Wauwatosa Business Spotlight: Therapist finds himself enriched by a life shaped by transitions

When Dr. Neeraj Agrawal followed his wife to the United States nearly 20 years ago, he only planned to stay for three months.

"I was supposed to go back to my practice. But I came here to explore, to see what I can do, and I stayed," explained Agrawal, a psychiatrist from India, who became a psychotherapist after coming to Wisconsin in 1997 for his wife's work.

Today, he owns a clinic, a downsized version of the practice he established in 1999, after earning his master's degree from Marquette University. It's just one of many detours life has presented and, Agrawal said, in doing so, left him unexpectedly richer.

"It's given me a whole different perspective," he said.

The son of a doctor, Agrawal grew up watching his father treat patients. Convinced he, too, would be a doctor, Agrawal went to medical school. But he discovered psychiatry and combined his aptitude for medicine with his interest in helping people.

Plans changed after he moved to the United States, which would not allow him to practice without once again earning his M.D.

"The transition was challenging with immigration and everything, but it also was good," Agrawal admitted. "Even before I came to America, I wanted to be more in the counseling field."

So, he turned to psychology.

"I love it. I still work with doctors, physicians, psychiatrists, so I never felt I was missing something because I'm not practicing psychiatry. And I can still go back to India and practice psychiatry."

Some have questioned his choice.

"The transition was more about social acceptance. 'Why are you doing therapy?' But I like what I do."

He likes it so much that, after establishing a practice with other therapists and nearly 10 employees, Agrawal recently opened an individual practice. He now has just two employees and offers counseling to children and families, as well as those facing anger management, addiction and chronic pain issues, at his offices in Wauwatosa and Glendale.

"I don't want to manage staff. That is my personal choice," Agrawal said. "When you see someone struggling with depression doing well, that is rewarding, or a child starting to behave and managing anger, that is rewarding. I want to help people."

That includes students, with whom Agrawal works not only in his practice – one of his employees is a student – but also by advising on practicums and the licensing process.

"Passing on what I know, that is one of the things I'm in this field to do. I want to help people do better. That always motivates me."

JUST THE FACTS

BUSINESS: Neeraj Agrawal Clinic, 7332 W. State St.

WEB: www.neerajagrawal.com

PHONE: (414) 628-3457

OWNER: Dr. Neeraj Agrawal

INCORPORATED: 2000

TYPE OF BUSINESS: mental health clinic

PEARLS OF WISDOM: "This transition has given me a different perspective, a purpose perspective."