Nirekha De Silva, ACA

Nirekha De Silva offers calm, practical support for people facing stress, anxiety, addiction and major life changes. She focuses on helping clients make small, steady changes that ease daily pressure and rebuild confidence. Nirekha aims to create a respectful, compassionate space where people can talk through what matters most to them.

With 20 years of practice in Australia, Nirekha uses conversational, goal-focused work rather than jargon. She listens for each person’s priorities and shapes sessions around real-life needs like coping with grief, parenting strains, career stress and relationship worries. She also helps people navigate ageing and geriatric issues and the stresses that come with caregiving.

Her approach draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and client-centred methods to help people notice what matters, change unhelpful thinking patterns and build practical skills. She can also use Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy techniques when they suit the client’s goals.

Sessions tend to be straightforward and collaborative. Nirekha works with people on behaviours, emotions and thinking patterns, and she helps set realistic steps to try between sessions. She emphasises kindness and realistic progress rather than quick fixes.

People who choose Nirekha usually want practical tools and a steady, supportive counsellor who responds to their situation. To begin, clients are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to availability.

How therapeutic approaches shape online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take committed steps toward those values, even when difficult thoughts and feelings are present. This approach can be useful for anxiety, depression and coping with life transitions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings and actions, teaching concrete skills to change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours that maintain worry or low mood. Client-Centred Therapy emphasises a respectful, non-judgemental relationship where the person’s own goals guide the work and pace.

Choosing an approach is often part of the early sessions. The therapist works together with the client to pick methods that fit their goals, preferences and everyday life. That collaboration may mean combining elements from different approaches as needs change.

The original biography does not list specific online formats, so confirm which session types are offered before booking. Online sessions can make therapy easier to fit into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow check-ins during a lunch break or between commitments. Some clients find phone sessions useful when they prefer a shorter check-in or lower bandwidth, while video sessions support face-to-face conversation and practice of skills. Discussing practical arrangements is part of the first meeting so sessions can be fitted around work, caregiving and other responsibilities.