DR DELIA BERNARDI
PASTORAL COUNSELLING | CPSC 2025P04345 |
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE (GBV) SPECIALIST |
DPHIL (CRIMINOLOGY)

Counselling that brings healing and freedom

Pastoral and specialised trauma counselling (Trauma Incident Reduction [TIR], Unblocking) to help you gently process what happened and move forward – without spending years stuck in the same stories.
Tailor-made, one-on-one sessions (in-person or online)
Trained in Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) through Applied Metapsychology International (AMI)
Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology (IPV / GBV)
You are
LOVED
Here for
YOU

When trauma won’t
stay in the past

Maybe some of this feels uncomfortably familiar:

Waiting for something bad to happen

You know you’re technically safe now, but your body doesn’t believe it. You can’t relax, you’re always waiting for something bad to happen.
Waiting for something - Delia Bernardi Counselling

You still struggle to trust people

You’ve tried therapy before – maybe for years – and you still struggle to trust people or feel close to anyone without waiting for them to turn on you.

Everyday things feel heavy

Everyday things feel heavy: Doing tasks, answering messages, making decisions, getting out the door.
Feeling heavy male 2 - Delia Bernardi Counselling

Being around people feels unsafe or exhausting

You spend a lot of time in bed or on your own, zoning out, because being around people feels unsafe or exhausting.

Keep falling into, relationships where you’re mistreated

You stay in, or keep falling into, relationships where you’re mistreated… because you’re not sure what “healthy” even looks like anymore.
“Underneath all of that, there’s usually a quiet wish:
I just want to feel safe. I want to know what it’s like to be loved, treated kindly, and not live with this constant knot in my stomach”.

Why my approach is different

A lot of clients tell me: “I’ve tried therapy. I talked and talked. It opened boxes, but nothing really changed”. While my work is grounded in professional training and evidence-based practice, as a victim of abuse myself, for many years, my understanding of trauma and recovery is also informed by lived experience. This allows me to meet clients with authenticity, compassion and appreciation for the complex realities of abuse and recovery. That’s why my work is different and effective.

Specialised in trauma and abuse

My background is in Criminology with a doctorate focused on intervention and intimate partner violence (IPV), commonly referred to as gender-based violence (GBV). My work is shaped by a deep, experiential understanding of the dynamics of trauma, abuse, control, shame, and fear.

Counselling with a faith perspective

My practice integrates professional counselling standards with pastoral counselling. If your faith is important to you, you are at the right place. I do also use psychological methodologies as well. The focus is always your well-being and healing -setting the captives free.

Trauma Incident Reduction (TIR)

TIR is a structured, focused method that helps you gently revisit specific traumatic incidents in a safe, controlled way, until the emotional charge reduces. Instead of circling around the trauma, I work directly with what is holding you back.

Unblocking: Guidance when you feel blocked

If you’re standing at a crossroads, I don’t just sit silently while you talk. I ask questions and help you unpack options, see patterns, and come to decisions that are realistic, safe, and sustainable for your life.

Quick and effective

You don’t have to sit in therapy for years with mediocre results. My methods are designed to be efficient and targeted, so you can notice shifts in how you feel and function – not just collect more information and still feel stuck.

Tailor-made for your story

No two people have the same history, culture, or risks. Every client gets a personalised approach based on what you’ve been through and what you need right now in your situation.
Here to help you find answers that are within your reach, and solutions that are sustainable for your life.

Who I work with

I work primarily with adults who are ready to reclaim their lives. If you relate to any of these, this space is for you:
Have experienced trauma – recently or many years ago
Are living with or recovering from intimate partner violence / GBV
Are out of the abusive situation but still feel haunted by it
Feel stuck in patterns of abusive or unhealthy relationships
Struggle with trust, boundaries, or feeling safe with people
Feel mentally “blocked” and can’t make an important decision
Want help and are willing to take some responsibility for your healing
Stepping Stones to Success 2 - Delia Bernardi Counselling

Services

A tailor-made approach that is specific to your situation and needs.
Trauma counselling and Trauma Incident Reduction (TIR)
For people who feel like the trauma is still “living in their body” – flashbacks, nightmares, triggers, panic, numbness.
Reduce the emotional intensity of those painful memories
Calm your nervous system so you’re not always on high alert or people-pleasing
Help you respond to triggers instead of being overwhelmed by them
Assist you to be proactive instead of reactive
Support for intimate partner violence / GBV
For people currently in, leaving, or recovering from abusive relationships. Informed by both academic study and lived experience.
Make sense of what’s happening or what happened to you
Untangle the guilt, shame, self-blame and self-loathing
Strengthen your sense of self and boundaries
Explore your options safely and realistically
Pastoral
counselling
For people who want their faith and spiritual life to be part of their healing. We always keep your emotional safety at the centre.
Create space to process spiritual questions and struggles
Strengthen inner resources of hope, meaning and resilience
Reaffirm dignity, identity and worth
Unblocking and decision-making support
For people who are no longer in crisis but feel blocked, unable to access motivation, clarity or making decisions.
Identify and gently remove internal obstacles keeping one stuck
Restore clarity to make good choices
Address barriers that hinder peace and growth
Group Debriefing after a traumatic event
For people wishing to reduce or prevent the symptoms of trauma. It is usually (but not always) a single-session intervention.
Provide information on trauma to normalise symptoms experienced
Provide an opportunity to discuss and get clarity on the facts of the incident
Provide a space to process feelings and thoughts
Provide support in the search for meaning in the experience
Affiliate of
CPSC
Delia Bernardi Counselling is affiliated with the Council for Pastoral and Spiritual Counsellors.
Faith is integrated with sensitivity and respect, supporting, rather than directing your own process of meaning-making, healing and growth
My practice embraces ethical, compassionate and client-centred care that honours each person’s dignity, agency and spiritual journey
Faith is a powerful resource

A simple process – what you can expect

You’ve probably seen complicated “how it works” diagrams on other counselling websites. This is simpler.
1

Reach out

Send a message or email and briefly share what you’re dealing with, and whether you prefer in-person (if possible) or online sessions.

