Bloom Beyond Counselling
Mental Health Counselling & Professional Supervision
Practical, compassionate support for individuals and professionals.
I'm Helen Uba, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW), SIRA-approved practitioner and NSW Victims Services Approved Counsellor.
I offer mental health counselling for people aged 16 and over, alongside external professional supervision for social workers and community services practitioners.
Based in Armidale, NSW, I provide online appointments across Australia and face-to-face sessions by arrangement.
Currently welcoming new counselling clients and professional supervision enquiries.
Meet Helen
Helen Uba | Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
I'm the founder and Principal Clinician at Bloom Beyond Counselling.
My professional experience includes mental health counselling, alcohol and other drug services, youth work, residential care, clinical leadership and professional supervision.
Over the years, I've worked with people facing complex challenges and supported teams responsible for delivering care in demanding environments. These experiences have shaped how I approach both counselling and supervision.
I believe good support begins with listening, understanding each person's circumstances and working together to find practical ways forward.
My background in law also informs my understanding of advocacy, individual rights and the wider systems that can affect people's wellbeing.
Whether I'm working with someone seeking counselling or a practitioner looking for supervision, my approach is respectful, collaborative and grounded in real-world practice.
Getting Started
Looking for counselling or professional supervision?
Finding the right support is important, and you're welcome to ask questions before making an appointment.
For counselling, you can view available appointments and book directly through my online booking system.
For professional supervision, please get in touch to discuss your needs, fees and availability.
I also offer a free 15-minute introductory call for new enquiries.
Our Services
Mental Health Counselling & Professional Supervision
At Bloom Beyond Counselling, I provide support for people navigating mental health and life challenges, as well as professionals seeking external supervision.
My approach is practical, trauma-informed and tailored to individual needs. Both services are available online across Australia, with face-to-face appointments in Armidale by arrangement.
Mental Health Counselling
A supportive space to understand what you're going through and find ways forward.
Life can become difficult to manage, particularly when you're dealing with emotional distress, painful experiences, relationship difficulties or several challenges at once.
I offer individual counselling for people aged 16 and over, including support with:
Anxiety and depression
Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Relationship difficulties and family conflict
Grief, bereavement and loss
Alcohol and other drug use, addictions and recovery
Workplace stress and burnout
Anger, emotional regulation and positive behaviour change
Life transitions, self-esteem and personal wellbeing
Family and domestic violence-related experiences
My approach is collaborative and trauma-informed. Depending on your needs, I draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Narrative Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
Counselling may involve exploring difficult experiences, understanding patterns, learning practical coping strategies or working towards changes that are important to you.
You don't need to have everything figured out before seeking support.
Online across Australia | Face-to-face in Armidale by arrangement
Professional Supervision
Reflective, practical supervision for social workers and community services practitioners.
Working in helping professions can be rewarding, but it also comes with complex cases, difficult decisions and competing responsibilities.
I offer external professional supervision for social workers and practitioners working in mental health, alcohol and other drug services, youth services, residential care and community organisations.
Who I Supervise
I welcome enquiries from:
Qualified social workers seeking external professional supervision
Early-career and experienced practitioners
Mental health and AOD practitioners
Youth and residential care workers
Caseworkers and community services practitioners
Organisations seeking individual or group supervision for staff
My Approach to Supervision
My supervision approach is supportive, reflective and grounded in practical experience.
Having worked in clinical and leadership roles, including providing individual and group supervision, I understand the importance of having space to discuss challenges openly and think critically about practice.
Sessions can focus on complex cases, ethical concerns, risk management, professional boundaries, reflective practice, practitioner wellbeing and ongoing professional development.
I tailor supervision to your experience, responsibilities and professional goals.
Supervision Arrangements
Individual supervision can be arranged fortnightly, monthly or according to your professional requirements.
I also welcome enquiries from organisations seeking external supervision for their teams.
