Mrs Sirini Kularatne-Samarapathi
Holistic Counsellor, Clinical Supervisor
Sasethna Counselling Services
Rowville, VIC 3178
In Person + Online Therapy Australia-wide
Philosophy & Vision
Counselling with somatic/body-based mindful awareness can be a powerful tool, as our deepest emotions are felt and stored in the body. The bridge between mind and body are our emotions. They present in many ways challenging our inner peace. Working with body awareness in counselling can facilitate the healing and growth needed to safely navigate the world.
I am a counsellor, clinical supervisor, bereavement specialist, and a Buddhist meditator.
I bring 15+ years of counselling experience with anxiety, depression, bereavement, drug & alcohol, chronic pain /stress /fatigue, fibromyalgia, trauma, complex trauma /PTSD to name a few.
I will create a safe space for you to heal and grow ...
Background
My qualifications are in Bachelor of Applied Social Science -Counselling Specialisation, with post graduate qualifications in palliative care, grief, loss & bereavement, and Buddhist Counselling and Psychotherapy.
My past employment experience includes working in homelessness, people in street sex work, group facilitator for victims of domestic violence, drug and alcohol counselling (voluntary & mandated clients), community palliative care, carer & bereavement counselling, first response counsellor for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic violence, and family violence, PTSD/complex trauma. I continue to work in general counselling as well as in culture specific counselling with the migrant community.
I counsel in English & Sinhela
Services
I provide clinical supervision for counsellors and therapists, and counselling for individuals. Other services include palliative care, carer support, grief & bereavement, including with parents who have lost a child in relation to any form of death including miscarraige, still birth, or abortion. I also work with trauma, domestic and / or family violence, anger management, stress reduction, issues with insomnia (any sleep related issues), anxiety, depression; drug & alcohol counselling, and general counselling.
Languages for counselling - English (fluent); Sinhela (fluent)
Quality Provision
• Level 4 Member -The Australian Counselling Association (ACA)
• Full Clinical Member –Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
• Clinical Supervisor –The ACA College of Clinical Supervisors
• Clinical Supervisor -Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
• Member –PACFA -Clinical Supervision Leadership Group
• Full Member –Australian Association of Buddhist Counsellors and Psychotherapists (AABCAP)
• Full Member -Counsellors Victoria
Areas of Special Interest
Accreditations
- Buddhism and Psychotherapy Professional Training C - 2020 - AABCAP
- Clinical Counselling Supervisor - 2019 - RISE UP - Supervision Training Services
- Postgrad Certificate in Bereavement Counselling - 2015 - Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
- Postgrad Certificate in Palliative care work - 2015 - Flinders University - SA
- Bachelor of Applied Social Science- Counselling Sp - 2013 - Australian Institute of Applied Psychology
- Certificate 4 in Training and Assessment - 2021 - Chisholm TAFE
Modalities
ACT - Buddhist Psychotherapy - CBT - DBT - Dream Work - Emotionally Focused Therapy - Experiential - Gestalt - Holistic - Inner Child - Meditation - Mindfulness - NLP - Person Centred - Sensorimotor Psychotherapy - Solution Oriented - Somatic Psychotherapy - Trauma-Informed
Therapy Approach
I work with psycho-somatic techniques, incorporating mindful awareness to tap into our past/present experiences which might continue to have an impact on the presenting issues. In working gently with the body held memories to identify trauma triggers without intense distress, I am able to guide the individual to find healing and peace.
In clinical supervision, I support therapists to find balance in their work, assist with client work, equip self with tools & strategies to grow as an effective competent therapist, incorporating holistic ways to prevent burnout, vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.
In counselling with clients, I work with internal/external factors to help achieve the desired highest outcomes for that individual.
Professional Associations
- Australian Association of Buddhist Counsellors and Psychotherapists
- Australian Counselling Association - Level 4
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia - Accredited Supervisor
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia - Clinical
Practice Locations
Rowville VIC 3178
Face to face clients have ample free parking outside of the counselling suite.
Appointments
Appointments are available throughout the week.
Sessions are offered via phone, online, or face to face.
Fees & Insurance
Fees vary according to the service provided e.g. individual or couples. Please inquire.
Languages
English
Sinhala
Payment Options
Bank Transfer, Pay Pal or Credit Card
Contact Sirini
Please contact me to book a 15 minute free initial consult
A conversation with Sirini Kularatne-Samarapathi
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My inner growth brought me to Buddhist practice, and that in turn evolved into me becoming a counsellor dedicating myself to support others find the same inner peace and growth.
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I started my Buddhist practises of meditation, mindful awareness, deep reflection of going withinat a very young age. This foundation became my life source. It has enabled me to find balance, contentment and equanimity within myself to create inner peace and growth.
Today, I bring this background into my work as a counsellor, together with evidence based practices learnt through different qualifications and extensive employment experience, to assist those who would like to travel with me. -
I consider a person as a whole. Every person is unique with own special characteristics and life experiences.
Your every experience, every situation, and every moment can make a significant impact to your life. In the same way, right here, right now, your change can start to take place and if that is what you would like for yourself, then I am interested in working with you!
Your uniqueness as an individual and your life experiences cannot be measured, and every aspect of what makes 'you' the person you are is what is important to me! and this is what we will base as the start of our work together ..
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I work with an eclectic tool box, based in mindful awareness techniques of evidence based modalities that use somatic approaches for counselling therapy. With a Buddhist foundation for inner growth, I bring to the counselling room a presence that holds a trusting safe space for you ..
My tool box contains therapeutic approaches that are person-centred, evidence based, with somatic appraoches that align themselves with the deeper work of mindful awareness. Hence the tools come from the major therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Gestalt Therapy, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Buddhist Counselling and Psychotherapy, Hakomi Principles, and others.
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From the first session, you and I will use 'tracking' to identify and start mapping your progress. This is an important and intergral part of therapy as you as a client need to know if you are benefiting from counselling, and if the work we are doing together is showing progress in the way you wanted. However, it is my role as a counsellor to facilitate this process while sitting by your side providing the safe trusting space you need to spread your wings and fly.
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I love the ability to create a space that is safe and trusting for what needs to be witnessed at the session. One of the most important aspects of a session for me is the therapeutic space, which is open, kind, compassionate, unconditional, and empathic - where you can feel safe to trust. This can create an opportunity for you to explore what unfolds, unhindered.
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Ajahn Brahmavanso's book of "opening the door to your heart'. It contains little stories with opportunities for deep reflections presented in a unique way inviting readers to look at life in a simple yet deep and meaning full way.
Elton John's - Goodbye English Rose written for Princess Diana - highlights the immense potential one person has in changing the World to the better. Her courage, compassion to heal the hearts and minds of those who she knew and those who she didn't.
Stage drama by Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Phantom of the Opera is one of my favourites (Marina Prior did it jusitce). The story of pain and tragedy put together capturing the audience in the suspence of this intense human experience of one's emotions.