Diana Otieno , AASW

Diana Otieno is an AASW social worker with five years of client-facing experience in Australia. She focuses on stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief and depression. Diana approaches people as experts in their own lives and aims to make the first steps feel achievable. She acknowledges that starting therapy takes courage and offers steady support from that first session.

Her sessions are conversational and practical. She uses approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try small, manageable changes. Attachment-Based and Client-Centred ideas shape how she builds safety and trust in the room.

Diana often helps people work through issues such as abandonment, attachment difficulties and body image concerns. She also supports those dealing with caregiver stress, chronic illness, communication problems and the aftermath of separation. Other areas she addresses include first responder stress, gender dysphoria, HIV/AIDS and immigration-related challenges.

Clients can expect a calm, respectful tone and a focus on realistic steps they can use between sessions. Diana aims to break down bigger problems into smaller tasks that fit daily life. Her style balances listening with practical guidance.

Sessions are offered in English and are delivered through a range of online formats. Diana works collaboratively to set goals and check progress over time. She encourages people to bring what matters most to them into the conversation.

How Diana's approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing difficult thoughts and feelings while choosing actions that align with your values. It can help with anxiety, depression and persistent stress by emphasising meaningful, practical steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) works on spotting thought and behaviour patterns that keep problems going and then testing small changes to break those patterns. It is often useful for anxiety, low mood and unhelpful habits.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Diana will talk with each person about their goals, day-to-day pressures and what has or hasn't helped before. Together you decide which methods to try and adjust them as progress is made so the plan fits your needs and preferences.

Online sessions are offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video lets you meet face to face from another location, phone can be simpler when bandwidth is limited, and messaging suits brief check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These formats make it easier to fit counselling around work, caregiving and other commitments while still working with an appropriately qualified counsellor.