About Berni
Berni Palings is a compassionate counsellor with 11 years of experience in Australia. She works patiently with people feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, loss or relationship strain. Berni speaks English and Dutch and aims to meet people where they are with kindness and respect.
Berni focuses on helping people regain confidence and find their own answers. She supports clients through grief, trauma, addictions and changes at work or in life.
Background and approach
Her approach centres on listening carefully and helping people notice their existing strengths. Sessions are practical and down to earth. Berni helps clients build coping strategies, boost self-esteem and take small steps towards clearer goals.
She believes change is possible when it is paced to suit each person. Her background includes over a decade of professional counselling in Australia and credentialing with PACFA, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. That experience shapes a calm, steady style that balances empathy with clear direction.
Berni also works with issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault and multicultural concerns. She supports people dealing with isolation, caregiver stress, ageing issues and the emotional effects of adoption and foster care. If someone wants to explore their options, Berni encourages a gentle first step.
She aims to create a space where clients can talk, reflect and try practical tools to feel more in control.
Practical therapy approaches and online care
Evidence-based therapeutic techniques are used to help people manage anxiety, trauma and life transitions. One common approach focuses on building coping skills and problem-solving strategies to reduce stress and improve day-to-day functioning. Another approach emphasises exploring personal strengths and values to rebuild confidence and direction after grief or major life change. These ways of working are practical and aimed at skills people can use between sessions.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, needs and preferences, and together they will choose methods that feel like a good fit. This collaborative process means plans can be adjusted as progress unfolds.
Online therapy is offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, giving flexibility for different schedules. Video calls are helpful when visual connection matters, phone sessions suit lower bandwidth or hands-free conversations, live chat works for shorter check-ins, and messaging lets people reflect in their own time. These options make it easier to fit counselling into work breaks, busy days or when travel is difficult.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Self esteem
Also listed
- Addictions
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Forgiveness
- HIV / AIDS
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Multicultural concerns
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Workplace issues
- Experience
- 11 years
- Licensed
- Languages
- English, Dutch
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