About Me

Salihan Laugesen, women's mental health and neurodivergent-affirming counsellor at Riverstone Counselling, Canberra

I'm Salihan Laugesen, an ACA Level 2 Registered Counsellor with a Master of Counselling, based in Canberra and Murrumbateman. I offer individual counselling in person and online for people aged 18 and over.

My particular focus is women's mental health and supporting neurodivergent adults, including people with autism and ADHD. I hold specialist training in both areas, and I bring a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed approach to my work — meaning I won't try to fit you into a one-size-fits-all model.

I also work with cultural identity, intergenerational expectations, and the experience of belonging across cultures. Sessions are available in English or Malay.

I offer a calm, collaborative space to slow things down, talk things through, and find a way forward that feels right for you.

How I Can Help

People come to counselling for many different reasons — often when something feels off, heavy, or hard to manage alone. I have particular training and experience in:

Women's Mental Health

Including anxiety, burnout, hormonal and reproductive health changes, perinatal wellbeing, identity, relationships, and the specific pressures many women carry.

Neurodivergent Adults

Autism, ADHD, and the overlap between them — including late-diagnosed adults still making sense of their experience. I work in ways that genuinely fit how you think, not the other way around.

Anxiety & Worry

Including anxiety that presents differently in autistic and ADHD adults, as well as anxiety in its more common forms.

Stress, Burnout & Overwhelm

When the load has built up and things feel unmanageable — whether at work, at home, or across both.

Life Transitions

Work, study, health, identity, relationships, and role changes — the moments when life shifts and it's hard to find your footing.

Low Mood, Self-Esteem & Grief

Including loss of motivation, feeling stuck or disconnected, bereavement, relationship endings, and other forms of loss.

You don't need to have everything figured out before we begin. Many people come when something just feels off. We'll start where you are, move at a pace that feels manageable, and work it out together. No referral is needed.

At a glance

How I work

You come first

Your needs and goals shape the work. Therapy is tailored to suit you — not a fixed template.

Evidence-based approaches

Grounded in CBT, DBT, ACT, and person-centred practice, adapted to what works best for you.

Trauma-informed & neuro-affirming

I work in ways that are safe, flexible, and genuinely respectful of how you think and experience the world.

Strengths-focused

Focused on your strengths and what's working, not just difficulties. Supporting without trying to "fix" who you are.

Respectful of your whole self

Respect for culture, identity, values, and an awareness of how relationships and past experiences shape us.

In person & online

Sessions available at two locations in the Canberra region, and via secure video on all operating days.

More about my approach →

Calm, neuro-affirming counselling room at Riverstone Counselling in Murrumbateman NSW — Salihan Laugesen, ACA Registered Counsellor — Murrumbateman counselling room

Warm, welcoming counselling room at Riverstone Counselling in Denman Prospect, Canberra ACT — women's mental health and neurodivergent-affirming therapy with Salihan Laugesen — Canberra counselling room, Denman Prospect

FAQ

What's the difference between counselling and psychology?
Psychologists are trained to assess and diagnose mental health conditions. Counsellors do not diagnose. Counselling focuses on understanding experiences, patterns, and challenges, and finding practical ways to cope and move forward — without needing to focus on labels.

Is counselling right for me if I'm neurodivergent?
Yes — and it matters who you see. I've undertaken specialist training in autism, ADHD, and neuro-affirming practice, and I work in ways that are flexible, non-judgmental, and genuinely adapted to how you think and communicate. I won't pathologise your neurodivergence or try to make you more "neurotypical."

Is counselling a good fit for women's mental health?
Counselling can be a really helpful space for women navigating anxiety, burnout, hormonal and reproductive health challenges, relationship patterns, identity questions, and the specific pressures many women face. I hold a Women's Mental Health Specialist Certificate and have sought out training specifically in this area.

When might counselling be a good fit?
If something in your life just feels off — or if you're overwhelmed, stuck, or uncertain — counselling can help. You can self-refer without a GP referral or diagnosis.

Do you work with cultural identity, migration, or being from a culturally diverse background?
Yes. I work with people navigating cultural identity, intergenerational expectations, and the experience of belonging across cultures — including migrants, third culture adults, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Sessions are available in English or Malay, and I aim to create a space where you don't need to translate or explain yourself to be understood.

What if I'm experiencing thoughts of suicide, self-harm, or am in a domestic violence situation?
Counselling can be a supportive space when you're going through these experiences. I hold training in crisis support, suicide intervention, and domestic and family violence response (LivingWorks, Mental Health First Aid, Lifeline-accredited training), and I work alongside your GP or wider care team where helpful. If you're in immediate danger, please call 000. For 24/7 crisis support, you can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

What happens in counselling?
Counselling usually involves talking things through, but it can also include creative and non-verbal ways of exploring what's going on — especially when words feel hard to find. We'll work in ways that suit you, at a pace that feels right for you.

Let's have a chat and see if we are the right fit.

Book Now

Counselling for Women & Neurodivergent Adults