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Therapy for the people who feel like the odd-one-out...

For those who feel misunderstood, alone and want warmth and acceptance.

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Hi, I'm Cat

"I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it"
Dr. Maya Angelou

Hello there!

Are you donor conceived and struggling with how you feel about your experiences? Do you have a complex relationship with food and eating and body image which stops you living your life fully and want to address it in a holistic way? Perhaps you feel limited by your past mistakes, fear and guilt or anger outbursts? Are you a Millennial and Gen-Z inbetweener? Perhaps you want to explore trauma from your past, maybe bullying when you were young? If you feel chronically misunderstood, alone or struggle with fears of judgement, then I might be the right choice for you ...

I'm Catherine, but I go by Cat and I'm an integrative therapist and registered member of the BACP. As a human I have experienced my own share of difficulty, struggle and pain. As a therapist I have gained understanding and skills to share with clients in how to re-establish a relationship with themselves and their ultimate goals for their future.

My approach to therapy is creative, fresh and dynamic. I work collaboratively with clients and tailor my approach to meet their specific needs and to meet who they are as a person. My core integration is humanistic and relational psychodynamic. I also draw on attachment theory to help me to understand where you have been and how you relate to those around you (including yourself!), whilst still acknowledging that you are the expert on you and giving you the space to explore in the way you want to. I also integrate the body and mind in my exploration as I believe this is crucial to our holistic understanding of ourselves, and I keep updating my practice as new understanding evolves.

I am down-to-earth and a little bit of a grandma at heart ... I believe that the relationship between therapist and client should be nourishing in a similar way to the desired impacts of a Werthers original from said grandmothers!

Joking aside, I provide an empathetic, warm, comforting and non-judgemental space to process and hold your lived experiences and to provide a space to be fully yourself, to share your secrets safely, to challenge you along the way, and to help you on your lifelong journey to self-understanding and a life worth living.

Find out more about me and my background here and how this Catherine van Maanen Therapy practice came to be.

Find out more about my approaches here.

My core areas of interest

Eating disorders

Childhood trauma and CPTSD

Chronic Pain

Shame, guilt and challenging behaviours

Donor Conceived Experiences and Struggles

Relationships

Self-esteem, body image

Identity

Bullying

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It's good to meet you!

If you have further questions for me, or would like to get the ball rolling on your therapeutic journey, send me an email and I will aim to get back to you within 24hrs.

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On the blog

How do I cope with 2026?

It's day 11 in the big brother house of life - and we're all asking this question. Imagine from Shutterstock. 'are you seeing what I'm seeing? Are we together in this?' As a counsellor, I often hear the question: “How do I cope with all of this (XYZ)?” and within that question, I usually hear two other elements. Firstly, I'm overwhelmed and I need stats on this because I feel I'm in over my head , but also secondly, I want to keep going, I want to find a way . When people ask

'I'M WONDERING'

New year, more fear? A therapist's perspective

The period of the new year can feel unsettling, scary and can contribute to low-mood, self-loathing, and rumination. In my work with clients I have found that the new year unearths old fears as well as the existential dread of growing older and not being at the stage in life that they may have hoped to be or believed that they 'should' be at. These themes can lead to spiralling anxiety which can lead to us self-flagellating and deciding that the answer is to work harder, to p

'I'M WONDERING'

Therapy can be an act of revolution and resistance

When people think of therapy, they often picture a couch in a stuffy, clinical room, expecting to be told what’s ‘wrong’ with them and...

'I'M WONDERING'

I work with people who feel like the odd one out and want a Grandma-esque millennial to come with them on their therapeutic journey 🪐✨ In particular, I work with experiences of guilt, anxiety, trauma, disordered eating, and donor conceived experiences. I work in Shoreditch, Holborn, Buckhurst Hill, and online If you are thinking of starting therapy, or even returning to it, then let’s make plans for a chat and see if we are a good fit ✨ link to my contact form is in my bio! 😌

Hold to read! ✨ Being a donor conceived person (DCP) is a highly nuanced and varied experience that impacts us from our relational world, to our medical history. Being a DCP can bring so much complexity around identity and a possible sense of injustice (for the medical system, not being told perhaps etc..). If you are a DCP, then I wanted to say hi! I’m a DCP and a counsellor. So if you’re ready to talk, then I’m ready to listen.

#dcp #donorconceivedperson #donorconception

When I hear the question “how do I cope with XYZ”, which I frequently do, I find that it’s not simply a request for my opinion, or even just for techniques. There is something brewing underneath. And that, to me, is this:

Are you seeing what I’m seeing? Are we in this together?

