Couples and Relationship Therapy Ontario: Meet Catherine, Our New Intern Therapist
Welcome, Catherine
We’re so excited to welcome Catherine to the Laura Bruno Psychotherapy team as an Intern Therapist!
Couples & Relationship Therapy Ontario | Meet Catherine
While Catherine is continuing her graduate training in counselling psychology, she brings with her a decade of experience as a life celebrant, along with a rich background in writing, expressive work, theatre, spirituality, and supporting people through some of life’s most meaningful moments.
Catherine works with adults 18+ and has a particular interest in couples and relationships, sex and intimacy, grief and loss, anxiety, self-esteem, women’s issues, and life transitions.
Her approach is warm, inclusive, creative, sex-positive, and genuinely human. She is especially passionate about creating a therapy space where people can talk openly about the parts of themselves and their relationships that may not always feel easy to talk about elsewhere.
And, as Catherine puts it, there may even be a little bit of magic involved.
Tell Us a Bit About Your Background
Before beginning her journey into psychotherapy, Catherine spent ten years working as a life celebrant, supporting individuals and families through important rites of passage—from weddings and celebrations of life to other deeply meaningful moments.
“This work was a profound experience in supporting people through some deeply emotional moments, and it was also a perfect blend of my background in theatre and my leanings towards spirituality.”
Catherine has also been a lifelong writer and is an indie author and poet. During the pandemic, she completed training in Expressive Writing and began offering workshops and retreats that used writing as a tool for self-care and healing.
Her life outside of therapy is just as full. Catherine is a mom to one biological child and four stepchildren, along with four fur-babies. She’s a huge supporter of the local arts community, a proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and the loving partner of an incredibly talented musician.
Who Does Catherine Work With?
Catherine works with adults 18+ at different stages of life, with a particular interest in the authentic connections that can develop through the therapeutic relationship.
“I work with adults (18+) of all ages. This is where I feel I make the most authentic connections.”
She welcomes clients who may be navigating relationships, intimacy, grief, anxiety, self-esteem, major life changes, or simply feeling a little disconnected from themselves.
Couples and Relationship Therapy Ontario: Relationships, Sex and Intimacy
One of Catherine’s particular areas of interest is relationship and couples counselling, including conversations around sex and intimacy.
She believes relationships can be complicated, beautiful, challenging, and deeply meaningful—and that there should be space to talk honestly about all of it.
Catherine offers a sex-positive and inclusive space where clients can explore intimacy, communication, desire, relationship dynamics, and the questions or challenges that can sometimes feel too uncomfortable to bring into other spaces.
She is also supportive of people in both traditional and non-traditional relationship structures, including clients exploring consensual non-monogamy and polyamory.
For Catherine, there is no expectation that a relationship has to look a certain way in order to be worthy of support.
What Can Clients Expect When They First Meet Catherine?
For Catherine, therapy starts with creating a space where people can feel comfortable being honest about the things they may not feel ready—or able—to share elsewhere.
“My approach is warm and real. I want to witness my clients’ stories without judgement and co-create a space that feels safe to share the kinds of things they may not feel comfortable talking to other people about.”
During those first sessions, Catherine does a lot of listening and reflecting. Her goal is for clients to feel heard, accepted, understood, and never judged.
She is also deeply committed to creating an inclusive, sex-positive space free of shame.
What Brings Her to This Work?
Catherine’s previous work as a life celebrant naturally shaped some of the areas she feels most drawn to as she develops her work in psychotherapy.
Her experience supporting people through celebrations of life has given her a deep appreciation for the complexity of grief and loss. She is also particularly interested in couples and relationship counselling, sex and intimacy, life transitions, anxiety, self-esteem, and women’s issues.
“Life transitions and those ‘in-between’ moments that can be really challenging to navigate speak to me.”
She understands that sometimes the hardest moments aren't necessarily the biggest crises. They can be those quieter periods when you know something has changed, but you aren't quite sure what comes next.
There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Approach
One thing that stands out about Catherine’s approach is her belief that clients know themselves best.
Her role isn't to tell someone who they should be. Instead, she sees herself as someone who can walk alongside clients, offer different tools and perspectives, and help them discover what works for their unique lives.
“My clients take the lead on what is best for them. I have some tools they may not yet be familiar with, but ultimately, they are the experts on what will work best for their unique lives and experiences.”
Catherine believes in drawing from different therapeutic approaches because there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to people.