2

First conversation

We talk through what’s been happening, what you’ve already tried, and what you would like to be different. You don’t have to share everything all at once.

3

Tailored plan

Together we decide which approach fits best: Pastoral counselling, TIR, Unblocking – or a combination.

4

Working together

As we work we can check in: What’s shifting? What still feels stuck? We adjust as needed to keep the process practical, collaborative and integrative.

Get Started

What our clients notice in a short period

Without promising too much, many people describe changes like:

Feeling less on edge all the time

Being able to say “no” and mean it

Feeling more deserving of basic kindness and respect

Noticing red flags earlier in relationships

See what others have said.

Client testimonials

“Delia Bernardi’s counselling helped me find real breakthrough and lasting change. I strongly recommend her”.
Alex
Tutor
“Delia’s counselling helped uncover deep-rooted issues from my past and brought real healing. I’m truly grateful”.
David
Student
“Delia helped me untangle long-held childhood trauma, and I felt immediate freedom and confidence. I highly recommend a session”.
Christell
Business Owner

Pricing and packages

Because every situation is different, fees can vary depending on individual versus group work, the type of service, and whether sessions are in-person or online.
To get more info on my fee structure, please reach out. I’ll share the current fees clearly before you commit to anything, so you can make an informed decision that works for you.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about the process and what to expect.
I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help. Why would this be any different?

That’s a very common concern. My work is different because it is trauma-specific, abuse-informed, and grounded in both professional methods and faith. Alongside structured approaches like Trauma Incident Reduction (TIR), sessions intentionally invite God’s presence and guidance.

TIR is a focused way of working with specific traumatic memories. In a calm, safe setting, you’re guided to gently revisit an incident in a structured, repeated way, until the emotional “charge” around it drops. You stay in control the whole time. The aim is to help your mind finally process what happened, so past experiences no longer hijack your present thoughts, emotions and responses.

TIR works with stored trauma responses, while Unblocking supports clarity, movement and choice when you feel stuck. TIR focuses on resolving the emotional charge of traumatic memories. Unblocking helps remove internal obstacles that prevent you from moving forward while the nervous system is calm.

Pastoral counselling integrates traditional psychotherapy with theological and spiritual insights. It is provided by trained professionals – certified counsellors – who help individuals navigate life’s challenges through both a psychological and a faith-based lens.

Unlike secular counselling, which focuses primarily on mental and emotional processes, pastoral counselling recognises that a person’s spiritual life is an essential component of their overall well-being.

TIR addresses neurobiological and emotional processing. Pastoral counselling addresses meaning, identity, faith and spiritual injury. Neither replace the other – they work in parallel and not in competition with one another.

Of course! Women perpetrate too, and partner abuse is often bidirectional, where both parties are abusive towards one another.

Your safety comes first. If you are in immediate danger, please contact emergency services. If it’s physically safe for you to communicate, we can work together carefully around things like: What’s safe to put in messages, when to meet, and how to plan the next steps without increasing your risk.

Yes. One-on-one appointments are available both in person (where possible) and online, so you can choose the option that feels safest and most practical for you.

No. Pastoral counselling is available if you want your faith to be part of the process. If you prefer a purely psychological, practical approach, that’s what we’ll use. You choose.

Trauma, from a Greek word meaning “wound”, is a deeply personal and subjective experience. It is shaped less by the event itself and more by a person’s internal reaction, so two people may face the same situation and respond very differently. Repeated trauma, childhood abuse, or witnessing intimate partner violence can have lasting and complex effects.

When trauma remains unresolved, it can affect emotions, relationships, behaviour, and daily functioning, and can disrupt a sense of safety, stability, and identity. People also express trauma in different ways. Some may respond with anger or emotional outbursts, others may withdraw or minimise what happened, while some may feel emotionally numb for a long time before feelings surface again. Healing often takes time, support, and space to give voice to your story, and making sense of it.

For a more detailed explanation click here

Difficulty sleeping, irritability, aggression, depression, anxiety, stress, withdrawal, intrusive memories, confusion or people-pleasing.

These reactions are normal responses to overwhelming events. With the proper support, understanding, and tools, people can heal, grow, and regain a sense of safety and hope. Do not hesitate to reach out to me here if you are unsure if counselling will help you. I am always happy to have a phone call to offer clarity and perspective. If I do not get back to you right away, I am in session but I will get back to you as soon as possible. You are not alone – help is a message away.

You don’t have to do this alone

If you’re reading this with that familiar tightness in your chest, wondering if it’s “bad enough” to ask for help: You don’t have to wait for things to get worse.