Welcome to Cate Potter Psychotherapy
I trained as a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist within therapeutic communities in London after a long career as a Mental Health Nurse. Although the psychiatric system can at times provide a safe haven I found that the limited and under resourced services I was working within afforded little time to relate to people as individuals with specific and unique backgrounds. I therefore decided to train as a psychotherapist so I could offer more open ended time in a private, less clinical setting.
My training and subsequent work within therapeutic communities held a premise that emotional and mental distress as well as self -destructive thoughts and feelings can be talked and thought about with the belief that they are survivable and able to be lived with and managed in a less harmful and therefore more productive and life enabling way.
Much of my work with people takes on this view point and at the very least I would hope to be able to help someone find ways of living with what disturbs and inhibits them the most in order to give room for more creativity and autonomy within their lives.
Quiet, confidential and non-judgemental space to explore your internal world
As well as offering individual psychotherapy, I am one of the team of therapists at a small specialist clinic in North London specifically for those living with dissociation and DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder). This service is primarily for people who have suffered severe trauma and abuse during early childhood and often into adulthood.
I also offer short term work of up to 16 sessions as part of an Employment Assistance Programme offering solution focused therapy to people whose working life has been affected by a specific life event. These sessions are more about life balance, self care and coping strategies as well as onward referral if necessary.
Speak in Confidence
I work in a non-judgmental way offering a calm and thoughtful space to explore your concerns and current difficulties with you. I work sensitively within the ethical framework of the UKCP. I am happy to liaise with other professionals involved with you should you wish this but would never do this without your knowledge or agreement.
A problem shared...
My core training is in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy but my approach is eclectic which enables a flexible approach depending on individual needs and goals. Since my training I am constantly exploring new ways of thinking and working in order to better serve the needs of my clients. I favour a collaborative way of working where you are at the centre of finding out what your needs and goals are and where we can work together to challenge ways of being that are no longer serving you.
Bring more peace and understanding into your life
I would aim to facilitate a curiosity and insight into your internal world, identifying past and present ways of relating that are unhelpful to you in both your internal and external life. Many such patterns are unconscious and have a long history and I would hope to help you uncover and understand your own individual patterns of thinking, feeling and relating.
Fees & availability
I see people for between six months and five years (occasionally longer) and from between one and three sessions per week and sessions last for 50 minutes.
The initial consultation may take the form of an assessment of up to three meetings where I will ask more questions than in a usual session. My aim will be to get a sense of what has brought you to therapy at this time, a brief personal history including social, medical, current risk factors and support network. For other people, the reason they wish to start therapy is unclear and so the 'work' of the sessions seems to start immediately, taking on an open ended arrangement that is reviewed on a six monthly basis.
It is very important that the person you decide to see for therapy is a 'good fit' for you and your needs and so if we feel I am not quite the right practitioner for you I will help you explore what the best approach for you may be. I will also endeavour to refer you on to a more suitable therapist by putting you in touch with the Oxford Therapy and Self Development Service (OTS) or a close and trusted colleague. There are OTS bases in Cowley, Oxford as well as in Witney.
My fees are from between £55 and £65 per session and I hold two low cost places open from between £25 and £40. I prefer electronic payment following a monthly invoice which I will email to you at the end of the month.
Areas I work with are:
- Abortion
- Physical, sexual and emotional abuse
- Addictive behaviour patterns
- ADHD
- Affairs and betrayals
- Alcoholism
- Anger management
- Anxiety
- Asperger's syndrome
- Attachment disorder
- Avoidant personality disorder
- Behavioural and personality problems
- Binge-eating disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Bullying
- Carer support
- Childhood bullying
- Chronic fatigue syndrome/ME
- Dependent personality disorder
- Depression
- Disabilities
- Dissociation
- Domestic abuse
- Drug addiction
- Family issues
- Feeling sad
- Gender dysphoria
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Hearing voices
- Histrionic personality disorder
- HIV/AIDS
- Hoarding
- Internet addiction
- LGBTQ+ counselling
- Loneliness
- Low self-confidence
- Low self-esteem
- Miscarriage
- Narcissistic personality disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
- Panic attacks
- Passive-aggressive behaviour
- Personality disorders
- Physical abuse
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Pregnancy and birth
- Relationship problems
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Separation and divorce
- Sex addiction
- Sex problems
- Sexual abuse
- Stress
- Suicidal thoughts
- Trauma
- Work-related stress
- Young carers
Training, qualifications and experience
- BA Social Policy and Sociology, Nottingham.
- Dip He Mental Health Nursing
- Certificate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (six -year training)
- CPD Courses in Sensory Motor Psychotherapy, addiction and drug use, HIV, dissociative disorders and Dissociative Identity Disorder, working with sexual abuse and self harm.
- Trauma Informed Yoga
- Meditation practice
- Member of OTS- Oxfordshire Therapy and Self-Development Service
My member organisation is The Arbours Association in London and I am registered with the UKCP. I am a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist (UKCP) trained at the Arbours Association in North London. I started my training whilst living as a 'Resident Therapist' at the Arbours Crisis Centre, a psycho-therapeutic community for people with long term mental health and emotional difficulties.
My location
I work from an office on Bullingdon Rd, in a vibrant part of Oxford, and see clients from Botley and Cowley as well as the surrounding Binsey, Barton and Summertown areas.
In some instances, I am also willing to do therapeutic support work by telephone or via home visits. Therapies offered are:
- Psychoanalytical and psychodynamic
- Humanistic therapies
Get in touch
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my psychotherapy or mental health support services, or if you would like to arrange an initial assessment appointment.
You can also call me on 07790020901 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
All enquires are usually answered within 48 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.
©Catherine Potter
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