About me
As a person-centred counsellor, I specialise in helping you notice the inner signs about what's wrong in your life. By tuning into these ‘felt senses’, what feels stuck can begin to shift, bringing relief and a sense of moving forward.
Feeling stuck in life, ruminating, or reliving difficult moments? I know how painful it can be. Whether it’s your mental health, relationships, or life changes that you need help with, I believe that somewhere inside, you know best how to right yourself. You can decide what we talk about and we will go at your pace.
How I Can Help
When you face difficult life experiences, you may want to learn skills to better manage your emotional pain and shape the life you want going forward. That’s why I incorporate powerful body-based practices such as Mindfulness, Focusing, and Non-Violent Communication, into my counselling. I use an embodied approach, which includes ‘Parts Work’. This brings together Person-centred and Experiential practice, so you can feel your experience change, as you get in touch with the different parts of you which may be in conflict.
Areas I Can Help With
I have a particular interest in helping people who feel stuck, to connect with themselves, as this can be an anchor to hold you steady, and a compass to help you move. I work with clients with a wide range of issues including anxiety, GAD, (Generalsised Anxiety Disorder) depression, trauma, low self-esteem, low self-confidence, identity, family issues, singleness, stress, work-related issues, and climate and eco-anxiety. I have specialist training in bereavement and have supported women who self-harm.
In a client's words: “I highly recommend Catherine to anyone considering a counsellor to support them through difficulties – she is accepting, understanding, and knowledgeable, and offers a warm and safe counselling experience” - J.M.
Get in Touch
If you feel daunted by starting counselling, I will try and help you feel as relaxed as possible. We’ve got as long as you need. I’m ready to meet you as you are, and listen to you in a way that helps you feel more yourself again. When you email, if you don’t hear back within 48 hours, please check your spam folder. It’s a good idea to leave a number for me to text you on as a second point of contact.
Training, qualifications & experience
Accreditation and Initial Training
I’m a BACP Accredited Counsellor. I trained in Person-Centred Integrative Counselling and achieved a Distinction for my Foundation Degree in Science in Counselling with the University of Gloucester in 2019.
I’m an experienced Counsellor and I’m accredited with the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) and work to their professional standards.
Further Training and Interests
I am a Focusing-Oriented Therapist, which is an experiential method which I combine with my Person-Centred approach. I'm a member of The International Focusing Institute (TIFI).
I am a trainee supervisor, learning a Transpersonal approach to supervision with Re-Vision.
I trained in Non-Violent Communication and Restorative Circles with Seed of Peace, bereavement with Cruse Bereavement Support, and self-harm with Self Injury Support Helpline.
My Background and Life Experience
Person-Centred counselling is all about coming alongside you in solidarity. With a background in Social Anthropology, I spent years in UK, Europe, Africa, and Asia, seeking to understand the human condition and to be in solidarity with people’s suffering. I value a person-centred approach to learning from life, having home-educated my children. My life has been inspired by Faith Traditions, Mindfulness, Focusing, Enneagram of Personality, Non-Violent Communication, and Child-Led Education.
My life experience gives me particular insights into issues of identity, culture, and spirituality, as well as relationships, family and children.
Embodied Approach and Parts Work
I use an Embodied Approach because understanding what our body is telling us, can help make sure we are with the thing that really needs our attention. We might check in with your bodily ‘felt sense’ of situations in your life. This can bring us in touch with different parts of you which may have very different ideas about what you should do. Being present with them, really listening to and empathising with their concerns, can help resolve the ‘stuckness’ in your life. We can gently listen to your body’s wisdom, and let this guide your decisions.
I’ve seen my clients become more in touch with their own sense of a situation, more accepting of themselves and their experience, and more self-determined and empowered.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Focusing-Oriented Therapy, Emotional overwhelm, feeling stuck, feeling disconnected, numbness, difficulty accessing feelings, inner conflict, overthinking, rumination, self-criticism, shame, inner critic, self-compassion, self-acceptance, feeling not good enough, sense of self, identity issues, confidence in relationships, people-pleasing, boundaries in relationships, fear of abandonment, fear of intimacy, attachment wounds, attachment difficulties, relationship anxiety, dating anxiety, repeating relationship patterns, emotional unavailability, communication breakdown, conflict avoidance, relational trauma, developmental trauma, attachment trauma, emotional safety, repair after conflict, meaning-making, life transitions, existential anxiety, trauma-informed counselling, attachment-informed counselling, relational counselling, experiential counselling, body-based awareness
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 - £75.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
A small number of reduced-fee places are available for those on lower incomes. Don't let money be a barrier; reach out and we can see what's possible for you financially.
When I work
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Further information
Availability
I’m available for new clients. My availability at the moment is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings/lunchtime. I'm in-person in Bristol on Mondays and Tuesdays and online from Mondays to Thursdays.
Get in Touch
When you are ready, let's have an initial conversation about the possibility of starting counselling. You can book this on Zoom or a phone call at the menu tab 'Book Intro Call' above, or email me to arrange an in-person conversation or a different time.
Online Counselling
You may get an appointment quicker by meeting online. Zoom or phone counselling gives you flexibility over where and how your counselling takes place, with the benefits of reduced travel time and the convenience of being in your own space.
What to Expect
You may want to decide in advance what to bring, or we can work with whatever is alive for you at the time. If you need a little help to get started, I can ask you some questions, or if needed, I can help you pause and take stock, so we can really hear what needs our attention.
I look forward to hearing from you.
