Nirekha De Silva, ACA
Experienced ACA counsellor blending somatic and talking therapies
About Nirekha
Nirekha De Silva is an ACA counsellor with 20 years of experience who helps people manage stress, anxiety, addiction concerns and major life changes. She works in plain language and focuses on practical tools that clients can apply between sessions. She speaks English and Sinhala and provides sessions to people based in Australia.
People come to her for issues such as grief, low self‑esteem, parenting strain, relationship tension and career uncertainty.
Background and approach
She also supports those facing trauma, anger, depression and compassion fatigue. Sessions are tailored to each person’s situation and goals rather than following a fixed script. Nirekha uses body‑aware approaches alongside talking therapies.
She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and client‑centred work to help people notice patterns, change unhelpful habits and reconnect with values. This mix can help with emotional regulation, motivation and practical coping skills. Her style is respectful and down‑to‑earth.
She aims to create a space where people feel heard and can try small changes. Nirekha will discuss options and agree a plan that fits the person’s life and preferences. Starting therapy is framed as a step‑by‑step process.
Nirekha encourages realistic goals and checks progress as work continues. Her approach suits people looking for straightforward strategies and an empathetic counsellor to guide them through transitions.
Online approaches that combine body awareness and practical skills
Somatic work helps people notice how stress and emotions show up in the body and use simple grounding and movement techniques to reduce overwhelm. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking small committed actions even when feelings are difficult; it can help with anxiety, depression and low motivation. Client‑centred therapy provides a supportive space where the person’s own priorities guide the pace and focus of sessions.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will talk through options with the person and tailor approaches to their goals, needs and preferences. This collaborative process means the plan can change as progress is made.
Online therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text‑based messaging to increase flexibility. These formats let people work around work, family and other commitments without travelling. They also make it easier to use somatic and skills‑based practice in everyday settings, and allow follow up between sessions through messaging when helpful.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
Also works with
- Abandonment
- ADHD
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Coaching
- Commitment issues
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
- Experience
- 20 years
- Licensed
- Languages
- English, Sinhala