In todays blog, I speak from my perspective on how questions about coping can be an opening to explore, from an embodied perspective, what information we are revealing when we vocalise this. I explore the importance of community in tumultuous times and the importance of regulating a burnt out nervous system.

If you are interested, check the latest post out which is up on the blog section of my website (linked in my bio) 🤔🌏

#counsellingbuckhursthill #counsellingshoreditch #counsellingholborn #burnout #copingskills

The world doesn’t wait outside of the therapy room. It is inextricably linked to it. The fear, anger, sadness and desperation is palpable - to all therapists I imagine. I thought I would share a hope here. That hope is community which, for me, is a huge part of therapy in itself - a place where a person can meet with another human who can share in their experience, can witness their pain, their joy, and every and any other element and withstand it and attend to it in the space that therapy offers - with compassion and empathy. However, I do not wish to romanticise therapy - it is not going to fix institutional issues and deprivations and tyranny. Therefore making sure that we build communities or “villages” of safety and support is such an important part of our survival and ultimately our collective wellbeing. Where we feel hopeless to enact change with those at the top, we can turn to each other to soothe each other and to come together to stand for each other. I hope that all of you are taking good care, and staying connected, nourished, and safe.

Hello! An experimental little forage into sharing a little more about me, but in that safe way that hopefully gives you a sense of who I am as a person. After all, you are working with a person when you are in therapy, and it’s important to feel safe, secure and held in the space! In the age of AI - a real human connection and being seen by a real human is crucial 😌

My website is cvmtherapy.com
- reach out if you feel I’m a good fit for you - Let’s talk.

#therapyshoreditch #therapyholborn
#therapybuckhursthill

If you’re human, then you’ve probably screwed up - maybe pretty badly. We’ve all fallen at times, not everyone talks about it, but oftentimes we feel so much shame that it feels unbearable, we feel anxious, fearful and lonely in the experience. The new year can be a trigger for many people, reminding them of what they have lost, what they haven’t had the courage to do or be open about (for example), to come clean and to be honest. Shame requires silence. Therefore - therapy can offer a safe space to break away from the shame and to help us face our situations with courage and resolve, to make choices that nourish us and those around us and help us build back good relationships in our everyday life. If this sounds like you - then let’s have a chat to discuss what your goals are! I’m based in Holborn, Shoreditch and Buckhurst Hill and online.

#holborncounselling #shoreditchcounselling #counsellingforshame #counsellingforguilt #counsellingbuckhursthill

A little nature walk and a chat with me about entering 2026 and some of the anxieties that are attached to this new beginning.

I have some availability in my beautiful, cosy, Shoreditch location and in Buckhurst Hill from January 2026. Please drop me a message via email or my website contact form so we can arrange a time to have a consultation call and really get into how I can best support you.

#therapyshoreditch #therapybuckhursthill #therapywoodford #counselling #therapyholborn

The excitement I feel for my clients when this starts to happen 🥹 from peak to peak 🏔🍂

Music: get along without you now cover by She & Him.

#therapyholborn #therapyshoreditch #therapybuckhursthill #she&him #gonnagetalongwithoutyounow #therapy #counselling

Hello! 😌🌿 Welcome to the calmer and compassionate side of the app. My name is Cat and I am an integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor, which essentially means I tailor my approach and the way I work dependent on you! I work in Holborn, Buckhurst Hill, and now ... Shoreditch! If you have decided that your next step is therapy, you are looking for someone creative and also a bit of a grandma at heart, then please do get in touch to find out more.

🍂 Happy Friday 🍂 please excuse the typo “an” day in the life 🤦🏼‍♀️

Today’s thoughts 💭 Autumn is my favourite month because it’s as much about growth as it is about
endings. Change. There is something fresh about transition, a reminder to not stagnate, to keep choosing and evolving through life. Because of the pain of what is happening in the world and the struggles through a productivity-focused society, it is hard to find any level of emotional safety, and it is not realistic to “live laugh love” your way through it. We all have a part to play in supporting each other through this time, but we must also, crucially, engage in behaviours that help us nourish ourselves so that we can be a part of the ‘whole’, and a part of a strong community. Often people feel helpless, again - understandable! However, getting up again and again with compassion and self respect is what keeps us moving in our seasons in our lives …. I used this quote the other day in context in a session - “I love my rejection slips … they show me I try” (by Sylvia Plath). Rejection and falling down can be painful, but the nurturing, the learning, and the compassion that follows reflects our resilience. Whilst the trees lose their leaves in autumn, they still stand strong and powerful until the new blooms come in in spring. Like you.

