Shivani Sood , ACA

Shivani Sood is an ACA counsellor who uses a trauma-informed, client-centred approach to support women facing stress, anxiety, grief and major life changes. She draws on ten years of clinical experience to help people manage symptoms and rebuild a sense of control and self-worth.

Shivani works with people who have experienced abuse, attachment wounds, abandonment and relationship strain. She also supports those coping with chronic illness or pain, caregiver stress, and the emotional fallout from separation and divorce. Her aim is to create a respectful partnership where clients feel heard and understood.

Her background includes work in diverse regions and cultural settings across Australia and abroad. That experience informs a flexible, culturally aware style that pays attention to individual values and life context. She offers sessions in English, Hindi and Punjabi to match client needs.

In sessions Shivani uses an integrative approach tailored to each person rather than a single method for everyone. The focus is on practical steps people can use between sessions to manage panic, reduce compulsive behaviours, and rebuild confidence after trauma or loss.

People who work with Shivani can expect calm, direct guidance and a focus on small, steady changes. Her practice accepts video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. New clients begin by completing a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a time that suits them.

Evidence-based approaches for online care

Shivani uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques in an integrative way so each person gets what suits them best. One common element is trauma-informed practice - a focus on safety, pacing and rebuilding coping after distressing events. This helps people who have experienced abuse, complex loss or prolonged stress.

She also works with approaches that target anxiety and compulsive symptoms by teaching practical skills for managing panic and intrusive thoughts. These skills include paced breathing, gradual exposure to feared situations and routines to reduce compulsive checking or rituals. For people struggling with low self-esteem or life transitions, she emphasises reflective work and small goal-setting to rebuild confidence and purpose.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Shivani will discuss options and work with each client to choose methods that match their goals, comfort and lifestyle. The first sessions often focus on listening, assessment and a shared plan for what to try next.

Online therapy gives flexibility for people with busy schedules, limited transport or regional location. Video calls are useful for face-to-face discussion, phone sessions suit brief check-ins or lower bandwidth, and live chat or text-based messaging work well for shorter updates or when writing helps express thoughts. These options make it easier to fit therapy into daily life and maintain steady progress.