- Relationship issues
- Grief and loss
- Life purpose
About Berni
Berni Palings is a PACFA counsellor in Australia with 11 years of professional experience. She works with people facing relationship strain, grief and loss, trauma, low self-esteem, career uncertainty and life changes. She also supports those dealing with anxiety, depression, anger, addiction and issues related to discrimination or identity, including LGBT concerns and multicultural challenges.
Berni uses practical, evidence-informed approaches and prefers clear, down-to-earth sessions. She treats conversations as collaborative and helps people name what matters to them. Sessions focus on small, achievable changes rather than big promises about the future.
Her background includes a decade of client work across many common life disruptions. She draws on experience supporting people with adoption and foster care matters, caregiver stress, ageing and workplace difficulties. She has also worked with concerns connected to domestic violence, sexual assault, HIV/AIDS and drug and alcohol addiction.
Berni speaks English and Dutch and works with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Her style is straightforward: she listens, reflects what she hears and helps clients try practical steps between sessions. She encourages people to notice what helps and what does not, then adjust as needed.
People who feel stuck after a job change, relationship shift or health event may find her approach useful. She asks questions to clarify priorities and helps clients test options in manageable ways. The focus is on finding clearer direction and usable next steps rather than quick fixes.
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions
Many of Berni's sessions draw on evidence-based techniques that focus on practical change. One common approach helps people break big problems into small, testable steps they can try between sessions, which is useful for motivation, career dilemmas and coping after life changes. Another approach emphasises processing strong emotions and memories by naming them, noticing how they show up in the body and developing ways to reduce their intensity during daily life; this is often used for trauma, grief and anxiety.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of starting work together. Berni will talk with each person about goals, preferences and what has or hasn't worked in the past. That conversation guides which techniques are tried and how sessions are structured, and she adjusts the plan as progress becomes clearer.
The practical benefits of remote sessions can include fitting meetings around work or caring duties, shorter check-ins when needed and avoiding travel time. The original biography does not specify which online formats are offered, so confirm the current session options before booking. Sessions are arranged to fit everyday life and to focus on usable steps toward clearer direction.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English, Dutch
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with relationship problems, grief, trauma, anxiety, depression and issues around self-esteem, life purpose and career changes.
How does she approach someone who feels stuck?
She uses practical, evidence-informed techniques and a collaborative style to identify small steps the person can try between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
Berni has 11 years of professional experience working with a range of life stresses and mental health concerns.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a PACFA counsellor based in Australia.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English and Dutch.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.