That curiosity also extends to culture and spirituality.
“I am naturally very curious about culture and the influence it plays in the lives of my clients. Once again, they are the experts there, and I am eager to learn ways that we can bring culturally relevant tools into the therapy space.”
She is also open to spiritual exploration with clients who wish to include it in their therapeutic work.
Taking It to the Trees
Catherine loves nature, which is one of the reasons she offers forest bathing and walk-and-talk therapy for clients who feel like getting outside and taking therapy “to the trees.”
For some people, sitting face-to-face in an office simply doesn't feel like the most natural way to connect.
Sometimes a walk, some fresh air, and a little space to move can make it easier to talk, reflect, and connect with yourself.
What Does She Hope Clients Take Away From Therapy?
More than anything, Catherine hopes clients leave therapy feeling more connected to themselves and to the strengths they already carry.
“I want my clients to feel safe, seen, empowered, cared for, and reminded of the incredible tools they already have to navigate the challenges of life.”
She is committed to using approaches supported by research and time-honoured traditions, while also leaving room for curiosity, spirituality, creativity—and perhaps a little magic.
Therapy Is Not About Fixing People
Catherine has a refreshing perspective on what therapy is actually meant to do.
“I wish more people knew that the goal of therapy is not to ‘fix’ people because they are broken.”
Instead, she sees therapy as a place to develop greater understanding, connection, self-trust, and empowerment.
Ideally, therapy gives people the tools and confidence to eventually feel like they no longer need therapeutic support.
And when life inevitably gets complicated again?
“We are always there whenever they need a ‘tune-up.’”
The Importance of Our Stories
Given Catherine’s background as a writer and life celebrant, it probably comes as no surprise that stories are an important part of how she sees the world.
“I believe deeply in the importance of weaving our individual stories, revisiting old themes and unfinished chapters, and creating meaning from the moments that seem impossible to comprehend when we are in the thick of them.”
For Catherine, therapy can be an opportunity to look at the stories we've been carrying, understand where they came from, and perhaps begin writing the next chapter differently.
She also believes deeply in the healing power of connection—to community, family, loved ones, and nature.
And Now for the Important Questions…
Of course, getting to know a new team member means getting to know the person behind the professional role, too.
Catherine describes herself as a huge nerd who is often incredibly goofy.
She started reading when she was three, so books have been her companions throughout her life.
She also grew up loving Star Trek and science documentaries, which gave her a special way to connect with her dad.
So yes—there's definitely a little bit of geeky magic happening here, too.
A Reminder She Comes Back To
When Catherine thinks about caring for others, one familiar analogy keeps coming back to her: the oxygen mask.
You have to take care of yourself before you can effectively care for everyone else.
“I’m realizing this might be the most important thing I can do to show up for my clients, my loved ones, my community, and the families I serve as a life celebrant.”
It’s a reminder that feels especially fitting for someone whose work has always centred around caring for people during some of life's biggest moments.
Why Laura Bruno Psychotherapy?
Catherine's excitement about joining our team actually began before she knew she would be joining us.
When she first began her graduate studies, she did a little manifesting exercise to visualize her ideal practicum placement.
And yes—Catherine admits she’s pretty “woo.”
“I described a practice with strong female energy, supportive of 2SLGBTQIA+ identities and the BIPOC community, savvy about Two-Eyed Seeing, sex-positive, grounded in science but excited about somatic therapies and more spiritual approaches, and aesthetically beautiful.”
When she found Laura Bruno Psychotherapy, the fit felt almost a little too perfect.
“The circumstances around how I ended up here are just magical enough to make me feel incredibly excited about stepping into what feels like a dream made manifest to serve my community and my clients.”
And honestly? We couldn't agree more.
We’re so excited to have Catherine bring her experience, creativity, warmth, curiosity, and just the right amount of woo to our team.
Interested in Working With Catherine?
Starting therapy can feel like a big step, especially when you aren't quite sure what you need yet.
As an Intern Therapist, Catherine offers reduced-rate and sliding-scale options, making therapy more accessible while she continues her graduate training under clinical supervision.
She works with adults 18+ and is particularly interested in couples and relationship therapy, sex and intimacy, grief and loss, anxiety, self-esteem, women’s issues, and life transitions.
Not sure if Catherine is the right fit for you?
You can book a free 15-minute phone consultation to ask questions, share a little about what you're looking for, and get a feel for whether working together feels like the right fit.
By: Janessa Meissner
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