#therapy #therapybuckhursthill #therapywoodford #therapyholborn #counselling #eastlondontherapist

© This article was first published in Therapy Today, the journal of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

I’m so excited to share that I’ve co-authored an article with Hannah-Phoebe Bowen on the topic of donor conceived clients and the best practice when working with this nuanced client group. Written in collaboration with Donor Conceived UK, This could not have been done without the help of all of the wonderful contributors who volunteered their experiences with therapy to help us share this important message - Donor conceived voices MUST be listened to! You can find this article in the November edition of #TherapyToday 🍂.

#donorconception #DCP #therapyholborn #therapybuckhursthill

It’s been a moment! 🍂

#therapy #therapybuckhursthill #therapywoodford #counselling #therapyholborn #mentalhealthawareness #seasonalaffectivedisorder

Thought it was time for a reintroduction! I’ve decided that I needed a fresh picture for the directories 📸

My name is Catherine (I go by Cat). I am an integrative practitioner and I work to create a holistic, fresh and down to earth approach to therapy. With an MA degree, I am trained to work with many different experiences. However, you might come to see me if you are donor conceived, you are experiencing disordered eating or perhaps you want to explore past traumas and difficulties growing up. Degree aside, my work throughout my life has always found it’s way to being about supporting people, and noticing the nuance of individual experiences with compassion and a willingness to help. I work 1:1 with clients, creating a nurturing environment where I don’t hide behind a blank slate. At times this may even include having a giggle about something or talking about the chaotic weather or something you’re really excited about doing! I do also bring a supportive grandmother vibe to the room … my main focus is helping you get to where you want to in your therapy journey in a way that is holding and real.

I am based in Holborn, Shoreditch, Buckhurst Hill, and online. If you’re interested in starting your therapy journey, please do reach out and let’s get a conversation started! 📝

#holborntherapy #buckhursthilltherapy #donorconception #donorconceived #therapylondon #therapybuckhursthill #therapy #eatingdisorders

Changing behaviours and automatic processes feels odd and that “odd” feeling is neuroplasticity in action … aka the mindful process of realising there are other ways of doing things, thinking about things and emotionally responding!! Whilst brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand is not going to overthrow difficult thought patterns and behaviours, it starts to introduce the idea of changed behaviours and the possibilities that changing habits can create. This is a gateway process that allows us to challenge ourselves to “do something differently” in more and more ways 💥

Maybe consider it!

If you are looking to start your therapy journey and would like to discuss the possibility of working together. You can visit my website: cvmtherapy.com or email my at: catherinejvanmaanen@gmail.com ✉️

#therapy #therapywoodford #therapybuckhursthill #therapyholborn #counselling #mentalhealthawareness #eatingdisordertherapy

We can’t go back in time and have a “do-over” but we can use our newfound experiences and insights to bring new clarity and new space to older painful interactions as a way to remind us that time has passed, that we are changed, and also that we can bring closure to some of these experiences without diminishing their importance.

When I say “live, laugh, love” I am referring to the co-opted expression which often acts as a dismissal to the complexity, the intensity and the reality of the painful experiences that we are collectively going through. A lot of us are in a position of helplessness as we watch the atrocities going on in the world- against communities and against individuals. This volatility can be mirrored within us. Being embedded in the world, we experience it at a sensation based level as well as the cognitive level. Therefore connecting with ourselves in a physical sense, allows us to connect more with the world around us as well as understanding what implicit messages our bodies have for us and in letting us know what is needed and what is being felt. I speak more about the “felt sense” or this “inner knowing” on my website: cvmtherapy.com under the page “My Approach”.

My Instagram posts are not a replacement for personalised care and will be a general concept structure to reflect general experience. If you feel that you want to explore this more, please do reach out if you would like to work with me, alternatively please do check out the directories such as BACP, UKCP, Counselling Directory or Psychology Today to find qualified therapists and counsellors. ❤️

#therapyholistic #holborntherapy #therapylondon #therapybuckhursthill #therapywoodford #buckhursthill #holborn

Good morning 😌 this quote is co-opted from the 2011 film, We Bought a Zoo. This is something I personally carry with me, and I want to share it with you.

