Cat Chappell

If you feel lost, stressed, anxious or depressed, have negative intrusive thoughts, have been bullied, traumatised or abused, I can help.

I believe that all of our actions and behaviour have a reason behind them, and through counselling I can help you to understand those motivations and choose different ways to be.

I don’t believe there is a ‘one size fits all’ solution

I am an integrative relational counsellor. This means that I use a range of different counselling techniques depending on what I feel is best for you as a person and the outcomes that you wish for.

What to expect

If you feel you’d like to work with me, then please get in contact. We can either discuss what you need via a free-of-charge telephone consultation, or arrange a face-to-face appointment.

Counselling appointments are usually held weekly for 50 minutes. We can arrange to work either for a set number of sessions, or can work on an open-ended basis and decide as we go on.

I work with people who are experiencing:

Confidence issues and low self-esteem

Body image issues

Anti-fat bias and fatphobia

Disordered eating and food issues

Depression, sadness and low mood

Anxiety, overthinking and intense fears

Domestic violence

Emotional abuse and gaslighting

Bullying

Trauma and abuse

Flashbacks

Feeling lost

Panic attacks

Rape and sexual abuse

ADHD symptoms

Stress

Self-Harm

Shame

Workplace stress - particularly in front line caring roles and the media industry

I HELP WITH:

Understanding of self

Finding inner strength

Learning self-care

Relaxation techniques

Confidence

Feeling comfort in your body and with food

Healthy coping strategies

Finding calm

Understanding and reclaiming your identity

If you feel you’d like to work with me, then please get in contact. We can either discuss what you need via a free-of-charge telephone consultation, or arrange a face-to-face appointment.

Counselling appointments are usually held weekly for 50 minutes. We can arrange to work either for a set number of sessions, or can work on an open-ended basis and decide as we go on.

I can work with you via online video call, phone call, or in person.

When working in person, I have a private office on Unity Street in central Bristol, BS1.

There is a seated waiting area and toilets available to use before and after sessions.

It is in a building that has a couple of steps to access but no accessible toilet - so and is not suitable for any people with access needs or who cannot manage any more than three steps. If this is a barrier to seeing me for in-person sessions, please let me know and we can either work online or via telephone.

It is a LGBTQIA+ friendly practice

I can offer an introductory 15 minute call before working together or you can book in for a first full session.

I can be hired to speak about or provide training on the following topics:

· Weight inclusive and non fatphobic ways of working

- Counselling survivors of Rape and Sexual Violence

· Counselling survivors of Domestic Violence

· Working appropriately with trauma

· Starting up as a therapist in Private Practice

· Feminism and counselling

Please contact me to discuss booking and rates

UPCOMING:

Part 1 

16th March 2024 ONLINE

or

Via pre-recorded video at home

Part 2

Unlearning Body Shame: Anti-Fat Bias in the Therapy Room

22nd May 2024 ONLINE

Booking and further info at www.thefatcounsellors.co.uk

Details:

Part 1

• The racist and ableist legacy of weight stigma and fatphobia

• Deconstructing what diet and wellness culture is

• Learning the harm that comes from anti-fat bias and discrimination

• Confronting your own beliefs and attitudes about fat

• The impact of societal and personal values towards weight and food

• How to challenge and advocate for yourself and others when confronted with anti-fat stigma

• Introduction to Joyful Movement and Intuitive Eating

• Lived experiences of being fat

Part 2

• Why fat oppression in therapy is important to explore

• Examples of anti-oppressive practice

• Experiential client work to include how to take a client's history of family messaging and food/body rules

• Group supervision exercises

• In depth introduction to Body Neutrality, Joyful Movement and Intuitive Eating

• Real life examples of working with clients and their bodies

_____

Feedback

'It gave me a huge insight into the inherent fatphobia in Western Society, and how so many of us hold personal trauma related to our bodies.'

'This workshop is very enlightening, touching on the iceberg of such a highly stigmatised, sensitive and emotive subject in a very kind, considered and positive way.'

'I believe any person who has experienced shame, weight stigma or body issues whether personally or in the client room should attend this course.'

'A really illuminating day for anyone wanting to learn about bias towards fat and being fat in our society, all types of therapists could benefit.'

I am offering Online, phone and in person supervision sessions

I have been working as an integrative relational counsellor since 2015 and was accredited by the BACP in 2017. I work solely in Private practice. As a counsellor and supervisor, I work with the belief that therapy should be tailored to the individual, as no two people are the same and no single approach can be applied to every person.

I am an accredited member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists and abide by their code of ethics. I am anti-diet, fat positive, encourage body neutrality and am a HAES (Health at Every Size) practitioner.

I completed the Advanced Diploma in Relational Supervision at Severnside Talking Therapy in 2023.

My style is relational, exploratory and reflective. I wish to support supervisees in a collaborative manner and look to hold a safe space to bring concerns, dilemmas, hopes, fears, vulnerability and support you to be how you wish to be when with clients and have a solid and confident practice.

As well as exploring your client work and who you are as a practitioner, I can support you specifically with:

• Trauma informed working

• Setting up in private practice

• Working in a fat positive / HAES/ weight neutral way with food and body issues

• Working with Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence and Rape

• Social justice issues and working in an anti-oppressive way for a range of clients

I am a trainer and hold workshops in starting up in Private Practice, Domestic Violence and learning about weight stigma and anti-fat bias. I have worked as a counsellor at Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual abuse service, The Southmead project for adult survivors of CSA , The Swan Project around addictions, and Women’s Aid as a helpline operator.

I would recommend we talk on the phone or via a short video call initially to discuss your needs and how I might meet them before then booking in a full initial introductory session.

We can work via phone, online video call or in person at my central Bristol office.