Maliheh Zare, ACA

Maliheh Zare holds a Master’s degree in Counseling and is a Level 3 registered member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), a professional body for counsellors. With 18 years of professional experience, she supports people working through stress and anxiety, relationship difficulties, family conflict and challenges with anger, helping them develop clearer coping strategies and stronger emotional connections.

Her practice draws on a flexible mix of evidence-informed approaches that are adapted to each person’s needs. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to build psychological flexibility by encouraging acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to values-led action. Mindfulness practices are woven into sessions to enhance present-moment awareness and emotional regulation, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps couples and individuals address attachment and bonding concerns. She also integrates relationship tools from the Gottman method to improve communication and relationship stability.

Maliheh works with respect, sensitivity and compassion, and tailors the dialogue and treatment plan to each client’s circumstances. She aims to create a collaborative space where clients can take courageous first steps toward greater wellbeing and more fulfilling relationships, with practical strategies and ongoing support.

How Maliheh’s approaches translate to online therapy

Maliheh integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients build psychological flexibility - learning to acknowledge difficult thoughts and feelings while taking actions that align with their values. This approach suits people facing anxiety, stress and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on understanding early relationship patterns and how they shape current bonds; it is useful for couples and individuals dealing with intimacy, trust or parent-child relationship concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and change unhelpful thought and behaviour patterns, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and anger and improve daily functioning.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and is decided collaboratively. Maliheh works with clients to match methods to their needs, goals and preferences, and may combine elements from different therapies to create a tailored plan. This collaborative exploration helps clients feel involved and clear about the direction of their work.

Online therapy with Maliheh is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access support from home or work, accommodate busy lifestyles and maintain continuity of care when in-person sessions are not feasible. Appropriately qualified or registered professionals and therapists can adapt these formats to deliver effective, client-centred support.