A New Chapter at Puget Sound Psychotherapy

Closing One Chapter, Opening the Next...

Dear PSP clients, colleagues and extended community,

Thank you, thank you, and thank you. I am deeply touched by all the ways you have shown your support in the last months since the fire and our relocation. What most people outside the practice did not know was that this summer PSP was already in the middle of a leadership transition. Now that we are settled into our new Madrona location, I'd like to share the backstory.

Only a month before the fire, Dr. Shikha Shah and Siddharth Mistry came on board as the new owners of PSP. The decision to sell the business was largely prompted by changes in Washington state law that require the owner of a practice like PSP to have a medical degree. We are so fortunate to have the expertise of Shikha, a physician who practices family medicine, and her husband, Sid, to lead PSP into a new chapter. They understand that PSP's greatest value is not a brand name or a business model. It is the people who work here, the connections between the clinicians, and the trust that we have built with this community.

As Shikha and Sid were getting to know all the people who help PSP run smoothly, we saw our old office go up in flames. But having all three of us at the helm, working side by side in the following weeks, showed everyone why they will be excellent stewards of PSP. They both rallied into action and showed their ability to lead with care and keep people at the forefront even amidst a crisis.

Over the last twelve years, PSP grew from a small band of six of us into a community of more than thirty therapists and psychiatric providers and five administrative staff. We are supported by an extraordinary network of colleagues, referral partners, clients, families, and other people throughout Seattle who came to know and trust our practice. This legacy now continues with Shikha and Sid at the helm.

So, I'm closing one chapter as PSP's owner, and passing the torch to Shikha and Sid. I open a new chapter as PSP's consultant "emerita," a monthly advisory role, and as a specialist working with couples and families in my solo private practice.

As I step away, my strongest feeling is gratitude.

• To the clinicians who trusted PSP as a place to support your growth and your work: THANK YOU
• To the clients and families who trusted us during vulnerable and consequential periods of your lives: THANK YOU
• And to the therapists, physicians, attorneys, educators, business owners, community organizations, friends, former colleagues, and countless others who have referred people to PSP over the years: THANK YOU for lending us your trust and your reputation. Every referral was a vote of confidence that validated what we were trying to build.

Finally, to Shikha and Sid: thank you for carrying PSP's mission forward and leading with heart — people over profit, always.

I am excited to watch what PSP becomes with fresh new ideas, energy, skills and vision.

... from Shikha and Sid, it's definitely a hello

Hello to the entire PSP community,

It is with a deep sense of honor and humility that we step into this new chapter alongside all of you. First, we want to express our profound gratitude to Evonne for her trust and for the incredible foundation she has built. Her guidance over these past months — especially as we navigated the challenges of the fire and our relocation together — has given us a firsthand look at what makes this practice so special.

What we have clearly seen is an unwavering commitment to high-quality care, genuine connections within the clinical community in Seattle, and the trust PSP shares with our clients and partners. We're betting our entire future — and the future of our 6-month-old son Aashay — on continuing on the path that has been laid out before us.

A message from Shikha:

As a physician in family medicine, I have spent eight years devoting myself to caring for others. I completed my training in Texas, and Sid and I moved to Washington five years ago. Working in big hospital systems in Seattle, I have consistently seen how today's complicated healthcare system negatively affects patient care. Many organizations put profits over people, leaving them to navigate specialty referrals and the insurance maze all on their own.

I am proud to now help lead an organization that does the opposite. PSP simplifies the path to proper care, connecting clients with the compassionate and competent therapists and psychiatrists they deserve. I am deeply committed to PSP's culture, where clinicians who feel like they are part of a community, who feel truly valued, are the ones who provide the best patient care. I am honored to help nurture and sustain that platform.

A message from Sid:

My path to PSP comes from a different professional background, but with the same hope for what we can build together.

Earlier in my life, I spent six years building and leading a nonprofit organization in India, where we worked to support underserved communities through initiatives such as free tutoring for children, school supply donations, blood donation drives, and other community outreach. That experience gave me an early appreciation for the fulfillment that comes from bringing people together around a shared purpose and contributing, even in small ways, to the well-being of others.

In the years since, I have spent much of my career in engineering, technology and business, and have long been drawn to entrepreneurship and the opportunity to pursue something meaningful. But along the way, I experienced workplaces where I sometimes felt more like a number than a person. Those experiences shaped my belief that the way we treat people truly matters.

I have also experienced personally the positive impact that therapy can have on a person's life. It gave me a deep appreciation for the work of mental health professionals and the care and compassion they bring to others every day.

PSP stood out to Shikha and me because of the community Evonne had created, the trust and respect she had earned, and the opportunity to support independent clinicians who do such important work. My hope is that together, we can continue nurturing a warm and connected community where people feel valued, supported and proud to be part of something meaningful.

We are genuinely excited to continue this journey with you. If you have any questions about the transition, feel free to respond to this email or give us a call at (206) 669-4336.

Thank you for welcoming us into this community. We look forward to growing it together,

And introducing our Chief Joy Officer

As PSP's newest executive, our 6-month-old Aashay brings a lot to the table. His qualifications include contagious smiles, excellent cuddle skills and a firm belief that naps should be taken seriously. And we have a lot to learn from him about staying curious and living in the moment.