Saijel Dheda

Saijel Dheda is an ACA counsellor with five years' experience working across Australia and New Zealand. She holds a Master’s degree in Counselling from the University of Auckland and describes her work as focusing on identity, migration, colonisation and intergenerational trauma. She lists family concerns, parenting, intimacy-related issues and coping with life changes among the areas she addresses.

Saijel draws on client-centred methods to keep conversations grounded in the person’s priorities. She also uses mindfulness approaches to help people notice patterns in their thoughts and feelings. Sessions tend to centre on practical steps a person can try between meetings and clearer ways to talk about difficult subjects.

Her background includes work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, and training in trauma-informed practice, family therapy and cross-cultural counselling. She has supported people navigating complex childhood trauma, domestic violence, anxiety and low self-esteem. Saijel also lists particular focus areas such as adoption and foster care, attachment and caregiver stress.

People typically work on communication and relationship patterns, commitment and control issues, and coping with change after loss or major life events. She also addresses compassion fatigue and challenges that arise from caregiving roles. The approach is conversational and practical, with room to reflect and practise new responses.

To begin, Saijel asks people to identify the most pressing concerns and preferred ways of working. That helps shape clear, manageable goals and actions to try between sessions. The emphasis is on steady, understandable steps rather than big leaps.

How her approaches translate to online sessions

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on conversations shaped by the person’s concerns. The therapist listens, asks questions and helps the client name priorities and next steps. This approach is suited to working through relationship patterns, parenting questions and life changes.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to notice thoughts and bodily signals. It can help reduce reactivity and support clearer decision-making during stressful transitions or caregiving strain.

Choosing an approach is collaborative. Saijel will discuss which methods feel most useful and adapt sessions to a person’s goals and preferences. That work may shift over time as new issues arise or priorities change.

Practical benefits of online sessions include fitting therapy into busy days and avoiding travel time. Online work can make it easier to schedule shorter check-ins or to meet from different locations when life requires flexibility. Confirm the current session formats before booking so arrangements match your needs.