Saijel Dheda , ACA

Saijel Dheda is an ACA counsellor who brings five years of practical experience to work with people facing family and relationship strains. She trained at the University of Auckland and has practiced across New Zealand and Australia. Saijel is easy to talk to and aims to create a calm, non-judgemental space for whoever sits with her.

Her background includes work with parenting challenges, domestic violence, and complex childhood trauma. She also addresses intimacy-related problems and compassion fatigue. Saijel pays attention to identity, migration and intergenerational issues that shape a person’s life.

Saijel uses client-centred methods that focus on what the person wants to bring to therapy. She pairs that with mindfulness to help people notice patterns of thought and feeling. Sessions are practical and based on small, manageable steps rather than jargon.

People meet Saijel for help with communication problems, blended family stress, body image concerns and abandonment or attachment issues. She also supports those dealing with grief after natural or human-caused disasters, and caregivers under pressure.

Her style is warm and straightforward. Saijel aims to build trust quickly so people can start addressing issues sooner. She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to fit different needs.

How client-centred care and mindfulness translate to online work

Client-Centred Therapy is about following the person’s lead. The therapist listens closely, reflects what they hear and helps the person decide the goals. This approach suits relationship and family concerns where a person needs space to be heard and respected.

Mindfulness Therapy focuses on present-moment awareness. It helps people notice thoughts, bodily sensations and emotions without getting overwhelmed. That method can be useful for anxiety, compassion fatigue and coping with life changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will talk with the client about needs, goals and preferences and together decide what to try first. Plans can shift as work progresses so the approach stays relevant to the person’s life.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let people read facial cues and body language, while phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat and text-based messaging allow ongoing check-ins and written reflections between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving or travel commitments and help maintain continuity of care.