Ms Shemida Rayan, M.Couns

Psychotherapist

“Earning my undergraduate and master’s degrees in psychotherapy from the UK, along with a degree in psychology, and practicing in more than 10 countries with over 20,000 clinical hours, has shaped me into a therapist who can see people from multiple perspectives. If you’re navigating adjustment issues, relational struggles, or simply want to go deeper, feel free to reach out — we can journey together.”

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About Me

I am a Trauma-Informed Integrative Psychotherapist and IFS practitioner, affirming of queer, poly, and kink identities. I am CETA Certified™ (Johns Hopkins, Maryland, USA) and have completed over 20,000 clinical hours. With more than 18 years of experience, I also serve as a clinical supervisor and work with a deep commitment to embracing multiplicities.

Approach

I practice across continents with a blend of gentle curiosity and clear intent, noticing where your body holds its stories and the patterns that keep you stuck. Whether we meet in Chennai or online, in English or Tamil, I pace the work to fit your life through small experiments, reflective check-ins, and deeper threads that explore trauma, identity, and relocation. My work is culturally aware, trauma-informed, kink-affirming, and LGBTQIA-friendly. I go to the root of your struggles, and you can laugh and cry with me—sometimes in the same session. My strength lies in holding the dualities of life with tenderness and practical clarity.

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Basic Information

Chennai, India

In-person & Online

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Services

Trauma-informed psychotherapy Integrative psychotherapy IFS (Internal Family Systems)–informed work CETA Certified™ (Johns Hopkins, Maryland, USA) Culturally aware and cross-cultural therapy Queer-affirmative, LGBTQIA+-affirmative practice Poly-affirmative and kink-affirmative therapy Working with trauma, identity, and life transitions (including relocation) Body-based awareness and somatic tracking Depth work that explores roots of struggles Relational issues and adjustment difficulties Supporting clients through dualities and complex emotional experiences Clinical supervision

Services Offered:

Relationship Counseling
Counselling for couples or partners focused on improving communication, rebuilding trust, and strengthening emotional connection.
Philosophy
A therapeutic approach that uses philosophical inquiry to explore questions of meaning, ethics, identity, and how to live a good life.
Psychodynamic Therapy
A therapy that explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape current feelings, relationships, and behaviour.
Learn more about Psychodynamic Therapy
Sex Therapy
Specialised therapy addressing sexual concerns such as low desire, performance anxiety, pain during sex, or mismatched needs between partners.
Learn more about Sex Therapy
Individual Therapy
One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.
Learn more about Individual Therapy

Works With:

Adults
Couples

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Body Image
How a person perceives, thinks, and feels about their physical appearance. When persistently negative, it can drive distress, avoidance, and disordered eating.
Learn more about Body Image
Cross-Cultural
The psychological challenges of living between two or more cultures, including identity conflicts, acculturation stress, and difficulties with belonging.
Relocation / Expat
The psychological challenges of moving to a new country or city, including loneliness, culture shock, identity shifts, and loss of social support.
Learn more about Relocation / Expat
LGBTQI+ Support
The unique psychological experiences of LGBTQI+ individuals, including identity exploration, coming out, discrimination, minority stress, and relationship dynamics.
Relationship Issues
Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.
Learn more about Relationship Issues
Learning or Development Difficulties
Conditions that affect a person's ability to acquire, process, or apply information, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, or intellectual disability, impacting education and daily life.
Trauma Therapy
Therapeutic approaches specifically designed to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences.
Learn more about Trauma Therapy
ADHD
A neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent difficulty with attention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity that interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about ADHD
Abuse
Emotional, physical, or sexual mistreatment by another person that causes lasting psychological harm and disrupts a person's sense of safety.

Professional Title:

Psychotherapist
A professional trained to provide in-depth therapy that explores patterns in thoughts, emotions, and relationships to produce lasting change.