Shagufta Chaudhary , ACA

Shagufta Chaudhary, who often goes by Shay, is a licensed counsellor based in Australia with 21 years of professional experience. She supports people coping with stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, and struggles with self-esteem, drawing on a breadth of practice developed over two decades.

Shagufta uses a compassionate, client-focused approach to help individuals, couples, and families rebuild self-worth and confidence while working to reduce fear and anxiety. She creates an open environment where thoughts and feelings can be expressed without judgment, and she aims to empower clients to take courageous steps toward a more fulfilling life.

Her practice addresses a wide range of concerns including panic and mood disorders, communication and control issues, separation and divorce, body image and abandonment worries, and difficulties around forgiveness, guilt, or shame. She also works with issues related to isolation, life purpose, financial stress, and multiculturally influenced challenges.

Shagufta holds the ACA credential, indicating professional standing with a counselling association, and blends evidence-informed methods such as attachment-based work, client-centered listening, and cognitive behavioral techniques to tailor therapy to each person. She is accepting new clients in Australia and offers support designed to meet each person where they are and move toward lasting change.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Support

Shagufta integrates evidence-informed methods that translate well to online work. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early and current relationships shape emotional patterns - it helps clients improve connection, address abandonment or trust issues, and build more secure relationships. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathetic listening and collaboration, giving clients space to explore their values and goals while the therapist offers nonjudgmental support - this approach is useful for self-esteem, grief, and life-purpose concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce anxiety, panic, and mood symptoms and improve coping with stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the process, and Shagufta works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques from these models to suit individual circumstances and moves at a pace agreed with the client.

Online therapy with Shagufta is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make ongoing therapy more accessible for people balancing work, family, or geographic constraints while maintaining consistent therapeutic progress with a licensed professional.