- Warm and steady
- Person-centred
- Trauma aware
About Mandika
Mandika Shah-Dhillon offers calm, steady support for people feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to begin. She creates a gentle space to breathe when stress, anxiety, sleep problems, low mood or addictive patterns have become hard to manage. Mandika’s approach is warm and relational, and she welcomes people who are coping with life changes, grief, intimacy questions, identity concerns, or pressures that build up over time.
Mandika trained in Person-Centred Counselling and the Psychotherapeutic Relationship at the University of Warwick. She is also completing an MSc in Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Her background includes work in private practice, university mental health services, addiction support and crisis roles, which informs how she supports people in the room.
Sessions are grounded in person-centred principles and draw on trauma-aware ways of working. Mandika uses ideas from cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness where helpful. She also brings psychodynamic thinking to help people notice repeating patterns and long-standing emotional themes.
In practice she starts gently, accepting that you do not need perfect words or a clear plan to begin. The first steps are about being listened to and making small sense of what feels difficult. Together she and the client look at practical steps for better sleep, coping strategies for stress and ways to reduce anxiety.
People who come to Mandika often find the work steadying. Sessions aim to help someone slow down, feel heard and gain clearer understanding of their feelings and choices. If you want to explore what’s been under the surface, she offers a measured, compassionate space to do that.
How Mandika’s approaches work in online therapy
Mandika draws on person-centred, cognitive behavioural and trauma-aware ideas to guide online work. Person-centred practice means the focus is on you and your experience, with the therapist offering a listening, non-judgemental presence that helps you make sense of difficulties. Cognitive behavioural therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings and actions interact and can provide practical ways to change unhelpful patterns, which can help with sleep, anxiety and mood. Trauma-aware practice pays attention to how past hurts shape current reactions and aims to create a steady, paced way of working through those effects.Finding the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will check in about your goals, preferences and what feels manageable, and together you will try ways of working that fit your needs. Changes can be slow and steady, and adjustments are made along the way so the plan matches what actually helps you.
Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into everyday life, for example by removing travel time and allowing shorter or more regular check-ins. Please confirm the available session formats before booking so you know what is offered. The focus online is on practical steps you can use day to day, such as sleep routines, breathing and grounding exercises, and simple cognitive strategies to reduce worry.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Credentials
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Mandika focus on?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, sleep difficulties, depression and addictions, and also works with issues such as grief, relationship patterns, parenting strain and identity concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is warm, relational and gentle. She starts from a person-centred place and uses trauma-aware, mindful and CBT-informed techniques as needed.
How much experience does she have?
She has four years of clinical experience across private practice, university mental health services, addiction support and crisis roles.
What professional accreditation does she hold and where is she based?
She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP, and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are used in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can people outside the UK work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.