Rate Abi Catchlove

My counselling practices are guided by authenticity, curiosity and empathy, honouring you as the expert in your life. With safety, trust and connection, I listen to accompany you as you navigate towards deeper self-understanding, which can make room for healing. Together, we are curious, we are kind to whatever surfaces. With openness and discernment, we welcome wisdom and befriend our multi-faceted selves.

Being both a grief specialist and working in family and relationship roles speak to my belief that self-understanding and acceptance can be your biggest strengths in moving forward and making choices from a values-aligned place. Working extensively with culturally diverse communities across education and therapeutic settings, my collective career spans over 10 years and provides me with a foundation grounded in creative and mindful-based practices, while integrating Eastern philosophies. 

You are welcome here; it’s an honour to be present with you and your human experience - however that looks and feels. While I approach our time together with compassionate, creative, narrative and mindfulness-based therapies, mostly I want to sit alongside you and listen. 

* Grief + Loss

'Turning toward what you deeply love saves you' - Rumi

Grief is our human response to loss, and we can experience it through death, loss of relationship, shifts in identity, ecological grief, career changes, loss of an anticipated future. All feelings towards our losses are valid. Processing grief in therapy can allow space to make meaning of your loss, whatever form it takes. 

* Emotional Understanding

'This too is welcome. This too belongs' - Toko-pa Turner

Navigating and putting language to our emotions can be confusing and overwhelming. With curiosity, our time together can be dedicated to understanding your needs and making meaning from your values. This way, we can notice and hold space for your emotional experience.

* Relationships

'The heart that breaks open can contain the whole universe' - Joanna Macy

We long for connection and belonging. There can be difficult dynamics within our friendships, relationships and families. Through deeper understanding of our self, we can be present with others and communicate our needs with authenticity and kindness.

I bring a lived understanding to the complexity and nuance of the straight spouse experience and am here with you, if this is part of your story too.

I acknowledge that reaching out and being open to therapy takes courage, thank you for making this time and space for yourself. I look forward to connecting with you.