About

WHO IS JUNI?

My mother would want me to tell you first about my fancy book-learnin’, so let’s get that out of the way. 

I completed my BA in music and English at Stanford University in 1992, and then moved to sunny Minnesota for my graduate studies. I earned my master’s degree (2000) and PhD (2009) in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. During my training and after graduation, I worked in the counseling centers of several small private liberal arts colleges, as well as the large, urban campuses of the U of M and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). I recently left my post at the Counseling & Wellness Center at Chico State University where I served as the Clinical Director for four years to start Deer Park Counseling & Consulting. 

What I really want to tell you is that I am the child of immigrant parents (my parents are from India) who grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska (for real). My own struggle to understand who I am and why I’m here is what led me to become a psychologist. Believe me, I tried really, really hard to be a good Indian girl and pick one of the career options that was laid before me (physician, lawyer, or engineer). Even took the LSAT twice. But I couldn’t shake my fascination with what makes people tick, and how their stories helped or hindered their ability to thrive.  

As a woman-of-color who didn’t quite do as she was told, I believe I have a unique perspective on what it means to not quite fit in. Sometimes it’s been great—I’m able to shape-shift and understand multiple points of view. Sometimes it’s hard—I don’t always know where “home” is, and this can feel lonely. If you are living between cultures or worlds in any way, I think we can relate.  

I also feel extremely lucky that I was trained and supervised by masters in my field. They cultivated my interest in research and taught me to think critically about how to help people. I also was trained to be a “scientist-practitioner,” which means that I’m always thinking about how to make research relevant to my clients, and vice versa!