Vithusha Selvavelautham, MA
Vithusha Selvavelautham (she/her) is a South Asian therapist working towards an LPC license. Vithusha specializes in therapy for people pleasers and is passionate about helping individuals who identify as the eldest daughters of immigrant families. She helps them see themselves as valuable and worthy regardless of their role in the family. She helps them build self-esteem and self-trust while recognizing that certain dynamics will never go away. She teaches her clients healthy ways of coping in difficult family dynamics. She also specializes in therapy for first generation college students helping students ease into this new chapter of their lives keeping the importance of family and culture in mind.
Vithusha’s empathetic and warm personality allows her clients to feel heard and validated. She wholeheartedly believes that every person has the opportunity to overcome their past hurt and grow into a joyful and healthy individual.
Vithusha is currently accepting new clients and is able to see Pennsylvania residents both virtually and in person. She is fluent in English and Tamil.
“I believed that love and acceptance could only be earned, and because of that, I struggled with vulnerability and connecting with others.”
A conversation with Vithusha
What made you want to become a therapist?
What inspired me to become a therapist is finally being in a setting with other minorities and first-generation people and opening up about our childhoods. For a long time, I always thought that my experiences were unique and never felt validated in frustration as being one of the few POC, let alone South Asian, in predominantly white spaces. Additionally, I’ve mistaken my people-pleasing tendencies for selflessness and responsibility as I grew up as the oldest daughter to my immigrant parents. For such a long time, I believed that love and acceptance could only be earned, and because of that, I struggled with vulnerability and connecting with others. I decided to become a therapist to validate my client’s experiences and for them to unlearn the idea that they don’t have to sacrifice their preferences and values in order to be accepted and loved by others.
What do you do when you are not working?
When I’m not seeing clients, I vacillate between going on adventures and being a homebody. I love visiting new restaurants and exploring new places and restaurants with close friends. Going on excursions without any purpose tends to my inner curiosity. When I’m at home, I usually curl up with a good book and rest or watch Korean dramas. I’m also a plant mama and believe that you can never have too many plants.
What is important to you when working with clients?
When working with clients, my number one priority is to create a safe space. I want my clients to know that this is the space where they practice setting boundaries and exploring the parts of themselves that they hesitate to explore. Many times, my clients enter sessions with an inner child that has learned to dismiss their own voice. I want to empower my clients and encourage them to not only use their voice but to have trust in the power that it holds. All narratives are welcomed in my session, and it is my job to first meet my clients where they are and then gently guide them towards authenticity.