Priya Apiah Santhosh

I grew up between two worlds. Raised in the U.S. within a traditional Indian household, I learned early how to translate emotions across cultures, expectations, and generations. That tension shaped my understanding of identity, belonging, and communication. It also shaped how I work with clients who live in that same in-between space. Such as first-gen teens and adults navigating parents with one cultural lens and a world outside the home with another.

My focus is on helping clients understand the stories they inherited and the ones they created to survive. Many of us were taught to prioritize duty, performance, and emotional restraint. We learned to endure without asking for help. My work gives people permission to slow down, understand what they’re feeling, and build the confidence to communicate their needs clearly.

I use mindfulness and cognitive and behavioral tools to help clients track their emotional patterns and respond with more steadiness. I work with teens and adults facing cultural identity conflicts, parent-child communication issues, relationship challenges, people-pleasing patterns, and the stress that comes from juggling two value systems. My approach is not about fixing. It’s about helping you develop clarity, self-trust, and a way of relating that feels authentic rather than reactive or pressured.

My own life has held fast transitions: losing a parent, navigating marriage across cultures, moving countries, career shifts, financial uncertainty, and pregnancy. These experiences deepened my understanding of resilience, emotional regulation, and what it takes to rebuild your sense of self during periods of change.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Management and Marketing Communication and spent over six years in the tech industry before moving into coaching. I live in the Bay Area with my husband and have recently welcomed our first child. I’ve practiced yoga for more than 20 years, and it continues to be a steady anchor in my emotional work.

I specialize in multicultural identity, impacts from childhood pain, communication challenges, conflict patterns, self-worth, and the emotional strain common among first-gen families. My coaching is practical, direct, and compassionate. The goal is simple: understand where your patterns came from, choose what still serves you, and build a relationship with yourself that feels grounded and honest.

Text the Polinder Coaching Group: +1-562-514-4282

Insurance: Polinder Coaching Group does not accept insurance and does not send out superbills