Online across Australia | Face-to-face in Armidale by arrangement
Currently accepting new supervision enquiries.
Faith-Integrated Counselling
Support that respects your beliefs and values.
For some people, faith and spirituality play an important role in how they understand life's challenges and find meaning during difficult times.
Alongside my usual evidence-informed counselling approach, I offer Christian faith-integrated counselling for clients who would like their beliefs and values incorporated into sessions.
Faith integration is entirely optional and guided by your preferences and therapeutic goals.
Bloom Beyond welcomes clients from all religious and cultural backgrounds.
Fees & Funding Options
Mental Health Counselling
Private counselling: $150 per 50-minute session.
Medicare-Rebated Counselling: Eligible clients with a valid GP Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral pay just $50 out of pocket per 50-minute session after the Medicare rebate.
Reduced private counselling fees may be considered based on individual circumstances.
Other Funding Options
I also provide counselling under eligible funding arrangements, including:
SIRA: Workers compensation counselling, subject to approval and scheme requirements.
NSW Victims Services: Counselling for eligible clients with approved counselling hours.
NDIS: Self-managed and plan-managed arrangements, where the service is appropriate and funding requirements are met.
Private paying clients: No GP referral is required.
Professional Supervision Fees
Individual supervision: $150 per 60-minute session.
Organisation-funded supervision: $180 per 60-minute session.
Group supervision: Fees available on enquiry.
Supervision can be arranged online across Australia or face-to-face in Armidale by arrangement.
Please get in touch if you have questions about fees, funding or appointment availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can access counselling at Bloom Beyond?
I provide individual counselling for people aged 16 and over, including young people, adults and older adults. I support a range of mental health and life challenges, including anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, grief, addiction and burnout.
Do I need a GP referral?
You don't need a GP referral to book privately. If you wish to claim a Medicare rebate, you'll need to meet the relevant eligibility requirements and have an appropriate referral from an eligible medical practitioner.
Do you offer Medicare rebates?
Yes. As an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW), I provide counselling under the Medicare Better Access initiative. Eligible clients with a valid GP Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral pay just $50 out of pocket per 50-minute session after the Medicare rebate.
How much does counselling cost?
Private individual counselling costs $150 per 50-minute session. Reduced fees may be considered depending on individual circumstances. Different arrangements apply to eligible Medicare, SIRA, NSW Victims Services and NDIS-funded services.
Do you offer telehealth counselling?
Yes. I offer online counselling across Australia using secure video appointments. Telehealth suitability and any Medicare eligibility requirements are discussed before booking.
Can I see you in person?
Face-to-face appointments are available in Armidale, NSW, by arrangement. Please contact me to discuss current availability.
What happens during the first appointment?
Our first session is an opportunity to discuss what has brought you to counselling, understand your concerns and talk about what you'd like to work towards. We'll also discuss confidentiality, your preferences and an approach that suits your needs.
How many counselling sessions will I need?
This varies depending on your concerns, circumstances and goals. Some people benefit from short-term support, while others prefer ongoing counselling. We can review your needs and progress together.
Is counselling confidential?
Yes. Your privacy is important. Information shared in counselling is treated confidentially, subject to professional, legal and safety-related exceptions, which I'll explain before we begin.
Do you offer Christian counselling?
Yes. Christian faith-integrated counselling is available if you would like your beliefs and values included in the therapeutic process. This is entirely optional, and all clients are welcome regardless of faith.
Do you provide professional supervision?
Yes. I offer external professional supervision for social workers and practitioners in mental health, AOD, youth and community services. Individual supervision is available online across Australia, with organisation-funded and group supervision enquiries also welcome.
How much does professional supervision cost?
Individual supervision is $150 for 60 minutes. Organisation-funded supervision is $180 for 60 minutes, with group supervision quoted separately. Professional supervision is not covered by Medicare.
Do you offer supervision for university social work students?
