UQ Counsellors

Sheldon Pace                     
Manager
(he/him) UQ Ally

I have been part of the UQ Student Counselling team since 2008 and managing the team since 2011. Although I am focused on student mental health from a broad perspective, my approach to individual students draws from a range of therapies including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Solution Focused Brief Therapy. Within the tertiary education environment, I have a particular interest in how the supervisory relationship can affect a student’s health and wellbeing. When not working I enjoy rock-climbing or rolling dice for one of an ever-expanding library of board games.

Kim Fletcher
Senior Student Counsellor
(she/her) UQ Ally

I joined the UQ counselling team in 2016, I am a clinical psychologist and UQ Ally. I am passionate about helping people to work towards their goals to live the best life that they can. I aim to provide a safe and supportive space using a trauma-informed approach to allow people to talk about their struggles openly and at their own pace. My interest areas are anxiety, depression, self-worth and self-compassion, resilience as well as interpersonal relationships. I am also part of the Sexual Misconduct Support Unit team and feel humbled being able to provide support to those who have experienced this type of trauma. My main approaches are strengths-based, person focused embedded within Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). In my spare time I enjoy the sunshine, brunch, and spending time with family and friends.

Eliza Birtles
Senior Student Counsellor
(she/her) UQ Ally

I joined UQ Student Counselling in 2017 as a Senior Counsellor and worked in Tertiary education and mental health since 2014, after completing my training as a Clinical Psychologist. I enjoy supporting students in my counselling role to deepen their understanding of themselves and to move towards a fulfilling life that they desire. I am grateful to work with students in this, often challenging, time in their lives with a focus on learning and growth. As a Placement Supervisor, I enjoy helping students develop their skills and confidence as counsellors and for myself to continue learning from others. My preferred style of counselling is a strengths-based approach to cognitive behavioural interventions including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), solution focussed brief therapy, mindfulness and self-compassion. When I am not working I enjoy being outside in nature, being active and spending time with family and friends.

Kirsty Jackman
Senior Student Counsellor
(she/her) 

I joined the UQ counselling team in 2023, I am a clinical psychologist from Adelaide and have worked in a range of setting over the past ten years, including education and child protection. I understand that relationships and connection are fundamental to our quality of life. As such in my role as student counsellor, I aim to provide students a space where they can feel a sense of safety, calm and care when sharing their challenges with me. I draw on a range of evidence-based therapies that are tailored to suit the individual needs of the person I am working with. My style of counselling is a person-centred approach to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Schema Therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. These allow me to support a wide range of clients with concerns related but not limited to anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, and personal relationship issues. When I am not working, I enjoy travelling, reading, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Caleb Bull
Student Counsellor
(he/him)

Since starting at UQ in 2020 I have worked in both the Student Adviser and Counselling teams. With a Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Counselling completed at UQ, I am passionate about supporting students from all backgrounds to help them identify and address their individual needs and goals.  As a person with Spina Bifida, I am particularly passionate about working with people with disabilities. My framework is informed by a strengths-based and person-centred approach utilising aspects of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends, music, exercising and eating/drinking at my favourite local spots.

Franc Hayes
Student Counsellor
(he/him)

My main professional interests include anxiety, stress management, behaviour management, relationships, strengths and resilience building, Alcohol and other Drug addictions, PTSD, survivors of Sexual Abuse, LGBTI+, EAP, and social justice. My preferred style is based on CBT, Solutions Focussed, NLP and Mindfulness. I have more than 20 years of client-centred practice and experience working with Asylum Seekers, youth, couples, LGBTI+, EAP and delivery of Psychology of Safety Workshops. I have been at UQ since early 2019.

Helen Nguyen
Student Counsellor
(she/her) UQ Ally

I have worked at UQ since early 2019 and provide student support in general counselling and the Sexual Misconduct and Support Unit. I enjoy learning about all areas of human challenges and am grateful for being part of someone’s journey in healing and growth. My preferred counselling modalities are Strengths-based, Trauma-informed, Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Schema Therapy. Away from work, I like being in nature, enjoying tasty food and spending time with my fur-children.

Keren Jones
Student Counsellor
(she/her) UQ Ally

Prior to starting at UQ, I worked as a psychologist in Non-government, State and Federal Government services providing assessment and support to children, families and adults for over 15 years.  I feel grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with our students over the last 10 years as they undertake an amazing journey in their lives.  I have growth and personal strengths focus and really encourage the development of self-compassion.  When not working I love being in nature and being creative with cooking, drawing, doing up furniture, taking photos and sewing.

Letitia Norton                  
Counsellor 
(she/her) UQ Ally

I have been part of the UQ Counselling team since 2017 and support students to navigate personal and relationship challenges to optimise their mental health and wellbeing. My therapeutic approach is holistic, neuroscience-informed, specialising in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and able to integrate mindfulness and creative practices. I provide a safe, compassionate space for students to tell their story and, when ready, develop skills and processes of self-discovery, to become their own agent of change. Outside work, I escape to nature: camping, kayaking and wilderness walks or creative art and garden projects.

Melissa Glasscock
Student Counsellor
(she/her)

I joined the UQ student counselling and Sexual Misconduct Support Unit this year. Previous to this role I have worked in the fields of mental health (in both hospitals and communities), sexual assault and trauma counselling. My areas of interest are anxiety, depression, self-worth, stress management and trauma. I provide a non-judgemental environment where people can problem-solve and deal with challenges.  My preferred counselling style is strength-based, ACT, mindfulness and trauma-informed practice.  

Nghi Vuong
Student Counsellor
(she/her) UQ Ally

I am a counsellor and social worker, and facilitator of the Art For Wellbeing program. My focus with clients is to create a safe and compassionate space, to allow for their stories to emerge and for change to occur when they are ready. I use different mediums to bring thoughts, feelings, perceptions and experiences into our awareness. I enjoy being outdoors with my family; at the beach, at the park and out fishing.

Riley Whyte
Student Counsellor
(he/him)

My therapeutic approach is holistic and I am a firm believer in allowing the client to guide each session and working collaboratively with them in creating a support plan that aligns with their goals, needs and values. I use therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy. These allow me to support a wide range of clients with concerns related but not limited to trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, stress and relationship issues. In my down time I enjoy playing soccer, attending gigs or getting away for camping weekends.

Yasuyo Uehara
Student Counsellor
(she/her) UQ Ally

My passion is in evolving whole health through the integration of eastern and western psychology and body-mind approaches. As a polyvagal-informed, Internal Family Systems trained, psychodynamic and mindfulness-based counsellor, I offer processes of both self-discovery and skill development to help you become an active operator of your inner life. When I’m not working, I’m trail riding on my mountain bike, bird watching, or working on my handstand at the beach.  

Zarinah Hienekamp
Student Counsellor
(she/her) UQ Ally

I am a Student Counsellor and Psychologist, and Co-Facilitator of the Freedom From Your Cage body image program, the Self-Compassion Chats and UQ’s annual R U Ok Day event.  My special interest areas include anxiety, adjustment issues, self-confidence and self-compassion, body image, goal setting and psychological resilience. I also enjoy going to the beach, spending time with friends, road trips and photography, live music and observing the adventures of my always mischievous cat.