Something is strong when women come together without competition. Listening rather than proving. Observing rather than making comparisons. Healing rather than performance.
This fact was realised to me in Jalandhar, as Love That Was Meant for Me was first presented in Punjab, and it happened in The Bookworms, which is a women-run book club that can be the best example of what I think about community, growth, and emotional truth.
The Tribune had a ground report on the evening which was not a mere book launch. Instead, it served to remind me of why stories are important—and how women who have experienced lived realities carve out spaces where change actually starts.
What brought us together?
On the face of it, such a match might appear odd: a US-/Mumbai-based author-psychotherapist and a book club headquartered in Jalandhar. In reality, we met at the most natural crossroads—a shared trust in books as tools for reflection, and women’s stories as instruments of healing.
I am an emotionologist, psychotherapist, Certified intimacy coach, and Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, and I have spent years offering relationship therapy and trauma therapy across cultures and continents. Yet moments like this remind me that healing does not live only inside therapy rooms.
Sometimes, healing begins when women sit together and recognise themselves in one another’s stories.
Why did this book have its basis in lived truth?
The women of The Bookworms received Love That Was Meant for Me not merely as a memoir, but as a mirror. It reflects the inner worlds of women who have felt unseen, unheard, or uncertain of their worth.
The book draws from both my professional work and my personal life, not to relieve pain, but to honour and reshape it. As a best couple counselor, I have witnessed how clarity begins the moment we stop judging our experiences and start understanding them.
That message echoed strongly in the room.
What does it really mean to hold space for women’s truth?
Standing before the women of Jalandhar, I did not speak as an expert delivering answers. I spoke as a woman sharing the truth. I reminded them that it is okay to pause, to breathe, to feel, and to return when the heart is ready.
Healing is not linear. It never has been.
I see this pattern repeatedly in my global practice, including among clients seeking the best couple therapy in the USA. People are often pushed to “move on” before they have fully processed what they feel. But unresolved emotions do not disappear—they wait.
This is why safe, compassionate spaces matter.
Why are female-led communities so powerful?
The Bookworms is one such space. Founded in 2017 by Jalandhar-based social activist and disability rights pioneer Anjali Dada, it began as a small book exchange and has since grown into two vibrant circles of women bound by curiosity, empathy, and growth.
Each woman brings her own voice and strength, creating a culture of mutual upliftment. This mirrors what I see in CBT Couples Counseling Services, where safety, respect, and honest expression form the foundation of healing. Perfection is not required—presence is.
Why are women pressured to live at extremes?
During the session, I spoke about a recurring theme I encountered in my work. Women are often expected to embody extremes: patriarchy or feminism, strength or softness, sacrifice or self-focus.
Yet love and well-being live in the middle ground.
That space holds ambition and rest, vulnerability and resilience. It is where women support rather than compete with one another.
Why was this moment more than just a book launch?
Being welcomed in Jalandhar mattered not for visibility, but for recognition. It honoured the emotional labour of women, the power of shared narratives, and the quiet strength that often goes unseen.
The event was thoughtfully hosted by Bhumika Batra, Kanchan Nayyar, Kiran Sanghera, Jot Bawa, Dr Sidhu, and Rashima of Old Walls. Their intention and care held the evening together.
These are the same values I centre in my therapeutic work – whether offering relationship therapy or guiding individuals back to their emotional truth.
How do these stories travel beyond geography?
Though this gathering took place in Jalandhar, the questions it raised are universal:
- Who am I beyond what I give?
- Why does love feel unsafe when it should be secure?
- How do I return to myself?
These are the questions I work with daily, and they form the heart of Love That Was Meant for Me, available here:
https://www.amazon.in/dp/8199171219
What do I carry forward from this experience?
When women gather with sincerity, transformation follows. Stories soften shame. Shared experience dissolves isolation. Healing becomes possible—not because someone fixes us, but because we are finally seen.
Yes, women can create magic. And when they do, its impact travels far beyond the room.
Connect with Shai C
You can connect with me on Instagram and on Youtube. Where I share insights on healing, relationships, emotional wellness, and my work with individuals and couples across the world.
