Susan Mahachi, ACA - Therapist in Australia

Stress and anxiety
Relationships and parenting
ACT and CBT methods

About Susan

Susan Mahachi is an ACA counsellor in Australia with 16 years' experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strains, parenting challenges, low self-esteem and depression. Sessions are offered in English and Shona and are suitable for young adults navigating early adult pressures such as study, work and relationships.

Susan describes an eclectic approach that draws on several methods to fit each person's needs. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thinking and build small, practical changes. Attachment-Based and Client-Centred work guide conversations about connection, boundaries and past family influences.

In sessions she talks through emotions, patterns and day-to-day problems in plain language. Common topics include abandonment, family of origin issues, blended family concerns, communication problems, and body image. She has experience with divorce and separation, caregiver stress, fatherhood issues and forgiveness work.

Susan also works with eating and food-related issues, control struggles, feelings of emptiness and domestic violence-related impacts. Her background includes working with a wide age range of people and offering support around motivation, self-worth and confidence.

Getting started involves a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a first session. The counselling model aims to combine practical tools with conversations about relationship patterns and personal values to help clients manage pressing life challenges.

How her approaches translate to online counselling

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and values, then taking practical steps that matter. It can help with anxiety, stress and feeling stuck by teaching small, everyday actions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and offers practical exercises to change patterns that keep problems going. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships shape current patterns and can help with trust, communication and closeness issues.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Susan will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit best, based on their goals and what feels most useful. That means checking in and adjusting the focus as therapy progresses rather than sticking to a single method from the start.

The therapist's biography does not specify session formats, so please confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into study, work and daily life by reducing travel time and allowing shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people use quieter surroundings or switch off video if that helps them engage. Working online still centres practical skills, relationship patterns and values-based steps that transfer into everyday life.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesParenting issuesSelf esteem Depression

Additional focus areas

Abandonment Attachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problems Control issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgiveness Guilt and shameHIV / AIDSImmigration issuesImpulsivity Infidelity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issues Mood disorders Multicultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobia Women's issues Workplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic Therapy

Experience

16+ years

Listed in

Australia

Languages

English, Shona

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she work with?

Susan works with stress, anxiety, relationship and parenting concerns, plus low self-esteem and depression. She also addresses issues like body image, communication problems and family of origin worries.

What is her therapeutic style like?

She uses an eclectic, practical style that mixes ACT, CBT, Attachment-Based and Client-Centred approaches. Sessions focus on clear conversations and actionable steps rather than jargon.

How much experience does she have?

She has 16 years of experience working with people across a range of concerns, including parenting and relationship challenges.

Where is she based and what are her credentials?

She is located in Australia and holds ACA credentialing as stated in her profile.

Can she work with people who speak other languages?

Sessions are offered in English and Shona. International clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are available?

The original biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.

How does pricing work?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.