Nirekha De Silva, ACA
Calm, practical support for life changes
Details
| Name | Nirekha De Silva |
|---|---|
| Credentials | ACA |
| Based in | Australia |
| Registered with | ACA |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English, Sinhala |
| Years in practice | 20 |
About Nirekha
Nirekha De Silva is an ACA counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety and life changes. She speaks English and Sinhala and aims to make sessions easy to follow. She meets people where they are and works with them at a steady pace.
Her approach is practical and person-focused. She draws on Narrative Therapy to help people tell their story and spot hidden patterns. She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Client-Centred techniques to clarify values and build everyday coping skills.
Background and approach
Over 20 years of practice, she has supported people dealing with grief, addiction, depression and relationship difficulties. She also assists those struggling with parenting, career decisions, anger and low self-esteem. Additional interests include attachment, adoption and foster care, and issues arising from ageing or caregiving.
Sessions can include goal-setting, skills practice and talking through difficult memories. Nirekha adapts the pace and tools to each person’s needs and preferences. She emphasises respect, sensitivity and compassionate listening throughout the work.
People looking to start typically pick a session format that fits their life. Nirekha offers video, phone, live chat and text-based messaging options. She will work with clients to create a plan that suits their schedule and goals.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Grief among the things Nirekha works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Grief
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Commitment issues
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Nirekha among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Nirekha among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Nirekha among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Nirekha among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Nirekha among the ways she works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Nirekha among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Nirekha among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Nirekha among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Nirekha among the ways she works.
- Somatic Therapy: Listed by Nirekha among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Nirekha among the ways she works.
- Internal Family Systems: Listed by Nirekha among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Nirekha directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Nirekha directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
Approaches that shape online sessions
Many online sessions draw on Narrative Therapy to help people reframe their life stories and notice recurring themes that shape everyday choices. This approach is useful for people who want to understand how past events influence current behaviour and relationships.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is another approach she uses; it focuses on clarifying values and taking small, meaningful actions even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present. ACT can help with anxiety, depression and coping during major life transitions.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk through each method and match strategies to the client's needs, goals and preferences. That collaborative step helps shape a plan that feels practical and achievable.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and skill practice. Phone sessions suit shorter check-ins or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging allow for flexible, in-the-moment support that can fit around work or parenting commitments.
These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent while juggling busy schedules, travel or geographic distance. Appropriately qualified therapists can adapt exercises and tools to work well across each format.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of issues does this counsellor help with?
She assists with stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, depression and parenting concerns, among other issues. Her profile also lists trauma, relationship and career difficulties.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is person-focused and practical. She uses Narrative Therapy alongside ACT and client-centred techniques to help people tell their story and build coping skills.
What experience does she bring to sessions?
She has 20 years of professional experience working with a broad range of concerns including addiction, anger management and self-esteem.
Which credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is listed with the Australian Counselling Association as ACA and is located in Australia.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English and Sinhala.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Nirekha are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Nirekha where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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