SD Portrait of Saima Durrani

Saima Durrani, ACA

Practical, empathetic therapy for anxiety and stress

3 years in practice · based in Australia · sessions in English, Punjabi, Pushto, Urdu · online sessions

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About Saima

Saima Durrani is an ACA counsellor who focuses on practical, down-to-earth therapy. She helps people manage stress and anxiety and talks through relationship and parenting challenges with clear, calm guidance. Saima believes each person knows their own story and brings strengths to difficult times.

She works alongside clients to find workable steps rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions. Sessions aim to be straightforward and respectful of what each person needs right now.

Book with Saima Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Background and approach

Her approach draws on evidence-informed methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and client-centred work. That means she helps people notice patterns of thought and behaviour, practise new ways of responding, and focus on values that matter to them. Mindfulness and DBT skills are used when helpful for emotion regulation.

Saima has three years of professional experience in multicultural settings across Australia. She supports people coping with grief, trauma and loss, addictions, eating and sleeping difficulties, low self-esteem, career stress and major life changes. She also works with concerns such as anger, codependency, attachment and abandonment issues.

Sessions are offered in English, Punjabi, Pushto and Urdu. Saima combines empathic listening with practical strategies, and helps people build routines and skills they can use between sessions.

Therapeutic approaches suited to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people clarify personal values and take small, meaningful actions. It uses mindfulness and practical exercises to reduce the impact of difficult thoughts and feelings. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns and teaches concrete skills to change them, which suits problems like anxiety, sleeping issues and low mood. Client-Centred Therapy prioritises empathic listening and the counsellor's non-judgemental presence to help people feel heard and understood, which can support deeper self-reflection and healing.

Finding the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will talk with the client about current needs, goals and preferences. Together they will try methods that fit the person's life and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video is useful for fuller conversation and demonstrations of skills, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat can suit brief check-ins and text messaging helps with short updates or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, childcare and daily routines and help people access consistent care from wherever they are in Australia.
Book with Saima Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Questions people ask

What kinds of concerns can be addressed?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, relationship and parenting challenges, grief, trauma, addictions, eating and sleeping issues, low self-esteem, career stress and coping with life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She uses a collaborative, practical style that combines Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and client-centred methods to build skills and coping strategies.
How much experience does she have?
Saima has three years of professional counselling experience working in multicultural Australian settings.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an ACA counsellor based in Australia.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, Punjabi, Pushto and Urdu.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered and how does cost work?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Costs vary with location and therapist availability and are delivered via a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
3 years
Licensed
Languages
English, Punjabi, Pushto, Urdu

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