Dr. Sugandika Subawickrama , LCPC, LPC

Dr. Sugandika Subawickrama is a New Jersey-based licensed therapist with 20 years of professional experience. She holds LCPC and LPC credentials - LCPC meaning Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and LPC meaning Licensed Professional Counselor - and brings a broad background in supporting people through a range of life challenges.

She works with individuals facing depression, stress and anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and family concerns, grief, and changes related to career or life transitions. Her practice also addresses issues such as self-esteem, motivation, intimacy-related concerns, eating and sleeping difficulties, ADHD, bipolar disorder, compassion fatigue, and caregiving stress. Dr. Subawickrama approaches each person with a client-centered stance that prioritizes openness and nonjudgmental listening, helping clients explore thoughts and feelings at their own pace.

Drawing on methods like cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness alongside motivational and narrative approaches, she collaborates with clients to build practical coping skills and clearer pathways forward. She offers services in English and Sinhala and provides flexible session formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. She encourages those taking the first step toward therapy and supports them through the initial process of getting started.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Dr. Sugandika Subawickrama draws from client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness therapy to support people in online sessions. Client-centered therapy focuses on creating a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the client leads the conversation and the therapist offers empathy and understanding - this approach helps with self-exploration, relationship concerns, and building emotional resilience. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) involves identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and developing practical strategies to change them, which is useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. Mindfulness therapy teaches present-focused awareness and simple practices to reduce reactivity and improve coping with difficult emotions, making it helpful for stress, trauma recovery, and attention-related difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Dr. Subawickrama collaborates with each person to determine which methods match their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques as progress unfolds and inviting client feedback along the way.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how sessions take place, with options for video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, maintain continuity when schedules shift, and access licensed professionals from different locations, while preserving the therapeutic relationship and focus on meaningful change.