Saila Akhtar , LMHC

Saila Akhtar is a licensed mental health counselor who focuses on helping women navigate tough times. She listens closely and helps people sort through stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship problems, parenting strain, and issues with intimacy or self-esteem. Saila also supports people facing addiction, bipolar mood concerns, trauma and abuse, ADHD, and major life changes.

Her style is interactive and straightforward. Sessions are conversational and goal-oriented, so clients can talk through what matters most and try practical steps between meetings. She draws on client-centered methods to center each person s experience and on cognitive-behavioral ideas to spot patterns that keep problems going.

Saila brings eight years of clinical work and holds the LMHC credential, with licenses in Florida and New York. That background includes work with people affected by family conflict, adoption and foster care questions, and survivors of domestic violence or other trauma.

In sessions she uses a mix of approaches to match each person s needs. Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques can help with strong emotions and coping, while existential and Jungian ideas offer ways to reflect on meaning, identity, and life transitions. Treatment plans are adjusted as goals change.

People who choose her can expect practical tools, direct conversation, and a respectful tone. Saila aims to create a space where it feels possible to try small changes and build toward better daily functioning.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Client-centered therapy puts the person's perspective at the center. It focuses on listening, reflecting what you say, and helping you set your own goals; this is useful for exploring identity, body image, and self-esteem. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete skills to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and change unhelpful patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers tools for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving communication when feelings run high.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss your concerns, goals, and preferences and then suggest methods to try. That collaboration means plans can shift as you learn what helps and what needs more attention.

Online sessions use video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging for flexibility. Video works well for in-depth conversations and skills practice, phone can fit a break during a busy day, live chat is helpful for brief check-ins, and text messaging supports short updates or coaching between sessions. These options make it easier to schedule regular sessions and to use tools in the moment when challenges arise.