I feel a real connection with Saila as a therapist. She is supportive but also realistic and helps me recognize what strength and weakness I have in a productive way.
Saila Akhtar, LMHC
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Saila is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 4.5 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Saila. View 14 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in New York and Florida
Recent reviews
Saila has been great!
More about Saila
- 8 years' experience
- Female
- LMHC
I am a licensed mental health counselor from New York. I have over 10 years of experience working with at risk children and their families. I have worked directly with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, OCD, ADHD, substance use concerns and family conflicts. I also helped many people who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse.
My counseling style is interactive. I believe in building good rapport with my clients and providing a safe space to have open dialogues about their concerns. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, motivational interviewing, psychodynamic, and person-centered. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs.
It takes courage to be aware of your needs and to seek out support to change. If you are ready to take that step I am here to partner with you and work towards the change you crave.
I look forward to working with you!
Specialties
Stress
Anxiety
Addictions
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
Self esteem
Relationship issues
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Parenting issues
Anger management
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Depression
Coping with life changes
Coaching
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Abandonment
Adoption and foster care
Aging and geriatric issues
Autism and Asperger Syndrome
Blended family issues
Body image
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Divorce and separation
Domestic violence
Drug and alcohol addiction
Eating and food-related issues
Family of origin issues
Family problems
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
HIV / AIDS
Immigration issues
Impulsivity
Intellectual disability
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Money and financial issues
Mood disorders
Multicultural concerns
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Personality disorders
Phobias
Postpartum depression
Post-traumatic stress
Self-harm
Self-love
Sex addiction
Sexual assault and abuse
Sexuality
Social anxiety and phobia
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues
Treatment Approaches
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Licenses
Saila Akhtar's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1669863080.
- LMHC · New York · 008338 · Expires April 2026
- LMHC · Florida · MH18925 · Expires March 2025
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.
Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.
Reviews for Saila Akhtar
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
I feel a real connection with Saila as a therapist. She is supportive but also realistic and helps me recognize what strength and weakness I have in a productive way.
Saila has been great!
Saila has provided a safe space for me to express my feelings and explain what i’m currently going through. She provides great tools to help you work through difficult situations on your own and is so encouraging!
Saila is very compassionate and helpful when tackling mental illness. She helped me figure out coping strategies and when it came to unpacking passed trauma- I felt like I was finally being heard.
She is very gentle and effective with her therapeutic approach! I like the techniques she shares with me for managing anxiety.
Look forward to working with Saila
Saila helps keep me grounded and validates what I’m going through.
Saila is a great counselor. She listens and is attentive. I always gain a lot of great insight to chew on whenever we meet!
Saila is a very good therapist. She knows when to just listen, when to be brutally honest and keep it real, and when to provide comfort. No matter what it is that you need from each session, she is very good and at knowing what you need and providing it. I would highly recommend her to anyone who needs a good counselor that will make them feel comfortable, heard, and helped.
Saila is the kindest and most understanding therapist I have ever had. I can tell she honestly cares about my emotional wellbeing and wants me to be happy. I wouldn't have renewed my membership with BetterHelp if it wasn't for the fact that I get to work with Saila on a weekly basis. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude for her.
Saila is absolutely incredible! I found her in the perfect timing where I needed to have someone to listen support and hold space for me as I was going through residual wounding from the pandemic and other things in my life. She listens intently, responds thoughtfully, offers so many different healing tools for myself and is so present. I am so happy to have Saila in my life. I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my heart
Saila listens carefully and understands my struggles. She is supportive and nonjudgmental and her insights help me to unravel my emotions, reactions and behaviors. It’s comforting to have her available between sessions to provide timely and focused support. Working with Saila has been just what I need.
Saila, is an amazing threapist. She really listens and gives some amazing insight and tools on whatever your goals, ambitions, personal struggles and battles you are going through. She has been with me in my darkest hours and has given me soo much hope. I definitely recommend her.
I really like talking about my issues with : Saila because she gets me.
Frequently asked questions
Does Saila Akhtar offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Saila Akhtar works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Saila Akhtar speak?
Saila Akhtar speaks English.
How many years of experience does Saila Akhtar have?
Saila Akhtar has 8 years of experience.
Where is Saila Akhtar licensed to practice?
Saila Akhtar is licensed to practice in New York and Florida.
Does Saila Akhtar accept clients outside of the United States?
No, Saila Akhtar does not accept clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Saila Akhtar offer?
Saila Akhtar offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Existential Therapy, Jungian Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.
How can I communicate with Saila Akhtar?
Saila Akhtar can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Saila Akhtar?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.