Shirin Rad, ACA, APS

Shirin Rad is a registered counsellor in Australia with ten years of experience supporting people from diverse cultural backgrounds. She is a member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the Australian Psychological Society (APS), reflecting her professional affiliations with recognised national counselling and psychology organisations. She works with individuals facing stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, depression, and challenges with concentration and memory, and has a particular interest in migration-related adjustment, isolation and cultural transition.

Shirin has experience working with Farsi-speaking clients and migrants, and she brings that cultural awareness into therapy to help clients navigate change and find practical coping strategies. Her practice also addresses related concerns such as abandonment and attachment issues, neurodiversity matters, caregiver stress, mood and panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive patterns, and perinatal challenges.

Her approach is client-centred and strengths-based, grounded in the belief that each person holds expertise about their own life and possesses inner resources for change. She combines practical therapeutic techniques with collaborative support to help clients set goals and build skills. Shirin aims to provide a warm, non-judgemental space where people can explore their experiences and work toward meaningful progress.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Shirin uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify what matters most to them and to build psychological flexibility. ACT encourages noticing difficult thoughts and feelings without getting overwhelmed by them and taking committed action toward personal values - it is often helpful for anxiety, stress and life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to identify unhelpful thought and behaviour patterns and to develop practical strategies to change them. CBT is commonly applied for conditions such as depression, panic and obsessive patterns, and for improving coping skills and concentration.

Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the therapeutic process, and Shirin works collaboratively with each person to determine what fits best based on their needs, goals and preferences. Together they review progress and adjust methods as required.

Online therapy with Shirin is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for busy schedules, geographical distance and varying communication preferences. These options make it easier to access appropriately qualified or registered professionals and maintain continuity of care while fitting therapy into everyday life.