Jayani Jayatilake , AASW

Jayani Jayatilake is an AASW-accredited social worker with ten years' experience supporting people through stressful life moments. She aims to create a warm, non-judgemental space where clients can speak openly about what is troubling them. Jayani encourages small steps and recognises that asking for help takes courage.

She helps people manage stress and anxiety, cope with grief and loss, and work through trauma and abuse. Jayani also supports those facing depression and major life changes, and she addresses related concerns such as body image, attachment issues and caregiver stress. Her approach is practical and person-centred, aimed at making day-to-day life more manageable.

Jayani draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide sessions. She listens carefully, helps clients identify patterns that cause pain, and suggests realistic strategies to try between meetings. Conversations are paced to suit each person, with options for shorter check-ins or longer sessions depending on need.

She offers sessions in English and Sinhala and works with adults across a wide range of concerns including adoption and foster care issues, ageing and geriatric matters, chronic illness and disability, and relationship-related struggles such as divorce and commitment worries. Jayani practises from Australia and does not take international clients.

Her work style is collaborative - she helps people set clear goals and reviews progress as therapy continues. If someone prefers online contact, she provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging as flexible ways to stay connected.

Evidence-based approaches and online care

Jayani uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide sessions in clear, practical ways. One common approach she draws on focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns and then testing small changes to reduce anxiety and low mood. This method helps with stress, depression and everyday coping skills.

Another approach centres on processing trauma and difficult experiences through gradual, paced work that reduces overwhelm and strengthens resilience. It can be helpful for people recovering from abuse, major loss or other distressing events.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Jayani collaborates with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, needs and comfort level. She reviews progress and adjusts the plan as therapy continues so the approach stays relevant and useful.

Online sessions are offered by video, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to give practical flexibility. Video calls are useful for face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can suit those with limited bandwidth or who prefer not to be on camera. Live chat and messaging allow shorter check-ins or ongoing written reflection between scheduled meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving and other responsibilities.