Trainee Counsellor – Catherine

Qualifications & Training

• CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling — Integrative (in progress, CPCAB and BACP accredited course, CPTA)
• CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling (completed)
• CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (completed)
• Fit to practise certificate held

Catherine brings three years of frontline wellbeing experience to her counselling work — someone who has spent her professional life creating safe, empathic spaces for people in distress, and who carries that same calm, grounded presence into the counselling room.

About Catherine

Catherine is a Trainee Integrative Counsellor studying a CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling at the Counselling and Psychotherapy Training Academy (CPTA). Her training is integrative, grounded in a humanistic and person-centred foundation and drawing on psychodynamic theory, CBT, Gestalt, and attachment-informed approaches — always adapted to the needs of the individual in front of her.

For the past three years, Catherine has worked at BIMM University in Brighton, progressing from Student Wellbeing Advisor to Senior Student Wellbeing Advisor. In this role, she has managed a caseload of 80 to 100 students, providing one-to-one pastoral support, holding space for individuals navigating trauma, neurodiversity and severe mental health challenges, and liaising with external services, including crisis teams and the Assessment and Treatment Service. She has experience in safeguarding compliance, case recording in line with data protection requirements, and senior-level responsibility for maintaining a safe and supportive environment for a diverse student community.

Before her work in higher education, Catherine spent nearly three years in a multidisciplinary practice which provided neurodevelopmental and psychological assessments for legal proceedings, as well as therapy. She worked daily alongside neurodiverse clients and individuals with mental health conditions, supporting them with sensitivity and calm professionalism. This background in clinical environments gives her an unusually grounded understanding of how psychological services operate, how to maintain client confidentiality and accurate records, and how to support people who are in distress from the very first moment of contact.

Catherine’s Philosophy

“I believe in the power of empathy, authenticity and human connection to bring about change. My role is to create safety, listen deeply, and help clients find their own clarity and autonomy. These are skills I have been developing and refining for years — and they are at the heart of everything I bring to counselling.”

Catherine approaches counselling with warmth, professionalism and a calm, grounded presence. Her years of working with students and clients in distress — including those navigating trauma, neurodiversity and acute mental health crises — have given her a well-developed capacity to hold difficult material with steadiness and care. She is also experienced in reflective supervision, having engaged in fortnightly supervision throughout her senior wellbeing role, which has deepened her understanding of ethical practice and self-awareness.

What Catherine Can Help With

Mental health & emotional wellbeing

• Anxiety and worry
• Low mood and depression
• Stress and overwhelm
• Self-esteem and confidence
• Emotional regulation and distress

Trauma, neurodiversity & complex needs

• Processing traumatic or difficult experiences
• Supporting neurodiverse individuals (ADHD, autism and related profiles)
• Complex mental health presentations (in appropriate cases)
• Navigating significant life disruption

Life transitions & identity

• Life transitions and significant change
• Identity and self-understanding
• Relationship difficulties and interpersonal patterns
• Academic and workplace stress
• Belonging, inclusion and diversity

Wellbeing & personal development

• Building resilience and self-compassion
• Developing autonomy and self-direction
• Personal growth and self-awareness
• Finding clarity and direction

Catherine has particular experience supporting people navigating mental health challenges, neurodiversity and distress. Her background working with diverse student populations — including those from a wide range of cultural, social and personal backgrounds — informs a practice that is inclusive, thoughtful and consistently person-centred.

Therapeutic Approach

Catherine works integratively, adapting her approach to each client’s needs and goals. Her practice is grounded in humanistic and person-centred values, with a strong emphasis on the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for change. Her core modalities include:

• Person-centred therapy — unconditional positive regard, empathy and genuine human presence at the heart of every session
• Psychodynamic therapy — understanding how past experiences and relational patterns shape present difficulties
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) — exploring connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviour
• Gestalt therapy — present-moment awareness and attention to what is alive in the here-and-now
• Attachment-informed practice — sensitivity to early relational experiences and how they influence connection and trust

Working with a Trainee Counsellor

As a trainee counsellor, Catherine works under regular clinical supervision provided by Hope Therapy & Counselling Services. This means her work is closely supported and guided by experienced professionals. Catherine’s three years of frontline wellbeing work — managing complex caseloads, engaging with crisis services, maintaining safeguarding compliance and receiving regular reflective supervision — means she brings a depth of professional readiness that is exceptional for a trainee at this stage. All trainee counsellors at Hope Therapy follow the same high standards of ethical practice, confidentiality and safeguarding as our qualified team members.

Format Options

Online sessions via secure videoconferencing. Online therapy can be particularly helpful for those with busy schedules, mobility concerns, or who simply prefer the privacy and convenience of connecting from their own space. Catherine offers sessions from wherever you are in England.