Thilini Weerakkody, MHC-LP
Associate Psychotherapist | She/Her/Hers
Sometimes, even when you know you're safe, your body doesn't seem to believe it. You might feel constantly on edge, exhausted without knowing why, disconnected from yourself, or overwhelmed by emotions that seem to come out of nowhere. Perhaps you've spent years trying to understand what happened to you, yet your body continues to respond as though the danger is still present. You may wonder why healing feels so difficult when you've already worked so hard to move forward.
Hi, I'm Thilini Weerakkody, a somatically informed therapist and mental health counselor offering online therapy throughout New York. I work with individuals navigating complex trauma, PTSD, dissociation, and the emotional and physical effects of prolonged stress. My approach is gentle, warm, and grounded in the understanding that healing involves more than changing our thoughts. Together, we'll learn to listen to what your nervous system has been carrying, reconnect with your body's signals, and move toward a greater sense of safety, connection, and trust in yourself.
*Thilini is currently accepting new clients and clinically supervised by Samah Nanda, LMHC-D.
How I Understand the Work
I believe our bodies are remarkably intelligent, constantly working to protect us, even when those protective responses no longer serve us. Trauma can leave the nervous system responding to the present through the lens of past danger, making it difficult to feel safe, connected, or at ease. I don't see these responses as something wrong with you, but as adaptations that once helped you survive.
My approach is rooted in somatic therapy, psychobiology, and an understanding of how the brain and nervous system respond to stress. I also draw from Internal Family Systems (IFS), psychoanalytic perspectives, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to explore the relationship between bodily sensations, emotions, and protective patterns. Rather than focusing only on what you think or why you feel a certain way, I'm interested in how your experiences live within your body and what it might need to begin feeling safer. I believe healing becomes possible when we approach these responses with curiosity and compassion rather than judgment or force.
What Therapy With Me Feels Like
Therapy with me is soft, gentle, and deeply human. I want us to meet as people, not simply as clinician and patient. You won't be expected to share painful memories before you're ready, explain every feeling, or push yourself beyond what feels manageable. We'll move at a pace that respects your needs and your body's capacity for healing.
Our work may begin by noticing how your body responds to stress, recognizing signs of overwhelm or disconnection, and practicing grounding and nervous system regulation. We can also explore the different parts of yourself that have learned to protect you, build skills for managing difficult emotions, and gradually create more room for safety, choice, and connection.
I believe you already carry wisdom and strengths within you, even when they're difficult to access. My role isn't to tell you who to become, but to support you in reconnecting with yourself. You are so much more than what you've survived.
Areas I Often Support
Complex Trauma | PTSD & C-PTSD | Dissociation
Trauma Recovery | Nervous System Regulation | Survival Responses
Emotional Disconnection | Grounding & Body Awareness
Languages
I provide therapy in English.
A little about me
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A little more about me, coming soon.
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A little more about me, coming soon.
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A little more about me, coming soon.
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A little more about me, coming soon.
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M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
“and i said to my body. softly. ‘i want to be your friend.’ it took a long breath. and replied ‘i have been waiting my whole life for this.’”