Kay and Meredith. They are the best.

Website: www.kaurcounseing.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaurcounseling/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-tahim-lpc-1b456730/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaurcounseling

Other: https://www.kaurcounseling.org/the-adventures-of-naya-and-gumbo/p/harvest-moon-cup-eexhn