ABOUT DR. SAVLA | httpdrgsavlawixcomgsavla

Hello, I am Gauri.

I was born in Mumbai, India, and lived there until I moved to the United States in December 2000. My pronouns are she/her/hers. English is my first and preferred language.

I am a clinical psychologist, licensed to practice psychotherapy in the state of California (License Number: PSY 25907). I have a Ph.D. from the Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). I also have two masters degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of Mumbai, India and San Diego State University, respectively. I began my career in psychology in an academic research setting, before and during graduate school, and after, in the form of clinical and research fellowships at the University of California, San Francisco , UCSD, and the San Diego Veterans Health Administration System (i.e., the VA Hospital). I have worked directly with folks with a wide range of emotional and cognitive challenges in a variety of setting for 23 years. This is my ninth year in private practice.

I have co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals and book chapters, based on my research on schizophrenia, neuropsychology, and aging, conducted at UCSD. Most of these papers are freely available via PubMed Central (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed). However, my clinical skills and expertise are less the product of my prestigious research training, and more the result of the tutelage, supervision, and wisdom of the many skilled clinicians with whom I have trained and/or who provide valuable consultation.

My therapeutic style is rooted in humanistic and relational gestalt traditions, which means that I will work collaboratively with you, value you as a whole human being, and celebrate (and help you celebrate) your humanity. I have worked with adults with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia both in outpatient and hospital settings, but I do not "treat" diagnoses; I work with people. I have a special interest in and extensive experience with older individuals facing aging-related challenges, such as grief and loss, physical limitations, new medical diagnoses, late-life emotional disorders, and caregiver burden, but my practice comprises older adolescents and adults ranging in age from 18 to 100 years. I continue to learn and grow via self-study, consultations with peers and mentors, a monthly Gestalt Consultation Group, and didactic and experiential formal training in Gestalt Therapy.

When I am not working with my clients, I enjoy spending time with my loved ones, reading, writing, cooking, exercising, and curating and reviewing children's books. My family and I also love to travel. In the spirit of ongoing self-improvement and self-evolution, I am in regular psychotherapy myself, and participate in various activities with my young daughter such as making art and stories, bicycling, and flying trapeze.