About

Hi, I’m Catherine.

If you’re reading this page, you may already have a sense of how I work. This space is to share a bit more about who I am, how my background shapes my approach, and what you can expect from working with me beyond the first impression.

My work is grounded in over 20 years of experience as a registered social worker and counsellor, across diverse settings including healthcare and private practice. Over time, I have learned that meaningful change happens when people feel genuinely understood and supported while being gently challenged to look at familiar patterns in new ways.

How I Work

My approach is relational, thoughtful, and collaborative. I pay close attention to emotional patterns, attachment dynamics, and the ways past experiences continue to influence present-day relationships and self-understanding. Sessions are conversational and engaged, with space for reflection as well as practical tools that support change outside the therapy room.

I am especially interested in helping clients bring greater awareness to what has been operating beneath the surface. When these patterns become clearer, people often find more choice in how they respond to themselves and others.

Individuals

In individual work, I support people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, internal conflict, identity shifts, and major life transitions. Many clients come to therapy wanting to feel more grounded, confident, and aligned with themselves. I also have extensive experience supporting men as they navigate relationship challenges and workplace stress, with an emphasis on developing healthier ways to connect, communicate, and cope.

Couples

I am a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist, and Imago Therapy is the primary framework I use in couples work. I offer a steady, balanced space where both partners feel heard and respected. Couples often come to therapy feeling stuck in recurring conflicts or emotional distance. Together, we work to understand the underlying attachment needs driving these patterns and to rebuild safety, empathy, and connection.

Through guided dialogue, structured exercises, and ongoing support, couples strengthen communication, repair relational injuries, and develop a deeper sense of partnership.

Clinical Foundations

My work is trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and person-centred. I draw from a range of evidence-informed approaches, including Imago Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, mindfulness practices, narrative social work, and strengths-based, task-centred, and solution-focused approaches. Therapy is always tailored to the individual or couple rather than applied as a one-size-fits-all model.

Credentials and Background

I am a Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. I hold an undergraduate degree in Social Development Studies from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University. My professional background spans more than two decades and informs a practice that is both clinically grounded and deeply human.

At its core, my work is about helping people understand themselves more fully, strengthen their relationships, and move toward greater clarity, connection, and balance.