Catherine Burnard

I offer individual counselling, couples counselling and I also work with children from the age of 8 to 18 years (I am qualified to diploma level to work with children).

Face to face counselling

My practice is in Southbourne (in-between Havant and Chichester). Just a 2 minute walk from Southbourne station.

Working with children and young people

Working with children and young people is a specialism, and the sessions are structured very differently to those of adults. Children can find talking therapy a very daunting prospect and may not be able to engage at a level where narrative therapy would be helpful or at all appropriate. When working with children and young people in a therapeutic setting, it’s vital a rapport is built up, this is done using play and creativity.

Walk & talk therapy

Walk and talk therapy is exaclty what it says on the tin! We walk and talk in various scenic locations. Kingley Vale in the South Downs national park is a particular favourite, with its historic value and ancient yew trees being of interest to many, it makes for a great walk & talk location

I work from a Humanistic, creative prospective, which puts the client at the centre of the counselling relationship. The personal qualities I bring are warmth, compassion and a respect for individual values and beliefs. I work at the client's pace in a safe, confidential, non- judgemental environment and trust over time the client will feel able to share and explore what really troubles them.

Expressive Art

I realised very early on in my training some people find talking about their inner most struggles difficult, and I believe communication doesn't have to be verbal, there are endless ways to express yourself. One such way is engaging in expressive arts. Expressive art emphasises the process of creation, unlike traditional art, where the focus is the final product. Expressive art isn't just about painting or drawing, it's about expression of self, this can be done through music, movement or by using tangible objects such as clay, sand, objects of reference and items found in nature.

Dreams

Quite often we dream about what is most troubling us in our waking hours. By looking at our dreams we open up another form of communication and by using expressive arts, we can tap into our subconscious, allowing us to express ourselves fully and uncover new possibilities

In our first session, I will spend some time getting to know you and what has brought you to counselling. I may ask about your family of origin, as this can help me gain a gentle understanding of your background, early experiences, family values, and the relational patterns that may have shaped you. 

From there, sessions are led by you. You decide what feels important to explore and the pace at which we work.