EP.137 - Shagun Sharma - "Dismantling the Stigmas That Keep Us From Seeking Support"

Join host Kiran Randhawa on Middle Fingers Up for a heartfelt conversation with Shagun Sharma, registered psychotherapist and founder of Lotus Pathways. In this episode, Shagun shares her journey from a curious six-year-old in downtown Toronto's Cabbagetown neighborhood—where she first witnessed the realities of homelessness and mental health struggles—to becoming a trailblazer in culturally sensitive therapy. "I wanted to be a therapist since I was six years old," Shagun reflects, inspired by her older sister's guidance and her own immigrant roots as a South Asian woman. Together, they dive into dismantling mental health stigmas in immigrant and South Asian communities, exploring barriers like self-judgment, high costs, and generational pressures that prioritize "protection, protection, protection" over open emotional discussions. Shagun emphasizes creating "spaces that are culturally safe and validating where people can genuinely begin to untangle" intergenerational burdens, while addressing how social media and collective cultural norms often leave individuals feeling isolated. Whether you're navigating your own mental health path or seeking to understand systemic challenges, this episode offers validating insights on building rapport, normalizing therapy, and fostering community support. Tune in for an honest look at why "get over it" narratives persist and how we can collectively tackle them.Instagram: lotuspathwaysLinktr.ee: lotuspathwaysWebsite: lotuspathwayspsychotherapy.comSupport the showIf you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" -  It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted!  Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to [email protected]. Thank you for listening!In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.