- Interactive therapy style
- Focus on relationships
- Practical coping tools
About Saila
Saila Akhtar is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Florida. She brings eight years of counseling experience and a direct, interactive style to sessions. Saila aims to create a respectful, compassionate space where people can talk about stress, anxiety, grief, and relationship problems without feeling judged.
She works with people facing a wide range of concerns, including addictions, trauma and abuse, parenting strain, career difficulties, mood disorders, and codependency. Her practice also addresses issues like self-esteem, intimacy-related concerns, anger, and life transitions. Saila regularly supports people dealing with family of origin problems, divorce and separation, and challenges related to adoption and foster care.
Saila uses a blend of familiar approaches to shape each conversation. She draws on client-centered methods to follow the person's priorities, uses cognitive behavioral ideas to identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, and applies dialectical behavior tools for emotional regulation and distress tolerance. She also incorporates existential and Jungian perspectives when exploring meaning and personal history.
In sessions she focuses on building rapport and tailoring the work to specific needs. Saila describes her style as interactive - she listens, asks practical questions, and helps set achievable steps for change. Her background includes work with at-risk children and families and many clients who experienced physical or emotional trauma.
People looking to start therapy can expect a collaborative process. Saila partners with each person to set goals, notice patterns that get in the way, and practice new ways of coping that fit everyday life.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy centers the person's goals and priorities. Online sessions using this approach focus on listening closely and shaping conversations around what matters most to the client, which helps with relationship issues, parenting strain, and codependency concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; online CBT often includes practical exercises, thought logs, and step-by-step plans to reduce anxiety and depression. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance, useful when intense emotions or impulsive behavior make daily life hard.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to try methods that fit their goals and preferences. Together they decide whether to emphasize skills practice, deeper exploration of meaning, or a mix of techniques based on what proves helpful.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people use tools such as worksheets, guided exercises, and between-session planning while keeping the focus on practical steps for daily life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Credentials
New York, Florida
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does this therapist address?
Saila helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, parenting and career concerns, and codependency among other challenges.
How would you describe the therapeutic approach?
The approach is collaborative and interactive. Sessions combine client-centered listening with cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior techniques to address thinking patterns, emotions, and coping skills.
What background does the therapist bring to sessions?
She has eight years of experience and a history of working with at-risk children and families and people who experienced physical or emotional trauma.
What credentials and location are listed?
The clinician is an LMHC with licensure noted as FL LMHC and NY LMHC, and the practice is based in Florida.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the profile does not list specific formats and session delivery can vary.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.