Hi there! I’m Dr. Hemisha Patel Urgola (she/her), a Licensed Clinical Psychologist based in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I’m also a PsyPact Authorized Provider, which means I can offer virtual therapy to clients in 40+ states across the U.S.
As a South Asian cisgender woman, I bring both my clinical training and my lived experience into the therapy room. My goal is to show up as a real person—someone you can connect with, feel safe with, and grow alongside.
I started my journey with a Master’s in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College in 2002, followed by a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from La Salle University in 2011. During my time at La Salle, I was honored to be recognized for academic and clinical excellence, and I took on leadership roles with the university’s sex-offender treatment and psychological assessment teams. My doctoral internship took me to the Bureau of Prisons at the Federal Medical Center in Devens, Massachusetts—an experience that gave me deep insight into human behavior and resilience.
Over the last 20+ years, I’ve worked in a variety of settings, offering individual and group therapy, conducting psychological assessments, and even serving as an expert witness in court. I’m a proud member of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), the New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA), and the Pennsylvania Psychological Association (PPA).
My Clinical Work Today
I now run my private practice full-time in Metuchen, NJ. My primary approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which I use to help clients dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, and cultural identity issues—particularly within the South Asian community. I also incorporate Exposure Therapy for things like panic, phobias, and OCD, and I’m trained in the Gottman Method for couples work.
Outside of private practice, I contract with the Philadelphia Police Department and work part-time at Princeton University.
Outside the Therapy Room
My favorite way to recharge? Spending time with my family. They’re my anchor, my joy, and a big part of what keeps me grounded in my South Asian roots. I also love sprinting (yep, I’m that person who actually likes running fast!), binge-watching Monk (IYKYK), diving into psychological thrillers (Nancy Drew was my gateway), and discovering new restaurants and cuisines.
My Approach: Therapy with a Human Touch
The best compliment I’ve ever received from a client?
“I feel so comfortable talking to you because you just show up as yourself.”
And that’s exactly what I aim for. I show up as a human first, psychologist second. That means I won’t pretend to have all the answers, and I won’t sit behind a wall of clinical jargon. I think like you do. I feel like you do. And yes, sometimes, I struggle like you do.
Of course, I always maintain professional boundaries and uphold the ethics of my field. But I believe that being authentic—really showing up—is what makes therapy work. It’s what allows us to build trust, connection, and meaningful change.
I believe therapy should be both effective and meaningful—and that’s where evidence-based treatments come in. Simply put, these are approaches that are backed by science and shown to help.
Think of it like this: if you had a stomachache, you’d want your doctor to prescribe something that actually works for stomach pain—not something meant for headaches. Therapy should be no different.
So yes, I’ll absolutely give you space to talk, feel, and process. But I’ll also help you develop new tools, new perspectives, and new ways of engaging with the challenges you’re facing—so you’re not just coping in the moment, but building skills that last.
My Go-To Approach: ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
ACT is a modern, science-backed therapy that helps people shift their relationship with difficult thoughts and feelings—while also moving toward the life they really want to live.
Here’s my favorite way to explain it, using the “Tug-of-War” metaphor:
Imagine you’re locked in a tug-of-war with a big, scary “Monster.” The rope in your hands represents your fight against anxiety, depression, trauma—whatever you’re struggling with. You’ve been pulling and pulling, trying to win. But in doing so, you’re stuck. Life is happening all around you, and you’re missing it because you’re locked in this exhausting battle.
Now, what if I asked you to drop the rope?
What if, instead of trying to beat the Monster, you learned how to let it exist—without letting it control you. That’s what ACT is about. It’s not about eliminating pain; it’s about changing how you relate to it, and choosing to move toward the things that give your life meaning.
For Couples: Using Gottman + ACT
In couples work, I combine the science of the Gottman Method with the flexibility of ACT. The goal? To help you reconnect, rebuild trust, communicate with more empathy, and find your way back to each other.
We’ll explore what might be draining the connection in your relationship—and how to shift those patterns. ACT helps us work through emotional barriers, while the Gottman Method gives us a framework for rebuilding love, respect, and understanding.
ADHD Evaluations: More Than Just a Test
When I assess for ADHD, I take a holistic view. I don’t just look at test scores—I consider your history, how you describe your struggles, and what I observe in our sessions together. My goal is to understand you as a whole person: socially, emotionally, cognitively, and behaviorally.
This comprehensive approach helps me give you real answers, and more importantly, real direction on what to do next—whether that’s strategies, accommodations, or further treatment.