Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shanta Kanukollu. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shanta, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I am the eldest daughter of immigrant parents from India. There were certain expectations placed on me because of this role – implicitly and explicitly – and one’s that were based on the basic instincts to survive, be economically stable and stay safe in a new world/culture. This led me to initially consider the medical profession but over time, it became evident that I had a passion and skillset to enter the mental health field. Doors opened for me once I learned this and I was lucky to be accepted into one of the top Psychology doctoral programs at the time – The University of Michigan. I was also given the chance to obtain a dual doctorate in Women’s Studies and Clinical Psychology, which provided me with unique research and clinical opportunities. Despite the rigor of the program and the stresses that come with living away from home, I knew it was where I needed to be. What I didn’t know at the time, however, was that I was being trained to be an academic and researcher. I found myself drawn to working with patients, however, and stepped away from the path as a researcher at a prestigious school to work with clients of diverse backgrounds. I worked in jail systems, probation settings, a community hospital, and a VA Hospital and loved the patients I worked with. Over time, however, I found that something was missing. I felt unfulfilled and dissatisfied in some ways. With self-reflection, therapy, and time to unpack my thoughts during a 2 hour commute, I recognized that I had achieved what I wanted in many ways – the degree, the jobs, the marriage, the house – but I was evolving. So I took a risk – a big one – and quit my job at the VA Hospital which was a steady, federally-funded position to open up my own private practice. I had never owned a business before and knew nothing about it. No one in my family had modeled the entrepreneur path for me either. Additionally, unlike many training programs, my doctoral program did not cultivate business owners with academia and research as their main focus. So I was on my own here. My parents, my in-laws, and my colleagues were confused. It felt like a wild decision to them, especially when I had worked hard to gain stability after years of school. It was felt shocking to them too when it seemed like I had a “pretty good gig” for a growing family. I had one daughter at the time and was had been trying to conceive again despite multiple miscarriages. But I had to quiet the doubts around me and focus on what I felt intuitively right. And so I jumped right in and opened up my doors to adult patients of all backgrounds, with a focus on marginalized communities like the South Asian community. I was shocked and pleased to learn that while the business aspects were anxiety-provoking, I LOVED seeing patients on MY schedule, with a minimal commute and the flexibility to be the mom I wanted to be. I found it rewarding too to see people who were eager to have a therapist who looked like them. Having my own business in downtown Chicago also allowed me to pursue fertility treatment with the hospital a few blocks away, and gave me permission to take time off without limitations when we adopted our youngest daughter (of 3) from India. Yes, there are ups and downs at times but overall, I adore having my own practice where I can pursue passions like giving a TEDx talk, can see patients on a flexible schedule and can schedule time for my own professional and personal growth. I am glad I took the risk!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with a private practice in downtown Chicago and with a telehealth platform so that I can see patients across 40 states. I see adult patients for psychotherapy and also facilitate an online group for women who are ready to move from a place of surviving to thriving i.e. get “unstuck” and shift their mindsets. I am also a speaker, giving workshops and keynotes on topics like diversity, myths about psychotherapy, Belonging in the workplace, parenting, Asian-American mental health and the Model Minority Myth.

I am proud of my work as it feels authentic to who I am and very much in line with my core values of compassion, curiosity and authenticity. What I think my patients/clients appreciate is that I have a social-justice and feminist orientation in my work and strive to understand their cultural backgrounds with openness and curiosity. When I facilitate presentations or workshops, the feedback I have received is that I am able to answer “uncomfortable” questions with warmth and poise which is a true compliment to me.

I currently am looking for women to join my online Thriving Mindset group and welcome opportunities for speaking, keynotes or workshops.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think staying authentic and curious has been important for my brand and reputation. I network with like-minded people but am always happy to meet new people with different perspectives and mindsets to create a sense of community and expand my own perspective. Even if it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient, I show up, wanting to learn and challenge myself when I can. I also recognize when I am getting burnt out and try not to overextend myself, creating boundaries as needed so that I can rest, be with my family or slow down.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I would absolutely choose the same profession and specialty! I wish I had known that I would be a business owner one day, however, so that I could have gained more knowledge about the intricacies of being an entrepreneur. I would also ensure that I have a hobby to turn to or a creative outlet to provide me with balance and joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.snktherapy.com
• Instagram: @snk_therapy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanta-kanukollu-ph-d-7943ab45/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-BSOxqAV8o

Image Credits

Ashley Summers Photography