Today we’d like to introduce you to Mahaley Patel.
Hi Mahaley , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been drawn to people’s stories. Long before I became a therapist, I was fascinated by how people make sense of difficult experiences, heal from loss, and find their way forward after life doesn’t go according to plan.
That curiosity led me to study psychology, earn my bachelor’s degree from UCLA and my master’s degree from Pepperdine University, and eventually become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in perinatal mental health. I loved helping people navigate some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, but I never imagined how personally those topics would one day intersect with my own story.
In 2023, my husband and I lost our daughter, Saachi, after a NICU stay. Becoming both a bereaved parent and a therapist who works with grief changed me in ways I am still discovering. It deepened my understanding of how isolating loss can feel, but also how healing it is when people are given space to tell the truth about their experiences and have those experiences witnessed by others.
That belief in the power of storytelling has become a common thread throughout my work. In my therapy practice, I help parents navigate infertility, pregnancy and postpartum challenges, NICU experiences, and the grief that can accompany parenthood. I facilitate support groups for bereaved parents and serve on the Bereaved Parent Advisory Board at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Most recently, that work led me to co-author “Your NICU Story”, a guided book designed to help families process their NICU experiences through reflection and storytelling. The book grew out of a simple belief – that every family’s story matters, and healing often begins when we are able to put words to what we’ve lived through.
I feel grateful that my professional work and personal experiences have come together in a way that allows me to support others. None of this is the path I would have chosen, but it is the path that has shaped me into the therapist, writer, and person I am today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not. Like most meaningful journeys, there have been challenges at every stage.
Early in my career, one of the biggest struggles was learning how to sit with other people’s pain without trying to fix it. As therapists, we are trained to help, but some experiences cannot be solved. Learning how to walk alongside people in those moments was something that took time and experience.
Building a private practice also came with its own challenges. Like many therapists, I started with a lot of passion and very little business knowledge. There was a steep learning curve in figuring out how to run a practice, establish boundaries, market my services, and create a sustainable career while also raising a family.
The most significant challenge, however, was the loss of our daughter, Saachi. Experiencing profound grief while continuing to show up as a therapist required me to rethink everything I thought I knew about resilience, healing, and what life after loss means. Going back to work after a loss like that was incredibly challenging and certainly not the right decision for everyone. Ultimately I am glad that I went back to seeing clients and I think it has had a positive impact on my grief journey.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in perinatal mental health – meaning infertility, pregnancy and postpartum mental health, NICU experiences, infant loss, and beyond.
In addition to my private practice, I facilitate support groups for bereaved parents, and serve on the Bereaved Parent Advisory Board at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. I am also the co-author of “Your NICU Story: Reflecting on Your Family’s Experience”, a guided book designed to help families process their NICU journeys through storytelling and reflection.
What I am most proud of is creating resources and spaces that help people feel less alone. Some of the work I am most proud of has grown directly out of the hardest experiences of my own life, particularly after the loss of our daughter, Saachi. Being able to transform pain into something that supports other families has been incredibly meaningful.
I think what sets me apart is the combination of professional expertise and lived experience. I have spent years studying and supporting people through grief, trauma, and perinatal mental health challenges, but I have also walked through many of these experiences myself. While every person’s story is unique, I believe that both clinical knowledge and human connection matter. My goal is never to position myself as an expert on someone else’s experience, but rather to create a space where people feel seen, understood, and empowered to make meaning of their own story.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
One of the things I love most about Nashville is that it still manages to feel like a big city with a small-town heart. People here are genuinely so kind and show up for one another. My family and I get the benefits of living in a city while also enjoying a slower pace of life. While the food has improved significantly since I have lived here, I am still in need of more A+ restaurants!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mahaleypatel.com
- Instagram: @mahaleyhpatel
