About Cathie
Cathie O'Rourke is an AASW social worker with 14 years of focused child and family counselling experience. She helps people manage stress and anxiety, and supports those facing grief, parenting challenges, low self-esteem and depression. Cathie draws on a degree in Behavioural Science (Psychology) and long experience working alongside foster carers and adoptive families.
She uses plain language and practical steps in sessions so parents and young adults can try things between meetings.
Background and approach
Sessions are paced to suit each person and to build small, steady changes. Her style is warm and direct. She listens closely, asks useful questions and suggests strategies that fit day-to-day life.
Conversations often cover communication in blended families, attachment concerns, and coping with separation or family of origin issues. Cathie also supports people dealing with guilt, shame or isolation. She helps clients facing money worries, Seasonal Affective Disorder and problems with self-harm or self-love.
Her aim is to restore confidence and clearer decision-making. People meet Cathie to work on relationships, parenting, and transitions such as divorce or fostering. She tailors sessions to each person’s values and goals and works collaboratively to find workable solutions.
Her background in social work informs a practical, compassionate approach.
Therapeutic approaches and online delivery
Two of the main approaches used are evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical, problem-solving work and relationship repair. One approach emphasises teaching coping skills and behavioural strategies to reduce symptoms of anxiety and seasonal low mood, so people have clear actions to try between sessions. Another approach concentrates on attachment and family dynamics, helping clients understand patterns in relationships and improving communication in blended or adoptive family situations.Choosing the best approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with you about your goals, try different strategies when needed, and adjust the way sessions run so the methods fit your preferences and life circumstances. It is a collaborative process where your needs guide the plan.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging. Video works well when visual connection helps the conversation, phone sessions can be easier if bandwidth is limited, and chat or messaging suits brief check-ins or people who prefer typing. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, school and family commitments and to keep continuity during life transitions.
Questions people ask
What concerns does Cathie commonly support?
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How do I begin working with Cathie?
What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Grief
Also listed
- Experience
- 14 years
- Licensed
- Languages
- English
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