Cathy Orchard

Hello I am Cathy. I am an experienced psychotherapist and counsellor, offering a safe, non-judgemental place where you can make sense of where you are, develop self-understanding and build compassion for yourself, to work out a way of moving more comfortably into your future, and building the life you want to live.

I draw on different therapeutic methods to tailor the therapy to each unique client. Building a strong, safe relationship with you is the foundation for exploring what troubles you, changing behaviour and thoughts and healing past trauma. I will support and guide you to discover and draw on the wisdom and strength of your body. Working somatically, directly with your nervous system enables us to transform our processes, and how we relate with others, in order to find emotional freedom.

I balance deep psychodynamic work with unconscious processes to address long-standing behaviours and difficulties, and somatic work with your body and nervous system with more practical strategies to offer support and relief in the here and now. 

I also use Internal Family Systems tools to support you to access your unconscious so that you can get to know your inner system, and get it working productively with your Self, the part of you that is always available to support you.

In my private practice, I work both long-term and short-term, although most of my clients stay for a while, as it takes time to heal trauma. I have experience of working long-term in NHS Secondary Care, and low-cost community settings, and short-term in University counselling and community NHS primary care settings. I work with a wide range of struggles, including: anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, low self-esteem, family issues, low-confidence, shame, relationship, childhood relational trauma, issues of identity, obsessional thinking, addiction, and loss and bereavement. I also work with Boarding School Syndrome, Adult Children of Alcoholic Parents, childhood sexual abuse, and chronic pain.  

My approach is tailored to each unique client, drawing on a range of methods to enable us to work deeply and relationally to build understanding and awareness, and shift patterns of relating to self and others, and to life situations and challenges. We can learn to use our bodies as well as our minds to support this self-discovery and growth. I use Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Attachment Based Psychotherapy, Body Psychotherapy and CBT and Mindfulness techniques. You can read more about these approaches on my website.

I pay close attention to how our bodies hold trauma, as our nervous systems and bodies also hold the potential for healing and strength. I use Polyvagal and somatic therapy to empower you to use your nervous system to support you.

I am trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and integrate this revolutionary tool to support you to harness the undamaged power of your Self in order to heal the wounded and protective parts of your system. This evidence-based approach is increasingly used in NHS mental health services, and can work powerfully in a short space of time.

In line with Humanistic Principles I recognise, value and work with the whole person, in the belief that each person contains within them the potential for growth and transformation, which I facilitate by creating a nurturing, supportive therapeutic environment. We will use our relationship to explore and change ingrained patterns which no longer serve.

I believe strongly in the healing power of compassion, and that self-compassion is the antidote to self-criticism. I incorporate self-compassion teaching into my work.

I am accredited by UKCP and senior registered with BACP. I abide by the principles of their Ethical Frameworks. My practice is a short walk from Folkestone West station, with off-street parking. Confidential messages can be left on the phone number provided, or you can email me. I offer a free brief phone consultation before meeting.

The first session is an opportunity for us to meet, get to know each other, and discover how we can work together. It provides space for you to tell me about yourself, and what you hope to gain from therapy. I will ask you to tell me a bit about your family history and your current situation, as well as your hopes and fears about your past, present and future. The first session is not exhaustive: you don't need to get everything out, or go through your whole story. I will ensure that you communicate enough to let me know how I can be of service to you, and contain you so that you don't feel overwhelmed by sharing too much too fast. 

In this session you can ask me about how I work and what you can expect from me. Together we can decide our way forward: agreeing goals and how you would like to work. 

This first meeting can be daunting. I will not barrage you with questions nor ask you to share anything you are uncomfortable with. I will guide you to bring what needs to be spoken. The therapy begins in this first hour, and usually you will come away with new insight and awareness, as well as a sense of what is to come.