In a world where emotional honesty often takes a backseat to appearances, Priya K. Tahim is building a bridge between psychology and storytelling. Through her acclaimed children’s book The Adventures of Naya and Gumbo: Case of the Worries (available on Amazon and through her counseling platform Kaur Counseling), Priya transforms the daunting subject of childhood anxiety into a gentle, hopeful lesson about courage, compassion, and the power of voice.
But Priya’s journey to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor and author is far more than a career path, it is a story of rediscovery, self-worth, and reclaiming a voice she once believed did not matter.
A Voice Once Silenced
“I always believed that my voice didn’t matter,” Priya says, recalling her childhood in a large South Asian family. “I was made fun of for sounding like Minnie Mouse or because I didn’t look like those around me.” For years, she internalized that sense of being “less than.” Yet, as she matured, she discovered that her voice, soft though it may be, carried strength, empathy, and purpose.
“I learned that everyone’s voice matters and so do their stories,” she explains. “Finding your voice is powerful because that’s how change begins.”
Her decision to pursue counseling came naturally. Growing up, she saw how conversations about feelings were rare, even discouraged, in her community. The silence around emotional pain inspired her to create spaces where openness could heal.
Today, Priya’s counseling work focuses on children and families. Her approach is rooted in the belief that safe, vulnerable conversations within families are essential to emotional well-being. “If we can create environments where families can talk honestly, we can foster trust and resilience,” she says.
A Journey Through Darkness
Priya’s empathy runs deep because she has lived through the very darkness she now helps others face. During college, and later in her twenties, she attempted to end her life. Feelings of not being “enough” or “lovable” overwhelmed her. “It took me years to understand that my life was worth more than those who made me feel less than,” she admits.
That painful awakening became the foundation of her mission. “In my early thirties, I began to fall in love with myself,” she says softly. “That was the start of my healing and my passion for mental health.”
Her experiences taught her that mental illness is not a sign of weakness but a human reality. Today, she uses her platform to remind others that there is power in vulnerability and healing in honesty.
Writing as Therapy
Priya describes writing as her safe space, the one place where she could pour emotions that were too heavy to speak aloud. “Combining my stories with a therapeutic approach just felt natural,” she says.
That instinct gave birth to The Adventures of Naya and Gumbo: Case of the Worries, a tender children’s story inspired by her niece and her niece’s pup. In the book, Naya is adventurous while Gumbo, her loyal companion, struggles with worry and fear. Together, they learn coping strategies to face the unknown.
“The moral is that anxiety is normal,” Priya says. “We all feel it, even kids. But with small, intentional steps, we can make it manageable.”
Each book includes a worksheet where readers can create their own “worry plan,” a playful yet powerful tool that turns fear into action. Through this structure, Priya brings mental health conversations into homes early, before silence turns to stigma.
Normalizing Feelings, One Story at a Time
For Priya, the book’s true success lies in the way children connect with it. “Anxiety can start at any age,” she explains. “It’s the intensity that differs.” In her story, Naya helps Gumbo “shake his worries away,” a coping technique rooted in physical grounding and self-affirmation.
“I wanted kids to see that with a plan, everything can feel a little less scary,” she says. “Plans don’t need to be complicated. It could be as simple as taking deep breaths, dancing, or using comforting words.”
Her counseling experience shaped every word of the story. “As a therapist, I knew how common anxiety was in children. But as a human, I was shocked at how early it starts,” she reflects. “That realization changed how I write and how I work.”
The Adventures of Naya and Gumbo targets elementary-age readers but carries lessons for all generations. “It’s meant to be a bedtime story,” Priya says. “Parents can use it to start conversations that might otherwise be difficult. It reminds both adults and children that emotional honesty is strength, not weakness.”
Community, Culture, and Healing
Priya’s work also extends beyond her books and therapy sessions. Through her collaborations with advocacy groups such as MannMukti and Mental Health America, and community organizations like Dil to Dil, she fosters dialogue in spaces where mental health was once taboo.
“In the South Asian community, we rarely talked about emotions growing up,” she explains. “I wanted to challenge that and show that it’s okay to feel.”
She believes community is one of the most powerful tools in combating mental health struggles. “Community helps combat isolation and reminds people they are not alone,” she says. “Everyone deserves someone in their corner.”
