Cathy Waterhouse - Psychotherapist & Coach

31/10/2025

This Halloween look was fun to create 🎃 …but it also got me thinking about the other kind of masks we wear.

Not the painted ones.
The invisible ones.

💬 The “I’m fine” mask.
💬 The “I’ve got this” mask.
💬 The “I’m coping” mask — even when you’re running on empty inside.

So many professionals wear these masks every day.

They help us perform, lead, and keep it all together.

But they also keep us disconnected — from how we really feel.

When we never let the mask slip, we lose touch with what’s going on underneath.

The stress. The fatigue. The quiet ache for things to just feel easier.

True strength isn’t about keeping the mask on.

It’s about finding safe spaces to take it off.

That’s the heart of my work — helping people reconnect with the self that’s hidden beneath the performance.

The real, human version of you that doesn’t need to hold it all together all the time.

So yes, I loved wearing this one for a night…

But I’m even more grateful for the days I don’t have to. 💛

🖤 Tell me — what’s one “mask” you’re ready to take off?

10/10/2025

💥 Big News..... and a moment I've waited over a year for!!

I have achieved accredited status with the BACP!!

This has been a long time coming, after an essay, a case presentation, reflection, lots of client hours and supervision.... but even though it's been hard... it's been a growth opportunity and I'm so proud to finally have this.

What a way to end the week... time to celebrate 🥳 🎉

25/09/2025

Childhood Emotional Neglect... The Wounds We Don’t See!

Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN) isn’t about what happened in your childhood—it’s about what didn’t.

Psychologist Jonice Webb, in her book Running on Empty, explains it as the love, attention, or emotional support you didn’t receive. Because nothing “bad” seemed to happen, it’s easy to dismiss. But the effects can follow you into adulthood in ways you might not realise.

You might notice yourself…
💔 Feeling empty or disconnected, even when life looks good on the outside
💔 Struggling to know what you’re really feeling, or finding the words to express it
💔 Always putting other people’s needs first, while neglecting your own
💔 Carrying guilt or shame for having needs at all
💔 Trying to prove your worth through perfection, busyness, or achievements

If you’ve ever thought, “Why do I feel this way when nothing really happened to me?”—that’s the hidden pain of CEN.

The good news is, these patterns can be healed. By reconnecting with your feelings, learning to value your needs, and offering yourself compassion, change is absolutely possible.

If this resonates with you, know you’re not alone, and healing starts with awareness. ❤️

Feel free to drop me a DM if you'd like to chat.

22/09/2025

I’m really pleased to share some news… after studying from April I am now a qualified clinical supervisor, trained in the Hawkins & Shohet 7-Eyed Model of Supervision!!!

Alongside my work as a therapist and coach, I’ll be offering both 1:1 and group supervision to trainees and qualified counsellors. My aim is to create a reflective, supportive space where supervisees can explore their casework, grow in confidence, and strengthen their practice.

If you’re a therapist looking for supervision, or you know someone who might be, I’m offering 30 minute free discovery calls so you can find out how I can support you!!

19/08/2025

I nearly said no to this… because scared me!....

Last night I did something that pushed me way out of my comfort zone.

I was invited as a guest on The School Run Podcast with Jane & Liv 🎙️ with Jane James and her daughter Liv Maudsley and together we talked about my journey - from my school days, through adulthood, and the impact of trauma along the way.

For me, the most powerful part of the conversation was sharing why, after 25 years in a successful sales career, I chose to retrain as a psychotherapist. It wasn’t an easy path, but it was the right one and it came from a deep belief that we can always choose to heal, grow, and change direction.

Speaking honestly about my story felt vulnerable, but also freeing. I’ve realised that when we tell our truth, it not only helps us connect with others, it might just give someone else the courage to take their own next step.

Growth rarely happens in our comfort zone. Sometimes the most uncomfortable spaces hold the biggest opportunities for transformation.

I’ll share the episode when it’s live - I’d love for you to hear it.

👉 What’s one thing you’ve done recently that took you out of your comfort zone?

16/08/2025

If I could say one thing to my 19-year-old self about healing trauma…

When I was 19, I was already carrying a heavy load of trauma alongside me every single day. And because I didnt recognise it for what it was, I repeatedly found myself in situations which added layers of trauma, resulting in a diagnosis of complex PTSD.

I felt worthless, unloveable, and had zero confidence in myself, but I had an incredible knack of masking my pain; resulting in an amazing career in sales and team management for global companies; and very little success in my personal life. (No surprise!!)

I was a people pleaser in my personal life and felt like a complete imposter in my career; and frankly I'm flabbergasted that it took as long as it did before it all came crashing down in complete and utter burnout.

But healing wasn’t neat or fast. It was messy, slow, and sometimes it felt like I was taking two steps forward and one step back.

If I could go back to that 19 year old I'd tell myself that I don't need to have to have it all figured out. The pain you carry is real, but it’s not who you are.

I’d remind myself to be gentle, to allow myself to feel all the feelings, even the hard ones, without judging myself.

And I’d also tell myself that the bravest thing I could do is to ask for help. Because healing isn’t a solo journey.

Reflecting back, I can see how every struggle was part of becoming who I am today; someone who helps others navigate their own healing with kindness and courage.

If you’re carrying wounds from your past, please know that it does NOT have to be a life sentence, you are worthy of healing and it’s ok to move at your own pace.

💬 What’s one thing you’d say to your younger self about healing?

11/07/2025

Psychotherapy vs Counselling - explained in 55 seconds!!

Ever wondered if there is a difference between Psychotherapy and Counselling.

I was asked this question just this week and in this short video I explain the differences between counselling and psychotherapy, in that counselling typically addresses specific, short-term issues like workplace stress or relationship challenges, while psychotherapy delves into deeper, long-term issues such as longstanding patterns and early life experiences.

Both forms of therapy are valuable, the key is speaking to a fully qualified therapist that
blends the two, tailored to your individual needs.

03/06/2025

10/05/2025

Do you often feel numb, disconnected, or like something was missing growing up—but you can't quite name what?

You might have experienced Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN)—a silent form of trauma that leaves deep, invisible wounds.

I’ve created a free self-reflection questionnaire to help you gently explore whether emotional neglect may be part of your story.

On this post you will find

✅ 20 thoughtful questions
✅ A simple scoring guide
✅ What to do next

If you have any questions or feedback for this, please visit my website (🔗 in bio), or drop a message below 👇

17/04/2025

Feeling nothing when you have experienced trauma is a real issue for lots of people. Many clients come through my practice and say that they numb, that they struggle to feel joy, happiness or any emotion at all actually.

If you struggle to feel anything—this video is for you."

16/04/2025

In case you missed it the other day on my video - new blog post is live on the website.

Please support by visiting, reading and like the post.

Many thanks
Cathy

If you’re considering counselling for trauma, you’re not alone—and you’re not “too much,” “too late,” or “too broken.” Many people in the UK are quietly carrying the weight of past trauma, unsure where to turn, or whether counselling will really help. If you’re exploring your o...

14/04/2025

Trauma can show up in a number of ways, from feeling overwhelmed to people pleasing. It also does not need to show up as a massive dramatic event.

With this video I wanted to give you a realistic view of what trauma can look like and what to expect from trauma informed counselling.

I have released a blog post that gives more info on how to choose a counsellor. Please give it a read and a like if you found it useful.

Cathy x

https://www.empoweredminds.co.uk/post/what-is-trauma-really