Ankur Nag Talks About His Book “A Wounded Healer (Therapist)”

About the Author:

ANKUR NAG is an integrative therapist, counsellor, and thought leader. He holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and is trained Past Life Regression Therapist and Family Constellation Facilitator. Drawing from both therapeutic spaces and corporate experience, Ankur helps people transform their deepest wounds into powerful wisdom.

Exclusive interview with the author

Q: What Inspired You To Write This Book?

A: I didn’t originally set out to write a book; I set out to make sense of my life. The inspiration came from the scattered reflections, notes, and voice memos I recorded to hold onto the insights from my daily struggles before they faded. Over time, I noticed a pattern: ordinary life events—a delay, a fight, a dream, or even a broken appliance—were never just random occurrences. They were revealing hidden psychological patterns and symbolic meanings . I was inspired to write this because I realized that we often look for healing in grand gestures, but true insight hides in the “torn paint” of our daily lives. I wanted to create a mirror for others to see that their own ordinary moments are worthy of deep attention.

Q: Can You Tell Us About The Book?

A: A Wounded Healer Therapist is written from the perspective of an ordinary person—someone who, like all of us, carries a mind and heart crowded with thoughts that we often feel we cannot share, even when we are surrounded by people. I wrote this book to capture those fleeting, unspoken moments—whether they are feelings of shame, anger, love, or confusion—and to invite the reader to resonate with them. The core message is that it is okay to have these thoughts. Some are meant to simply come and go, while others carry a deeper weight that asks us to look closer. The book guides the reader to take those thoughts and apply two specific lenses: a Psychological Lens to uncover behavioral patterns, or a Symbolic Lens to find hidden meaning in ordinary events. The goal is for the reader to see their own reflection in my stories, understand the root of their emotion, and then—crucially—learn from it and let it pass. It is about dropping the mental weight so we can move ahead and truly enjoy the journey.

Q: What Does The Title Mean?

A: The title A Wounded Healer Therapist features a deliberate strikethrough on the word “Healer” to make a specific point: the belief that I—or anyone else—can “heal” another person is an illusion. I chose this title to drop the ego of the “savior.” I realized that healing is an inner movement that only the individual can allow. As a therapist, I am not the source of the cure; I am merely a medium, like a window that allows sunlight to pass through. I am not the sun; I simply hold the space for the light to enter. By striking through the word “Healer,” I am embracing the role of the fellow traveler—one who walks beside the client, serving as a mirror and a witness, knowing that true healing happens through us, not by us.

Q: What Do You Think Happened To The Characters After The Book Ended?

A: Since this book is a memoir, the “character” is me. The stories revolve around my own life, so the ending of the book is simply the beginning of my next chapter. When I started writing, I saw myself merely as a narrator collecting stories about my past. But as the book grew, I felt a profound shift in my perspective. Writing these pages allowed me to step out of the “drama” of my life and step into the role of an observer. I stopped simply reacting to the events and started making sense of them as an actor on a stage. Today, I am no longer indulging in the chaos of the story; I am witnessing it. I have become more peaceful, more aware, and more integrated. As I wrote in the epilogue, healing is not a destination where the story ends; it is a path I keep walking. So, after the book ends, the character continues—just with lighter baggage and a quieter mind.

Q: What Is The Most Difficult Part About Writing For You?

A: The most difficult part is telling the unvarnished truth. It is not easy to put the exact, raw thoughts in my head onto paper without filtering them to look “better.” Throughout the writing process, I wrestled with a deep fear: that people who know me as the “wise therapist” or the “good son” would suddenly see a different person. I feared their judgment, and I feared their anger. As I wrote in the book, I didn’t want to offer “polished masks”; I wanted to be “naked in soul”. But actually doing that—admitting to my own pettiness, my judgments, and my failures—created a constant dilemma. The hardest part was overcoming the urge to protect my image so that I could offer the reader my truth.

Q: What Are Your Top 3 Books?

A: My top three books are: The License to Live by Priya Kumar – For its inspiring approach to self-discovery and coaching. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert – For its honest portrayal of a personal spiritual journey, which resonates deeply with the memoir style of my own book. The Choice for Love by Barbara De Angelis – This book was a key inspiration for my work and is included in my reference list. It profoundly shaped my understanding of love not just as an emotion, but as an enlightened relationship with oneself and the world.