Hiteksha Oza, LMHC
Psychotherapist | She/Her/Hers
Maybe you've spent much of your life trying to be who others need or expect you to be, while quietly wondering where your own needs, feelings, and desires fit in. When family expectations, cultural values, and the pressure to succeed shape so much of your world, finding your own voice can feel complicated. You may be struggling with anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, or a sense of being misunderstood, longing for relationships where you can feel accepted without having to compromise who you are.
Hi, I'm Hiteksha. I work with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, identity exploration, and life transitions, with a particular passion for supporting multicultural and first-generation individuals. I believe that meaningful change begins with genuine human connection, where you feel understood, respected, and safe enough to be yourself. My approach is warm, curious, and compassionately honest. Together, we'll explore the experiences that have shaped you, challenge patterns that may no longer serve you, and strengthen your confidence in your own voice, choices, and relationships.
*Hiteksha is currently accepting new clients.
How I Understand the Work
I believe our struggles cannot be understood separately from the relationships, cultures, and systems that shape our lives. So often, people come to therapy believing something is wrong with them, without recognizing how their experiences, family dynamics, and the world around them have influenced how they feel and cope. I approach this work with cultural humility and a deep commitment to social justice, recognizing that our intersecting identities and experiences of oppression can profoundly shape our mental health.
My approach is rooted in relational and decolonial therapy. I believe healing can happen through genuine connection, where we feel seen, respected, and free to explore old patterns without judgment. I also believe therapy should challenge traditional power dynamics, making room for your voice and lived experiences to guide our understanding. Drawing from psychodynamic therapy, ACT, DBT, CBT, and trauma-informed approaches, we'll explore the roots of your struggles while developing practical tools that support meaningful change.
What Therapy With Me Feels Like
I believe therapy should feel like a conversation with a real person, not someone sitting across from you who has all the answers. I bring warmth, curiosity, and honesty into our work, and I want you to feel comfortable showing up exactly as you are. I'm someone who likes to “keep it real,” and I believe genuine care includes being honest, even when the truth is uncomfortable. I won't simply tell you what you want to hear, but I'll always approach difficult conversations with compassion and respect.
I see therapy as a team effort, where your thoughts, experiences, and goals matter just as much as my clinical perspective. I welcome your questions, feedback, and disagreements, because I want you to feel confident expressing yourself, even when we see things differently. I'll ask questions, invite reflection, and encourage you to be open, even when it feels uncomfortable. I'll bring my care, curiosity, and clinical knowledge, while supporting you in taking an active role in your own growth.
Areas I Often Support
Anxiety & Overthinking | Burnout & Stress | ADHD
LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy | Cultural Identity | Self-Criticism
Trauma & Trauma-Related Concerns | People-Pleasing Patterns
Languages
I also provide therapy in Gujarati and Hindi for clients who prefer it.
A little about me
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I didn't always know I wanted to be a therapist. I was a commerce student throughout high school, and when it came time to choose a career, none of the traditional options felt right.
Looking back, though, I think the answer had been with me for a long time. When I was 10, I ran for school captain, and my campaign symbol was a telephone. My whole pitch was that I wanted to be like a telephone: someone who picks up when others need help, someone who listens and shows up.
After high school, a career aptitude test pointed me toward counseling and therapy. I took a leap of faith, left commerce behind, and began studying psychology and sociology.
Almost a decade later, I couldn't be happier. This journey has brought me closer to myself, and being a therapist feels like the grown-up version of that 10-year-old with the telephone.
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I love creating a space where people feel safe enough to be themselves, especially when they've spent much of their lives feeling misunderstood, dismissed, or judged.
I want my clients to experience a meaningful connection in therapy and recognize that those kinds of relationships are possible outside the therapy room, too.
One of my favorite moments is when a client starts disagreeing with me! It might sound strange, but I see it as a sign that they're developing confidence in their own thoughts and perspectives.
Watching people find their voice and learn to trust themselves is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
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Now that the weather is warmer, being outside has been bringing me a lot of joy lately. Just being outdoors in the sun has been really nice—whether that's sitting in Central Park, having a meal outside, going for a walk, hiking, or swimming!
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Music, without a doubt! I love listening at full volume, sometimes until my phone warns me to turn it down. Music connects me to different versions of myself, and songs from different stages of my life bring back memories of who I was at the time.
I love Old Bollywood, Hip Hop, Rap, R&B, and especially The Weeknd. Music helps me get out of my head and reconnect with myself.
I also love dressing up! Expressing my individuality through my outfits, shoes, sunglasses, and jewelry is another way I feel most like myself.
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M.B.A. in Human Resource Management (In Progress, Expected 2027), Goldey-Beacom College
M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, Long Island University, Brooklyn
Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research
B.A. in Psychology & Sociology, University of Mumbai
“Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.”