Meet Sanjita Ekhelikar, PsyD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Specialties: body image, anxiety/phobias, trauma, relationship dynamics, and BIPOC mental health
Offering In-Person & Online Therapy
Getting to know Dr. Sanjita Ekhelikar
How would you describe the way you work?
I enjoy working with adults across the age spectrum who may struggle to prioritize their needs in the midst of life and responsibilities. I care about supporting folks who may struggle from hurtful experiences in their past and find this impacting their daily routine, relationships with others, and view of themselves. I am also passionate about working with people who face racism, homophobia, sexism, sizeism, and various forms of prejudice.
I recognize that therapy can be scary and daunting, and will create a space with you that feels safe and goes at your pace for growth and healing. Our work may take different routes based on what we decide is the best path forward. Some things you may expect are discussing the dynamics in your interpersonal relationships (including our therapy relationship!), identifying patterns of thoughts and feelings rooted in past experiences that may be impacting you, processing and navigating hard emotions, and learning tools to cope.
I strongly believe that therapy is successful when we actively collaborate, which means that I don’t believe in being a passive part of the process or being "neutral." I show up with transparency, honesty, and curiosity to empower you and center your needs. I’ll ask for your thoughts and feedback on how our sessions are feeling to ensure therapy feels supportive and helpful. Above all, you can expect me to keep your core values and beliefs at the forefront, and be culturally mindful and respectful of your whole self.
How do you approach identity and culture as a therapist?
I’ll create an affirming and nonjudgmental space where we can focus on your identities (e.g. race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age, religion, class) and experiences and connect this with your goals of healing. I’m also interested in hearing about how some of your combined or intersecting identities may feel for you - being someone who you can be open about these experiences with is important to me as we continue through your therapy journey. You are the expert on you, and I hope to create a space where we can both learn about what your identities may mean to you.
As a BIPOC therapist, specifically an Indian American child of immigrants, I understand and recognize the impacts of racism and bias and the ways this can hurt. I am also aware of the unique struggles that individuals who are navigating bicultural identities and intergenerational conflict may face. I’m deeply interested in supporting all individuals who may struggle in the face of prejudice, especially cross-cultural conflicts, familial concerns, and racial stress.
I’m passionate about social justice work, healing, liberation, and the ways in which systems of oppression and the contexts we exist in can contribute to our experiences and interactions with others. Things like perfectionism, underestimating or demeaning ourselves, internalizing negative views and biases, and not trusting ourselves are some of the many ways our minds and bodies try to cope with the impacts of White supremacy culture. In tandem with addressing the concerns you bring to therapy, I hope to help you see how sometimes various "symptoms" are really mechanisms of coping with oppression. We will use our sessions in a way that feels the most healing for you as we process and work together towards healing.
What can you help me with?
Anger
Anxiety (e.g. social anxiety, generalized anxiety, specific phobias, panic attacks)
Body image
Eating (difficult attitudes or behaviors with eating)
Emerging adulthood (18 year old+, post-graduation)
Interpersonal dynamics and relationship difficulties (e.g. attachment issues, relational conflict, divorce or separation, family relationships, communication difficulties, boundary setting)
Life transitions (e.g. career-related transitions, separation/breakups, moving)
Multicultural identities (e.g. BIPOC identity, 2nd gen, bicultural identity, LGBTQIA+)
Neurodivergent affirming therapy
Self-esteem
Sleep (e.g. insomnia, sleep hygiene, CBT-I)
Trauma (e.g. sexual trauma, childhood abuse, military trauma, PTSD/CPTSD, race-based trauma)
Work stress and career direction
What types of therapy do you use?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Exposure-based Therapy
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Mindfulness-based techniques
Multicultural Therapy
Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT)
Psychodynamic Therapy
Trauma-informed Therapy
What’s your session fee?
I am an out of network provider and my fee ranges from $225-275/session. As a therapist committed to equitable access to therapy, I have a small number of sliding scale spots that you can ask about.
Background & Professional Training
Sanjita Ekhelikar, PsyD earned both her doctorate and master's degree in clinical psychology from Loyola University Maryland, and completed her bachelor's degree in cell biology and neuroscience from Rutgers University. She specializes in treating anxiety or phobias, depression, relationship issues, and body image concerns. Dr. Ekhelikar also has extensive experience is working with adults experiencing the effects of personal, intergenerational, or racial trauma. Dr. Ekhelikar possesses advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She is passionate about helping people live by their personal values and deepen trust and compassion in themselves. Overall, she approaches emotional wellbeing with multicultural psychology and social justice at the forefront, and works from a place of empowerment, empathy, and creativity.
Dr. Ekhelikar has conducted research focusing on body dissatisfaction and disordered eating among women. She is keenly interested in bicultural identity and therapy for second-generation adult children of immigrants. Prior to joining the practice, Dr. Ekhelikar trained in community mental health centers, private practices, and Veteran Affairs medical hospitals in Baltimore and in NYC. She is a member of Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology. Dr. Ekhelikar loves dancing, live music, dogs, scenic views, and traveling.
