Welcome to Catherine Clay
counselling and psychotherapy
My practice is founded in existential and relational theory, which means that I approach all clients with compassion and without judgement.
How I can help
You may read this because you feel overwhelmed, in free fall, and you don’t know where to turn. Or maybe life is generally ok, but you are looking to understand some of your behavioural patterns or choices better? Perhaps there is tension or conflict in your relationship, and you would like some help moving forward?
Whatever your reasons for visiting this page, I am here to help. I work with individuals and with couples, face to face or via telephone or Zoom.
Get in touch via e-mail, text or call me, and we can either chat through what you are looking for, or book a time for you to come and see me for a free initial session.
Individual Therapy
Many clients come to see me because they are struggling with specific issues, such as needing help to cope with the grief of losing a loved one. Many others seek the support of a therapist because they are frustrated with aspects of their lives. Whatever your reasons for considering seeing a therapist, therapeutic work is about creating a safe space where you can trust me to hear you without judgment or rejection.
The relationship between therapist and client is unique because it lacks the agenda that naturally exists in our ordinary relationships with family and friends. As a therapist I am exclusively concerned with you and your wellbeing and growth.
Couples Therapy
Relationships are hard, and sometimes it is very difficult to see the road ahead. As a couples’ therapist, my client is your relationship. That means that it is not my role to take sides, or to referee. Neither is it my goal to “save” your relationship. Instead, my aim is to create a space for you both where you can be heard and understood, so that you can ultimately make the right decisions for you.
Often the couples I see love each other very much and are committed to working though tensions or conflicts. Many times one party is more committed to therapy than the other, and that is fine. My role is to enable your dialogue and to help you both explore and express what you want and what you need.
Pre-marriage Counselling
This package of three 60 minute sessions is for couples who want to give their marriage the best possible start. Why not gift it to a special couple that you care about? Every relationship comes under pressure periodically and these sessions help prepare you both for those times; providing practical tools to help couples navigate difficulties together and come out stronger on the other side.
Pre-marriage counselling is about exploring what makes your relationship work for you, and how you both support and value each other. It is a positive and enjoyable process, and invariably seen by clients as a worthwhile investment.
Separation Counselling
A relationship coming to an end is often a complex and painful experience. Whatever the reasons for parting ways, both parties will benefit from being able to walk away without (or with less) animosity, hurt, guilt or bitterness. Counselling will help you hold on to and value the parts of your shared story that were good and meaningful, and to accept the parts that were not. The aim is to allow you both to move forward in a positive way, so that you not be held back emotionally by pain or anger.
If you have children together, you will likely remain in each other’s lives in a regular and tangible way. For most parents, the wellbeing of their children is their highest priority, and counselling for co-parents post separation will aid you in establishing new boundaries and redefining your relationship. As a member of Resolution, I am committed to constructive and non-confrontational practices, and the basis of the work will always be the respect for each individual’s autonomy and choices.
Group Training
If you would like someone to talk to your staff, students or members of your organisation about mental health and wellbeing, I offer 1, 2 and 4 hour training sessions on topics such as:
– Managing work and life balance
– Mental health awareness
– Stress in the workplace
– Bereavement through suicide
All areas are considered so please get in touch to discuss your requirements in more detail.