Saima Durrani, ACA
Compassionate counsellor who values your story
Details
| Name | Saima Durrani |
|---|---|
| Credentials | ACA |
| Based in | Australia |
| Registered with | ACA |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English, Punjabi, Pushto, Urdu |
| Years in practice | 3 |
About Saima
Saima Durrani is an ACA counsellor who centres conversations on each person’s story. She listens without judgement and helps people notice strengths they already have. Sessions focus on small changes that make daily life easier and clearer.
Saima uses Narrative Therapy to help people reframe difficult events into stories that feel more manageable. She blends this with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Client-Centred approaches to help people accept hard feelings and choose values-based action.
Background and approach
Cognitive Behavioural and Dialectical Behaviour techniques are used where practical skills help, such as managing anxiety or improving sleep. She has three years of professional experience working with clients from multicultural backgrounds. Saima supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, trauma and relationship concerns.
She also helps with parenting challenges, compassion fatigue, addiction and life changes like separation or career shifts. Saima adapts her approach to what each person needs. Some sessions are focused on practical strategies like sleep routines or coping skills.
Other sessions use storytelling to shift meaning and reduce shame or isolation. She speaks English, Punjabi, Pushto and Urdu, and aims to make sessions straightforward and respectful. People can expect calm listening, clear suggestions, and a plan that fits their everyday life.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Grief among the things Saima works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Body image
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Eating and food-related issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Visually impaired
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Saima among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Saima among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Saima among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Saima among the ways she works.
- Gottman Method: Listed by Saima among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Saima among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Saima among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Saima among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Saima among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Saima directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Saima directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How narrative and ACT approaches work online
Saima combines Narrative Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in a way that suits online work. Narrative Therapy helps people tell and reframe difficult stories so those events feel less overwhelming; this can be done through conversation and written prompts during a video or text session. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings and taking small values-based steps; it pairs well with short homework tasks between sessions.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Saima will discuss options with each person and choose methods based on their goals, preferences and day-to-day life. This collaborative process means the style can shift week to week if needed, mixing storytelling, practical coping skills or values exercises.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, which offer flexibility for busy schedules. Video is useful for deeper conversation and exercises that benefit from seeing body language. Phone sessions can be a good fit when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief coaching, short check-ins or when someone prefers writing to talking.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Saima commonly help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, grief, relationship and parenting issues. Additional areas include eating and sleeping problems, self-esteem, career change, addiction and trauma.
What is Saima's therapeutic style like?
Her style blends Narrative Therapy with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Client-Centred care. Sessions often combine storytelling, values work and practical skills training.
How much experience does she have?
Saima has three years of professional experience working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds in Australia.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an ACA counsellor based in Australia.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, Punjabi, Pushto and Urdu.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are costs and starting steps handled?
Costs vary by location and are charged via a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule according to availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Saima are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Saima where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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