Saijel Dheda, ACA

Saijel Dheda is an ACA counsellor with five years of clinical experience working across Australia and New Zealand. She trained to a Master’s degree level in counselling at the University of Auckland and has focused much of her work on identity, migration and intergenerational trauma. Saijel’s background includes work with people from diverse cultural communities and various family arrangements.

Saijel aims to create a calm, non-judgemental space where people can talk through difficult moments. She listens closely and helps people name what matters to them. Her style is warm and straightforward, with an emphasis on building trust early in the process.

She works with issues around family relationships, intimacy, parenting and coping with life changes. Jealousy and compassion fatigue are also areas she addresses alongside concerns such as abandonment, attachment difficulties and communication problems. Saijel supports people dealing with domestic violence, body image and transitions related to adoption and foster care.

Her main clinical approaches are Client-Centred Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy. In practical terms this means sessions focus on the person’s experience, and use mindful awareness to reduce reactivity and improve emotion regulation. Sessions move at a pace set by the individual.

Saijel offers therapy in English and works from an inclusive, culturally aware perspective. She helps parents, partners and individuals find clearer ways of relating and managing stress. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to the booking process on the site.

How client-centred and mindfulness approaches work online

Client-Centred Therapy puts the person’s experience at the centre of sessions. The therapist follows the client’s lead, reflects what they say and helps them find their own solutions. This approach is useful for relationship issues, parenting worries and feelings like jealousy where being heard matters.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple awareness practices and moment-to-moment noticing. It helps reduce reactivity, calm strong emotions and improve focus during stressful times. This can be helpful for compassion fatigue, anxiety and coping with life changes.

Finding the right approach is part of therapy. Saijel will work collaboratively to choose methods that fit a person’s goals and comfort level. Conversations about what helps most happen together, and techniques are adjusted as the work progresses.

Session formats are not specified in the provided profile, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also allow work to continue across moves or changing routines. When booking, check which session types the therapist currently offers and choose what best fits everyday life.