Deepti Deshkulkarni
Registered Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
AMFT #153844
650-297-3400 x25
Supervised by Jaclyn Long, LMFT#47100
Locations: Los Altos | San Jose
Fee: $170
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS
Get to Know Deepti Deshkulkarni via Video
Areas of Focus:
Languages: English, and Hindi
Adults: Tech Professionals Navigating Job Uncertainty, Career Shift, Anxiety, Depression, Excessive Worrying, Grief & Loss, Anger Management, Life Transitions, Immigration and Acculturation, Panic attacks, South Asian Experiences and BIPOC, Relationship Issues and Family Conflict, Codependency, Parenting, Highly Sensitive Systems, LGBTQ+ Affirming, Body-Image, Stress/ Burnout, Self-Esteem, Loneliness, Caregiver Burden.
Children / Teens: Anxiety, Perfectionism, OCD, Skin Picking, ARFID, Strong Willed, Highly Sensitive Systems, Emotion Regulation, ADHD, Autism, Social Skills, Bullying, Depression, Body-Image, Identity Shifts, People Pleasing, LGBTQ + Affirming, Academic Stress, Heartbreak, Rejection, and Feeling “Not Enough.”
Modalities: Trauma Informed, CBT, DBT, ACT, Person-Centered, Psychodynamic Therapy, IFS Informed, Narrative Therapy, Expressive Arts and Play Therapy for Children, Culturally Sensitive and Multicultural.
Overall Description:
I believe therapy begins with understanding—understanding the patterns we carry, the stories we’ve internalized, and the experiences that shape how we relate to ourselves and others. My work is rooted in curiosity, compassion, and the belief that struggles like anxiety, burnout, self-doubt, and relationship challenges often have deeper roots. When we begin to understand those roots, we access deeper possibilities for healing, change, and transformation.
Many of the people I work with often appear to have it all together on the outside. They are high-achieving, dependable, and constantly moving forward, yet internally may feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or disconnected. Their minds rarely slow down. They replay conversations, overthink decisions, and find themselves stuck in patterns of perfectionism, people-pleasing, or questioning their own worth. Others feel caught between who they are and who they’ve been expected to be—navigating identity shifts, family expectations, cultural pressures, and life transitions.
I work with adults and teens who are ready to slow down, make sense of their experiences, and understand what may be driving the challenges they’re facing. Together, we explore the patterns that keep showing up and build insight, emotional resilience, and self-trust. I also work with children through play therapy, supporting strong-willed, highly sensitive, and anxious kids as they navigate big emotions and challenging experiences. I integrate expressive arts, dramatic play, and sand tray to help children process, communicate, and heal in ways that feel natural to them.
My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in CBT, DBT, ACT, Psychodynamic Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and mindfulness-based practices. At the heart of my work is creating a space where you feel seen, understood, and gently challenged—not to “fix” yourself, but to reconnect with who you are beneath the layers of stress and expectation.
I deeply value the role of culture, family, and lived experiences in shaping identity, and I understand that healing is rarely linear. My hope is to offer a space where you feel safe enough to explore, challenged enough to grow, and supported enough to move forward.
Outside of therapy, I deeply value connection, creativity, and community. I enjoy hiking, creating art, exploring new cuisines, and bringing people together—whether that’s planning a gathering, organizing an outing, or convincing people to say yes to “just one more activity.” Those who know me call me an “activities person,” which feels fitting because I genuinely love creating moments of connection and joy. At the same time, I value slowing down, being present, and making space for reflection—often by sitting by the ocean or in a quiet park—and letting myself just be.
Experience:
My clinical experience spans across different ages, cultures, and life experiences. I’ve worked with children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and older adults across a wide range of emotional, relational, and developmental challenges. Over the years, I have supported clients navigating anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, identity struggles, life transitions, OCD, and emotional dysregulation, while also working closely with parents through coaching and collaborative treatment planning.
My work began in India as a counselor, play therapist, and remedial educator, where I developed a strong foundation in understanding emotional development, family systems, and the impact of early experiences on growth. This work shaped the way I approach therapy today—with curiosity, empathy, and a deep respect for each person’s unique story.
Since moving to the U.S. years ago, my clinical work has expanded across outpatient and community mental health settings, deepening my experience with individuals, couples, and families from diverse cultural backgrounds. Through these experiences, I have developed a deeper understanding of how attachment, relationships, culture, and life transitions shape emotional well-being across the lifespan.
Across all stages of life, I remain grounded in the belief that healing happens through connection, insight, and the courage to understand ourselves more fully. My goal is to help clients feel supported as they navigate challenges, build resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change.
Education:
- M.S. Counseling Psychology, California State University, Long Beach
- M.A. Clinical Psychology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India
- B.A. Psychology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India
Training:
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents
- Play Therapy for Kids
- IFS Introductory Course through IFS Connect