Lessons From the Next Generation
Priya’s favorite stories come from readers. One of the most touching came from a parent whose son used The Adventures of Naya and Gumbo to overcome anxiety before summer camp. “She told me her son said he could shake his worries away just like Gumbo,” Priya recalls with a smile. “That moment stays with me. Seeing a child find courage through something I wrote is priceless.”
Another message came from adult readers of her collaborative book The Desi Divorcee, in which she shared her own experience of divorce and rediscovery. “Several women told me my story helped them choose themselves,” Priya says. “That’s why I write, to help others find their voice.”
A Daily Practice of Healing
Despite her calm, empathetic presence, Priya admits balancing therapy and writing can be difficult. “I’m an empath, so it’s hard to turn my brain off,” she says with a laugh. Writing helps her process emotions she absorbs from her clients.
She also relies on a structured daily routine, an Orangetheory workout, a strong cup of coffee, journaling, and morning prayers. “And sometimes,” she adds, “it’s dance parties in my kitchen or hanging out with my nieces. I also see my own therapist. Taking care of others starts with taking care of yourself.”
Rooted in Family and Tradition
When asked about her inspirations, Priya’s answer comes easily. “My parents and grandparents are everything,” she says. Her maternal grandfather taught her that things always work out in the end. Her grandmother reminded her that her voice matters.
Her paternal grandfather valued education as a key to independence, while her parents modeled resilience, integrity, and unconditional love.
“My mom is superwoman,” she says proudly. “She never gives up. My dad is my unsung hero. He taught me that independence is not about being alone but choosing people who add value to your life.”
Those lessons echo through her counseling practice and writing, love, perseverance, and the quiet strength of choosing oneself.
The Next Chapter
Priya isn’t finished telling Naya and Gumbo’s story. She plans to continue the series, tackling new topics one at a time. “Each book will bring another real-life issue into the conversation,” she says. “The next one should be out in 2026.”
Through her characters, she hopes to teach readers that healing does not have to be heavy. “Healing doesn’t have to be boring,” she says. “You can solve so much through honest conversation, even if it’s with yourself.”
The Power of Loving Yourself
Priya’s personal motto has become her mission, “Falling in love with yourself is the greatest love story of all.”
It’s a statement born from pain but transformed into light. “You have to learn to love even the darkest parts of yourself,” she explains. “Only then can you truly heal.”
That philosophy aligns perfectly with America Inspire Magazine’s vision of celebrating hope, courage, and healing. Priya’s journey reminds readers that resilience is not about perfection, it’s about persistence, compassion, and faith in one’s own worth.
A Legacy of Voice and Vision
As The Adventures of Naya and Gumbo: Case of the Worries continues to reach families around the world, Priya’s message grows louder, every voice matters. She encourages young readers, parents, and even educators to use storytelling as a tool for empathy and understanding.
“Every fear can be silenced when you use your voice to question it,” she says. “The moment something no longer feels absolute is the moment you can start finding a solution.”
For Priya, life isn’t black and white, it’s in the grey where the learning happens. “That’s where love and healing live,” she says.
Her story is not only about overcoming anxiety or writing children’s books. It’s about transforming pain into purpose, silence into conversation, and self-doubt into empowerment.
As she continues to write, counsel, and advocate, Priya K. Tahim proves that finding your voice can change not only your life but the lives of everyone who hears it.
Book: The Adventures of Naya and Gumbo: Case of the Worries
Author: Priya K. Tahim
Available at: Amazon
Learn more: Kaur Counseling
You were born with a purpose in life, like we all are, except you used your soft healing voice to help others. Well done, keep going. God bless. Fantastic article and brilliant story with great pictures. You know my moto is “Pugna non Pavor” . Love, Tochi
I found this incredibly moving and inspiring because it presents Priya K. Tahim’s journey with such open honesty. The core message—transforming personal pain from surviving suicide attempts and feelings of being “less than” into a mission of helping others—is deeply authentic. Her children’s book The Adventures of Naya and Gumbo, is brilliant, translating complex anxiety coping mechanisms into gentle, practical tools for families. It serves as a compelling testament to the strength found in vulnerability and the importance of open dialogue, especially in communities where mental health is often stigmatised, ultimately proving that true self-healing can become a powerful and universal legacy.