Bernadette Welham, AASW
A compassionate social worker who values your story
Details
| Name | Bernadette Welham |
|---|---|
| Credentials | AASW |
| Based in | Australia |
| Registered with | AASW |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 5 |
About Bernadette
Bernadette Welham is an AASW social worker with five years of professional experience. She believes clients are the experts in their own stories and works alongside them to find strengths and options. Her approach is supportive and straightforward, aimed at helping people take the first brave steps toward change.
Her practice focuses on common stresses such as anxiety, depression and grief. She also helps people manage relationship strain, family conflict, parenting challenges and issues linked to trauma and abuse.
Background and approach
Practical coping strategies and clearer understanding are regular goals in sessions. Bernadette draws on Narrative ideas that separate a person from their problems. She uses Attachment-Based and Client-Centred methods to build safety and understanding in conversation.
Cognitive behavioural techniques are included when helpful to change unhelpful patterns of thought and behaviour. Sessions tend to be collaborative and paced to each person. People can expect to talk through what matters most to them, try small changes between sessions, and reflect on results together.
The tone is respectful, curious and goal-oriented. She works with a wide range of concerns including addiction, ADHD, intimacy and sexual diversity issues, body image, chronic illness and caregiver stress. Bernadette also supports people dealing with career transitions, burnout and compassion fatigue.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse among the things Bernadette works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Visually impaired
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Bernadette among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Bernadette among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Bernadette among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Bernadette among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Bernadette among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Bernadette among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Bernadette among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Bernadette among the ways she works.
- Internal Family Systems: Listed by Bernadette among the ways she works.
- Systemic Therapy: Listed by Bernadette among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Bernadette directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Bernadette directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
Therapeutic approaches and how they work online
Bernadette often uses Narrative Therapy to help people separate themselves from problems and reframe life stories. This approach can be useful for issues like trauma, identity, relationship patterns and self-esteem because it highlights strengths and alternative narratives.She also uses Attachment-Based Therapy to look at how early connections shape current relationships and emotional needs. That work can help people understand patterns in close relationships and build more supported ways of relating. Her Client-Centred approach keeps sessions grounded in the person’s experience and priorities, offering a respectful and listening space to guide choices.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Bernadette will discuss different ideas and try methods that fit the client's goals and preferences. The process is collaborative and adjustments are made as progress is reviewed.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video is useful for fuller conversation and visual cues, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and text or live chat suit short check-ins or people who prefer writing. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, parenting and other commitments.
Common questions about this listing
What issues does Bernadette help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief and trauma-related concerns. Her scope also includes addiction, parenting, relationship and intimacy issues, ADHD and career change.
What is her therapeutic style?
She takes a collaborative, respectful style that centres your story. Sessions focus on practical steps, exploring strengths and trying changes between meetings.
How much experience does she have?
Bernadette has five years of professional experience working with people on a range of life difficulties and emotional concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds AASW credentialing and practises in Australia.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Sessions are available by video calls, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Bernadette are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Bernadette where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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