Chandana Rathnayake , BACP, NCPS
Chandana Rathnayake helps people facing depression, anxiety, grief and everyday stress find clearer direction and steadier mood.
About Chandana
Chandana Rathnayake helps people facing depression, anxiety, grief and everyday stress find clearer direction and steadier mood. He offers straightforward support for low self-esteem, burnout, addiction concerns and major life changes. Chandana speaks English and Sinhala and draws on ten years of counselling experience across different countries.
He began counselling work in Malaysia in 2013 and has been practising in the United Kingdom since 2019. He also works as a mental health adviser for young adults in higher education.
Background and approach
Before training in psychology and counselling, Chandana spent twenty years living as a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka, an experience that shapes his current way of working. Chandana describes his style as practical and collaborative. He listens for what each person already brings into sessions and helps them reuse those strengths to repair and rebuild their life.
He uses simple, down-to-earth language and draws on multiple counselling approaches to match what a person needs in the moment. His approach often focuses on meaning, self-leadership and inner parts work, and he helps people who feel stuck with purpose, motivation or direction. He also supports people processing grief, major transitions or strong self-criticism.
Chandana avoids technical jargon and aims to make sessions feel like a joint project. Clients who want flexible online options can meet him through video, phone, live chat or text messaging. He accepts clients from outside the UK and works with subscription-based sessions that can be cancelled at any time.
To begin, users complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a time that suits their availability.
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 works with the different parts inside a person. It helps people notice inner critical voices, wounded parts and protective parts, and then learn kinder ways to relate to those parts during healing from trauma or shame.
Chandana treats finding the right approach as a team effort. He will discuss the methods above and tailor the mix to a person's goals, history and preferences. Together they check what feels useful and change course if something is not helpful.
Online therapy allows for practical flexibility. Video calls let people keep visual contact for deeper conversation. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier to fit into a work break. Live chat or text-based messaging suits shorter check-ins, people who prefer writing, or those who cannot be on camera. These options make it easier to maintain regular sessions and keep momentum during recovery.
Frequently asked
What kinds of problems does Chandana help with?
He supports people dealing with depression, anxiety, stress, grief and major life changes, as well as issues around self-esteem, addiction and relationship challenges at an individual level.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
Chandana works in a practical, down-to-earth way and treats therapy as a collaborative rebuilding project. He listens for strengths clients already have and helps them reuse those to move forward.
What is his background and experience?
He has ten years of counselling experience, began practising in 2013 in Malaysia and has worked in the United Kingdom since 2019. He also spent twenty years as a Buddhist monk, which informs his perspective.
Which professional credentials does he hold and where is he based?
Chandana holds BACP and NCPS credentials and is practising in the United Kingdom.
Can I work with him if I am outside the UK or not a native English speaker?
Sessions are offered in English and Sinhala, and he accepts international clients as well as people in the UK.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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