Chandana Rathnayake , BACP, NCPS
Chandana Rathnayake helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem and depression.
About Chandana
Chandana Rathnayake helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem and depression. He also supports those coping with major life changes, addictions, work pressure and issues around intimacy, parenting and family. He speaks English and Sinhala and has practised counselling for about ten years in different countries.
He began counselling work in Malaysia in 2013 and moved to the United Kingdom in 2019. He is listed with BACP and NCPS which are shown as his professional credentials.
Background and approach
Before becoming a counsellor he spent twenty years living as a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka, an experience that shaped how he listens and talks with people. Chandana’s style blends simple, down-to-earth conversation with reflective exercises. He encourages people to notice the resources they already have and to use difficult experiences as material for change.
Sessions are collaborative - he asks questions, offers observations and supports practical steps a person can try between meetings. He draws on Client-Centred ideas that focus on the person’s perspective and Internal Family Systems ideas that look at different parts of the self. He also uses elements of Existential and Systemic thinking when helpful to address life meaning, relationships and family patterns.
People often come to him for help finding direction in career, education or spirituality. He has worked with grief, major transitions, anger, compassion fatigue, ADHD-related concerns and process addictions such as gambling or problematic pornography use. Chandana works with individuals remotely and with international clients.
His approach is practical and plainspoken, aiming to turn painful material into useful steps towards a steadier life.
Registration
| Body | Registration number | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| BACP | 382049 | January 2027 |
| NCPS | NCPS1138 | April 2026 |
Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.
Sessions and payment
Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.
Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.
Focus areas and approaches
What Chandana works with
Everything Chandana lists, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Attachment issues
- Codependency
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Multicultural concerns
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Chandana lists
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
Online support
Internal Family Systems looks at different parts of a person’s inner world and how those parts relate. In remote work this can help people notice patterns such as self-criticism or protective behaviours and try gentle experiments between meetings to shift those parts.
Finding the right approach is a shared process. Chandana will listen to your goals and suggest which ideas to try first, then adapt over time. He works collaboratively so the plan changes if something does not feel useful for you.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when you want that connection. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat and text messaging make it easier to check in between sessions or to use therapy when typing feels more comfortable.
These formats make it simpler to keep momentum during change and to weave work on grief, purpose, addiction or career into an everyday routine with a registered or accredited professional.
Frequently asked
What concerns does Chandana commonly work with?
He supports people with stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression, addiction and coping with major life changes among other issues.
How would you describe his therapeutic approach?
He uses a conversational, person-focused style that draws on Client-Centred and Internal Family Systems ideas plus existential and systemic perspectives when helpful.
What is his professional background?
He has practised counselling since 2013, worked in Malaysia and the UK, and has around ten years of experience including prior life experience as a Buddhist monk.
Where is he based and what credentials does he hold?
He practises from the United Kingdom and lists BACP and NCPS among his credentials.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and Sinhala, and he accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are sessions charged?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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