About Us
JiVA means life. And we believe every life deserves to be held with compassion, culture, and care.
JiVA Mental Health is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit initiative transforming how South Asian communities understand, access, and experience mental health care.
Born from a deep recognition of the stigma, shame, and generational trauma many carry, JiVA was created to meet our community where we are—with compassion, culture, and clarity.
Founded by licensed clinical social worker Ektha Aggarwal, JiVA Mental Health emerged from years of witnessing the quiet pain carried by South Asians navigating the tension between cultural expectations and emotional wellbeing. From teens feeling unseen, to mothers facing postpartum challenges, to families weighed down by generational trauma, the need was clear.
Rooted in the Sanskrit word jīva, meaning “to live,” “to breathe,” or “the soul within,” JiVA reflects the essence of what we believe: that healing must be holistic, honoring both ancestral wisdom and modern clinical care.
We provide in-language, culturally responsive therapy, community-based programs, and trauma-informed education that serve youth, parents, and elders. Our work supports individuals in moving beyond silence and shame toward wholeness and self-acceptance.
From virtual therapy sessions to in-person workshops, from postpartum training to AI-powered tools like JiVA GPT, we are building a world where mental wellness is a right, not a privilege,for South Asian communities.
At JiVA, we offer therapy, training, scholarships, and safe spaces grounded in cultural affirmation, not erasure. Because healing isn’t just personal. It’s cultural. It’s communal. It’s sacred.