Shierly Halim is a registered counsellor and psychotherapist based in Melbourne, Victoria. She holds a Master of Counselling from Monash University and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and Chinese Studies from the University of Melbourne.
Shierly works with adults and young people navigating a wide range of emotional, relational, and life challenges, including anxiety, stress, burnout, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, trauma, self-esteem concerns, life transitions, and cultural identity. She offers individual counselling and psychotherapy through both in-person sessions in East Melbourne and telehealth for clients located anywhere in Australia. Sessions are available in English and Bahasa Indonesia.
Her approach is integrative and person-centred, drawing on a range of evidence-based modalities to meet each client's individual needs. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all framework, Shierly tailors her practice to suit the unique goals, preferences, and circumstances of each person she works with. She incorporates cognitive, emotion-focused, acceptance-based, and solution-focused strategies, as well as grounding and body-based techniques where appropriate.
Shierly places the therapeutic relationship at the heart of her work. She aims to create a space that is warm, collaborative, and non-judgmental — where clients feel genuinely heard, respected, and supported to explore their experiences at their own pace. Her goal is to support clients in developing greater self-understanding, shifting unhelpful patterns, and moving forward with clarity and confidence.
Prior to completing her postgraduate studies, Shierly worked as a counsellor in Indonesia for two years, supporting clients from diverse backgrounds across a range of presenting concerns. She has also worked in school and clinical settings in Australia, and has volunteered with organisations including Beyond Blue, Cancer Council, Tzu Chi Foundation, and Sacred Heart Mission.
As a therapist of Chinese-Indonesian background who has lived and worked across both Indonesia and Australia, Shierly brings genuine cultural sensitivity and lived experience to her practice. She has a particular understanding of the challenges associated with navigating multiple cultural identities, intergenerational expectations, migration, and the experience of building a life away from home.
Shierly is committed to ongoing professional development and engages in regular clinical supervision to support safe and ethical practice. She holds additional training in Mental Health First Aid, DBT skills, family violence foundations, and suicide prevention.