About Me
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I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience working with relationships, trauma and addiction. I was born and raised in Mumbai, India and received my Masters in Social Work from the College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Bombay University in 1987.
In 1990 I moved to Southern California and since then I have worked at a domestic violence shelter, in a psychiatric hospital with chronic mental illness, at several substance abuse treatment facilities and in private practice. I work with my clients to identify the core issues underlying their distress to achieve long-lasting improvement in the quality of their lives. LCSW #19426 |
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The Banyan Tree
The banyan tree, originally known as Ficus Benghalensis is a huge shady tree. Branches from the trunk spread and grow roots that reach into the ground where new trunks shoot out, spreading more branches. It spreads over vast areas, creating new trunks, multiplying and spreading green leafy natural shady shelters. In India, villages have a banyan tree centrally located where merchants gathered to sell their goods. These merchants known as banias or Indian traders, inspired the Portugese to take the name on eventually resulted in the tree being called Banyan. This brought people together, travelers rested under the shady branches and village council meetings were held to resolve disputes, complaints and impart justice.
The banyan tree came to be known as The Tree of Knowledge, Tree of Life, Tree of Immortality, Tree of Learning. I was always drawn to the tree for a variety of reasons. To me It represents strength, growth, stability and a continuous cycle of birth of new creations. Knowledge begins from a tiny bit of information and creates an abundance of valuable information just like the first branch of the tree grows into a vast canopy of greenery. It has the strength to withstand nature's wrath in the form of winds and storms, provide respite from the sun's heat and its roots are firmly grounded into the soil. Seekers of self awareness, wanting to explore their souls have to show courage in their pursuit for the truth. They have to withstand storms while facing reality, break through their denial and tolerate the grief and loss that is experienced in the process of growth. They need the qualities of the banyan tree to reach that goal and then spread their awareness, become mentors receiving new learners under the shade of their knowledge.
I hope you can find comfort and respite in the branches of information just like sitting under the cool shade of the banyan tree.