meet sayaka sayeed
she/they
Counsellor
Sayaka (she/they) provides neuro-affirming, culturally responsive counselling for adults who feel shaped by expectations, relationships, or past experiences and want to reconnect with who they are - without anxiety, shame, guilt, trauma, or judgement.
Many of the people Sayaka works with are navigating ADHD, overwhelm, cultural or family pressures, relationship challenges, or major life transitions. Some clients are also exploring questions around identity, belonging, and queerness, particularly where sexuality, gender, culture, and family expectations intersect in complex ways.
Often, people come to counselling feeling like they’ve spent years trying to keep up with systems that were never designed for their brains or their lived experiences. Sayaka’s work focuses on helping clients better understand themselves, reduce self-criticism, and develop ways of living that feel aligned, sustainable, and self-trusting.
Her approach is warm, collaborative, and practical. Sessions often combine reflective conversation with tools that help clients understand patterns around motivation, emotional regulation, communication, and boundaries. Rather than focusing on "fixing" people, Sayaka supports clients in working with their minds and nervous systems in ways that feel compassionate and realistic.
Sayaka has a particular interest in supporting adults with ADHD and neurodivergent experiences. She also works with clients navigating cultural identity, queerness, family dynamics, burnout, and relationship difficulties. For couples, she helps partners better understand each other’s emotional needs and communication patterns so they can make thoughtful decisions about their relationship with greater clarity and care.
Her work is informed by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), CBT-informed approaches, parts work, and trauma-informed care. She also incorporates coaching tools where helpful to support clients in translating insight into meaningful change in everyday life.
Clients often describe sessions with Sayaka as grounded, thoughtful, and non-judgemental - a space where they feel able to slow down, make sense of what’s been difficult, and begin moving forward in ways that feel more authentic to who they are.
Sayaka Provides:
1:1 Therapy (online & in person)
Couples Counselling (in person)
Consulting & Public Speaking Services
Can see those covered by BUPA and ARGH Insurances
QUALIFICATIONS:
BSc, MC | ACA Registered, NDIS Clearance
ABOUT SAYAKA
Sayaka is a passionate counsellor driving advocacy and change for culturally diverse, LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent communities across Australia. Sayaka is also the Project Manager of Umeed Psychology, a psychology private practice and social enterprise which aims to provide accessible, culturally informed mental health care. She has helped build the South Asian women’s safe space, mental health literacy and holistic culturally responsive wellbeing programs.
Sayaka is a passionate advocate for providing accessible mental healthcare and has a strong interest in cultivating culturally responsive and accessible practices in her work and in the wider mental health industry. She is a reliable, resourceful, and empathic self-starter with years of experience in community building, diversity awareness and people-centered approaches. She is inherently curious and thrives on continual growth. She is a businesswoman, creative and activist outside her counselling practice and provides free support through the Mental Health Workers for a Free Palestine collective.