I welcome enquiries about external social work field education and student supervision, subject to the university's requirements and appointment arrangements.
How do I book an appointment?
Counselling appointments can be booked through my online booking system. For professional supervision, please contact me by phone or email to discuss arrangements.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
Please contact me as early as possible if you need to change your appointment. The applicable cancellation arrangements will be provided when booking.
Get in touch
Address
Armidale NSW 2350, Australia
Phone
+61 (0) 478202752ABN
70925647684
Operating Hours
Appointments available Monday–Friday, including selected evenings.
Weekend appointments by arrangement.
Telehealth across Australia | Face-to-face in Armidale by arrangement
Professional Credentials & Affiliations
Helen Uba
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)
Member, Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
SIRA-Approved Practitioner
NSW Victims Services Approved Counsellor
Master of Social Work (Qualifying), University of New England
Master of Laws, University of Malaya
Diploma of Leadership and Management
Areas of Professional Experience
Mental health counselling, alcohol and other drug services, youth work, residential care, clinical leadership, reflective supervision and professional development.
Need Urgent Support?
Bloom Beyond Counselling is not an emergency or crisis response service.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department.
For crisis support in Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
If you need ongoing counselling or professional supervision, you're welcome to get in touch during normal business hours.
Helpful Resources
Articles and Blogs
Finding Your Footing: Why You Need Agency Before Commitment
We talk a lot about "finding the right person" or "building a life together." But as a therapist, the conversation I usually end up having with clients isn't about their partner at all. It’s about them.
Before we can build a healthy, sustainable relationship with someone else, we have to establish something incredibly important first: Agency.
What exactly is agency?
In clinical terms, agency is your capacity to act independently and make your own free choices. But in real life? Agency is the quiet, grounded confidence of knowing who you are, what you need, and what your boundaries look like before you merge your life with someone else’s.
It’s the difference between choosing a partner because they complement your life, versus choosing a partner because you are desperately looking for someone to anchor you.
The Trap of Skipping the "Agency" Step When we carry a history of complex stress, burnout, or trauma, our nervous systems are often stuck in hyper-vigilance. We become experts at reading the room and adapting to what other people need us to be.
If we enter a committed relationship without a strong sense of our own agency, that survival skill takes over. We start people-pleasing. We silence our own needs to keep the peace. We morph into whatever the relationship requires, and slowly, we lose the storyline of our own lives.
Building agency doesn't mean you have to be fiercely independent or avoid connection. It just means learning to anchor yourself.
Learn what it feels like in your body when you are genuinely relaxed, versus when you are just "keeping the peace."
What are your values? What do you enjoy doing when no one else is watching?
Before agreeing to a merged plan or compromising on a boundary, take a breath. Give yourself permission to say, "Let me think about that and get back to you."
A healthy relationship should feel like a safe harbor, not a place where you have to hustle for your worth. When you have agency, you don't just survive your relationships, you actively choose them.
Need help finding your footing? If you feel like you are constantly losing yourself in relationships, or you are running on empty trying to keep everyone else happy, you don't have to figure it out alone.
As an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) at Bloom Beyond Counselling, I help individuals navigate complex stress, rebuild their emotional regulation, and reclaim their own stories. I provide flexible, trauma-informed telehealth therapy across Australia, creating a safe, accessible space for you to heal from the comfort of your own home.
My practice welcomes private clients, Medicare referrals (with a GP Mental Health Care Plan), SIRA (Workers Compensation) clients, and NDIS participants under Capacity Building - Improved Daily Living.
To enquire about current availability or to join my intake list, please submit a secure enquiry via my Halaxy practice portal here: https://www.halaxy.com/profile/ms-helen-dorathy-uba/social-worker/1748639
Article
Mental Health Counselling & Professional Supervision
Helen Uba | Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Armidale, NSW | Telehealth Across Australia
Phone: 0478 202 752
Email: info@bbcounselling.com
ABN: 70 925 647 684
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