About Me
Senior Accredited Counsellor SNCPS(Acc.)
My Approach to Mental Health and Well-being
My own experiences and personal growth have shaped a grounded, realistic approach to psychotherapy. While I recognise the importance of diagnosis, I look beyond the label to understand the whole person — their thoughts, feelings, relationships, experiences and environment.
I believe meaningful change can come from understanding our past, recognising patterns and developing greater self-awareness. I also value our connection with nature, others and ourselves as an important part of well-being.
Nature and Spirituality
Nature has become an important part of my own journey, leading me to explore Celtic spirituality and Shamanic traditions.
My counselling centre is surrounded by gardens, woodland, lakes and wildlife, creating a peaceful space to slow down and reconnect. My love of nature has also led to my passion for bees — I am the proud keeper of three hives!
Where appropriate, I may incorporate guided journeys, symbolism and elements of Celtic Shamanic practice for clients who feel drawn to them. I see these as complementary approaches to reflection and personal growth, alongside appropriate therapeutic, medical and safeguarding support.
Supporting Professionals
I am also passionate about educating counsellors, psychotherapists and other professionals about domestic abuse, drawing on my personal and professional experience.
I particularly focus on the less visible forms of abuse, including coercive control and emotional, psychological and financial abuse. I want professionals to feel more confident recognising signs, asking sensitive questions, understanding risk and responding safely.
What I Hope to Offer
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My approach brings together psychotherapy, lived experience, nervous-system awareness, nature, spirituality and professional education. Ultimately, my aim is to create a space where people can slow down, feel heard, understand themselves more deeply and begin to recognise their capacity for change.
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For professionals, I want to share the knowledge, experience and practical tools I have developed to help them feel more confident when supporting clients experiencing complex and difficult circumstances.
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I do not believe there is one approach that works for everyone. I believe in being curious, remaining open to different perspectives and finding what is meaningful and appropriate for each individual.
Testimonials
Catherine Salvi Coombs
"After over a decade in therapy on and off, with 5 different therapists, I found Cathy. I had struggled to find the right therapist for me, feeling like I was not understood by those I had chosen and often forced into treatment shaped by their preferred path or specialism.
The doctor who confirmed my ADHD diagnosis (when I was 29) helped me to consider the benefits i would recieved from finding a therapist who understood neurodiversity.
It was not easy to find someone who understood ADHD in adults - I found that in this unregulated industry many therapists say they understand neurodiversity, and yet do not.
The difference in working with Cathy was immediate. She helped me to feel comfortable to speak my mind, has not pushed me into a particular treatment path or style, adapts to whatever I most need to talk about that day and helps me to consider the impact (and benefits) my neurodiversity adds to the challenges we all face.
Working with Cathy gives me space to talk through these challenges, exploring the issues I'm stuck on in that moment.
It sounds exaggerated, but working with Cathy has been life-changing for me. Her personality and experience helps me feel heard and understood".​