Zahra (Matin) Darvishdamavandi

Zahra (Matin) Darvishdamavandi is an ACA counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and major life changes. She focuses on women's issues and supports people working through relationship difficulties and coping with change. Zahra speaks English and Persian and brings eleven years of experience to her practice.

Her sessions aim to be straightforward and practical. She uses tools from cognitive behavioural therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try different ways of responding. Attachment-based ideas and elements of dialectical behaviour therapy also shape the way she addresses relationship and emotional regulation concerns.

Zahra works in a collaborative way. She listens for each person's values and goals, then suggests small, doable steps to test between sessions. Clients can expect a mix of skill-building, reflective conversation and personalised homework that fits everyday life.

Her background includes more than a decade working with adults on mood disorders, panic, postpartum depression, trauma-related concerns and social anxiety. This experience informs a practical style that balances problem-solving with time to process emotions.

People choosing Zahra often want clear techniques alongside thoughtful listening. She aims to help people strengthen self-compassion, improve communication and find a steadier footing during transitions and relationship strain.

How her approaches shape online counselling

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values, even when thoughts or feelings are difficult. It is useful for anxiety, low mood and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to notice and change unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns, which can help with panic, social anxiety and mood problems. Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to how early and current relationship patterns affect trust and closeness, and it can be helpful for people struggling with communication and fears of abandonment.

Figuring out which approach fits best is part of the work. Zahra will talk with each person about their goals and preferences, and then try methods that suit those aims. This is a collaborative process and approaches can be adjusted as therapy progresses.

If you are considering online therapy, check the available session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions around busy days, reduce travel time and allow short check-ins when a brief update is needed. Some approaches translate well to a remote setting because they use homework, worksheets and skills practice between sessions, which can be shared and discussed during online meetings. Appropriately qualified therapists can help tailor sessions to make them manageable and relevant to day-to-day life.