Rutuja Zawar, MS
pronouns: she|her|hers
Rutuja Zawar joined Collaborative Insight Counseling Associates as a pre-LMHC psychotherapist in September 2025.
Rutuja’s working style includes building genuine therapeutic relationships through unconditional positive affirmation, humor, and introspective conversations. She believes in holding a safe, non-judgmental space for the expression and acknowledgement of uncomfortable emotions; thoughts and feelings that perhaps are shameful for many to harbor. She recognizes how different environmental factors may induce anxiety, and is sensitive to her clients’ cultural identities while also challenging deep-rooted self-harming beliefs. Connecting with her clients’ strengths, Rutuja considers herself a catalyst in their journey of healing and growth. She strives her best to make it a highly meaningful experience that hopefully evolves into a deeper understanding of the self and others.
Rutuja’s approach to therapy is relational and goal-oriented. She also integrates mindfulness-based interventions for heightened mind-body connection, interactive techniques to develop communication and assertiveness skills, and existential dialogue that can help alleviate life transition related stress. With collaborative discussions throughout the therapeutic process, she tailors her approaches to best meet her clients’ needs.
““You are not alone. Conditioned to fit in, shame becomes a part of the being. Together, let us work on bringing that confident self into power who knows you belong the way you are.” ”
Prior to joining CICA, Rutuja worked at a community college where she supported adults with anxiety disorders, depression, interpersonal relationship complexities, substance use issues, self-identity development (including LGBTQ+ individuals), sexual health-wellness, and suicidal ideation. She is experienced in working with socio-economically and ethnically diverse populations, recognizing the need for providers who can deeply empathize and work effectively with people of color.
Rutuja completed her BA Psychology in Pune, India where she realized a deep passion for counseling. It influenced her to pursue graduate studies at Northeastern University in Boston, where she completed her Master’s of Science in Counseling Psychology. As a South Asian immigrant, she deeply understands the existential threat to survival, the confusion over identity and values as a multicultural individual, and the generational stigma surrounding access to mental healthcare. Her experiences continue to motivate her work with people seeking to be heard and seen—those on a journey toward building self-compassion and inner peace.
When not working, Rutuja loves reading, working out at the gym, and consuming media. As a trained Bharatnatyam dancer (a form of Indian classical dance), she enjoys attending dance workshops. She also loves chef-ing it up in the kitchen and rewards her hard work with iced lattes in cozy coffee shops across Boston, which inevitably make her dream of opening her own someday :)
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