Sumathy Applewhite, LCSW

I am a South Indian and Caucasian cisgender woman who grew up confused about my identities, leading to feelings of loneliness, being “othered”, and a desire to mold myself into someone who could “fit in”. This caused deep-seated anxiety and depression in my youth and adulthood. With proper mental health intervention, my life transformed.

I channeled my experiences and passion into teaching at my alma mater, Columbia University. I teach foundations courses at Columbia School of Social Work, including Decolonizing Social Work: Power, Race, Oppression and Privilege; Direct Practice; and Advocacy in SW Practice. This also created over 16 years of working with people directly with their mental health in a variety of settings. Ultimately, I am deeply passionate about helping others find healing.

Who I work with:

I work with people who experience PTSD, Anxiety and/or Depression, especially those with diverse identities including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender.

I provide:

• Culturally Affirming & Inclusive Care –  I create a safe, judgment-free space where clients of all backgrounds, especially queer people and people of color, can feel heard and understood for who they are, authentically.
• Evidence-Based & Innovative Approaches – I incorporate the techniques that I teach with your individual perspectives and experiences for interventions tailored to your unique needs.
• Real & Relatable – Therapy with me feels like a conversation with someone who genuinely cares, deeply understands, challenges you to grow, and meets you where you are.
• Focus on Empowerment & Strength – I believe in helping you tap into your resilience and strengths to create meaningful change in your life rooted in your unique identity and the experiences that have come with it.
• Experienced & Compassionate – With over sixteen years in direct practice and graduate level teaching experience to a new generation of social workers, I bring both a unique expertise and personal lens to every session.

I’m a collaborative therapist who puts the client’s experiences first. I believe that everyone’s life experiences and perspectives are key in understanding our own emotional journey and core development of self.

I create a warm, open-minded, and supportive environment, and sometimes I use humor to help ease the stress of exploring our identities and how they impact our mental health. Together, we explore your journey and work towards achieving your goals at your own pace.

My ultimate goal is to help you feel like you’re in control of your emotions, feeling like the best version of yourself and living your best life!

Education

• Columbia University School of Social Work, Seminar in Field Instruction Certification New York, New York Fall 2011
• Columbia University School of Social Work, Master of Science in Social Work New York, New York 2006- 2008