My Approach
Somatic, Relational, Psychodynamic and Person-Centred
My name is Cat and I would love to support you, through my somatically-informed integrative counselling and therapy style, working from a relaxed and welcoming location in Newent, Gloucestershire.
I use my somatic training to help you notice what is happening underneath your thoughts and feelings, in the body. We pay attention to the signals of the nervous system, building awareness of sensations, and using gentle tools like grounding, breathwork, tapping, movement, and slow orientation to promote safety. Visualization can help us to explore creatively, leaning into the imagination and growing feelings of empowerment.
My relational training enables me to prioritize and protect our therapeutic relationship, as the base from which all our work and learning can take place. We explore together, collaboratively, in a way that promotes safety, honesty, respect and care.
My psychodynamic training helps us to bring your unconscious patterns and habits into the light. Gently, and with compassion, gaining understanding and creating meaning around these old, familiar ways of being.
My person-centred training informs the way I will bring myself, as your therapist, as we embark on our journey together. I aim to be led by you, offering warmth, empathy, acceptance, authenticity and respect, at all times.
Testimonials
I tailor my approach for the individual, to ensure I offer support that is aware of each person's needs around trauma, neurodiversity, culture and other forms of difference and diversity.
See what other clients have to say about our work together.
"I have learnt: to tune into what my body is telling me and lean into what it needs to comfort itself; that it's ok to rock and stim and hug myself; to try to self soothe before jumping to self harm; that my responses come from trauma and experiences; to advocate for myself; to stop and think before I make decisions - there's no rush; it's ok to be weird - some people find it endearing, and if they don't, they're not for me; that I like button sorting; to be curious; that people care; that not all professionals will disappoint me; that people will support me if I ask for help.
Thank you for all you've taught me and for being there to pick up the pieces every week. I may not always be able to use my resources but I am getting better and am in a much better position than when we started. What I have learnt has definitely saved my life. It is comforting to know, regardless of how inconsistent and turbulent my personal relationships are, that you are consistent."
The story around a gift from my client at the end of our work together:
"The Story of the Button Pot...When I first made it, I really hated it, because it wasn't perfect and I thought it looked messy. But as I finished it, I started to appreciate all the little imperfections and actually really liked it. Then I dropped it and smashed it. I felt upset and angry at myself. My instinct was to self harm to punish myself and to not give the pot to you, but I knew you would not want that outcome and it was an opportunity to practise my coping skills and sit with discomfort. I self soothed and considered my options. I glued it back together out of curiosity to see if it could be fixed. I was able to put the pieces back together, and although it wasn't perfect and was cracked and chipped, I was able to accept this as I felt it was representative of a journey of healing just like mine and your other clients. I hope you can still appreciate the once broken, damaged, yet repaired button pot, and perhaps use it in your office where you help other people on their journey of acceptance and healing."
Female client, aged 32 years
"Cat gave me a comforting environment in which to discuss and find peace with emotions around loss of a close family member. It was a positive experience which has given me an awareness of what I have been through and a good position from which to move forward."
Female client, aged 55 years