When getting up is hard, when leaving the house is hard, when admitting to our mistakes is hard, when eating behaviours are hard to cope with, when fear and worry hold us back. In those moments, it can sometimes be helpful to think “I only need to do this for 20 seconds” and then maybe another 20 seconds, and maybe another … then you’re well on your way. 20 seconds isn’t always so bad. Remember to take the time to listen to your body today and work on those boundaries. Remember your body is your home🏡🌞

#selfcare #therapy #therapywoodford #therapybuckhursthill #therapyholborn #disorderedeatingrecovery

Based on the Hozier trend I guess! … For many neurodivergent people, people with eating disorders, body dysmorphia and sensory overstimulation, everyday stressors like choosing what to wear can trigger extremely overwhelming emotional spirals … it’s not them being dramatic, vain, overreacting or being petulant ... it’s because their nervous system processes sensory input, decision-making, and self-image more intensely. When you already feel uncomfortable or unsafe in your body, something like clothing yourself can feel impossible and overwhelming. It’s not being dramatic - it’s dysregulation.

Some typical reactions, in order to cope, can be rage, aggression, self harm, contorting our body (can be stimming), crying etc.

Be kind to yourself, your brain is trying to make a decision while being completely flooded with sensory overwhelm, body shame, and fear of being perceived, as well as any environmental factors such as unhelpful comments, time pressures etc. The meltdown isn’t irrational. It’s what happens when your nervous system can’t hold the weight of all the internal and external “conflict” at once. You’re not “odd” or too much. Your pain is valid, and your nervous system is doing its best to protect you.

In therapy, I have worked with clients on finding tools to process their overstimulation and to facilitate more helpful ways of regulating their very intense and sometimes painful emotional experiences. This can help to limit how often this happens with clients, and/or find ways to prepare for situations which may trigger these high-stress experiences.

#bingeeatingdisorder #counselling #therapywoodford #therapybuckhursthill #therapyholborn #therapy #anorexia #bed #bodydysmorphia #overstimulated #neurodiverse #sensoryprocessing

Let’s talk about normalisation and the trend that is filling my social media feed!!

Normalisation in therapy is the START of a sentence. For example: let’s normalise … talking about this.

Normalisation is about feeling out taking away the sham: stripping all of those feelings of taboo away from the subject and looking at it for what it is- trying to understand where the behaviours may have come from or where the feelings about themselves may have come from and using that in the therapy as a way to understand themselves at large: to learn to take accountability, to learn to take responsibility, and have a more nuanced understanding of themselves as a multifaceted person who has good qualities, difficult qualities, and challenging qualities. This permits the person to be able to move forward in a strengthened position.

With every client I’ve worked with that has a challenging behaviour or set of challenging behaviours, we have achieved so much more by removing the shame and focused on understanding them at a human level and listening to the client rather than just seeing the behaviour. If the client had stayed in that position of shame they would not have grow. Shame does not allow growth. by bringing these behaviours and challenges out of the shadows and into the spotlight of conversation we are able to take that behaviour and reframe it and see it for what it is and to explore it. My clients have benefited from this, they’ve moved forward, they’ve taken accountability, they forgive themselves, they don’t live in shame. And let’s just be real here - as humans we have ALL made mistakes … we’ve all said the wrong thing or had a thought that doesn’t feel comfortable to us, and perhaps even engaged in challenging behaviours such as being deceitful, being mean to people etc.

Shame prohibits the conversations that need to be had. Let’s normalise bringing difficult topics into our therapeutic conversations. Here, normalisation is important. But like with anything: normalisation, without accountability, without purpose, without further exploration is not effective in any case.

See more of my opinion on the blog ☺️✨ cvmtherapy.com 📬

#shame #normalisation

Sometimes we can’t “think” our way out of overload of racing thoughts and anxiety in the body. By slowing your breathing and resting the body you are able to restore balance in the dysregulation in your bodily reactions to stress 🌿✨

#anxiety #stress #panic #therapy #copingtools #therapyskills #therapywoodford #therapybuckhursthill #therapyholborn

Are you ready for your therapeutic adventure?🏔⚡️do you feel like the odd one out? Do you feel like you are struggling with life in general and like you are flailing whilst others are thriving? If you are reading this and relate, then read on …

I currently have some availability in the leafy suburbs of Buckhurst Hill 🌿 (in person and online). The space is cosy, safe, fresh, and tranquil, a place where we can compassionately explore what it is that brings you to therapy.

Some core reasons that you might come to me specifically:

⚡️You feel shame and guilt surrounding habits, behaviours and actions from the past and you need a compassionate and safe place to explore them.

⚡️You have a disordered or complex relationship with food.

⚡️You would like to explore painful and adverse experiences in childhood, to explore the way you relate to others and how this impacts you today.

⚡️You are donor conceived or want to support someone who is donor conceived. Particularly in exploring identity, stigmas and the struggles associated with discovery.

⚡️You struggle with your self worth and sense identity.

⚡️You struggle with regulating your moods and emotions - perhaps you experience lots of anger or maybe you never know how you feel at all.

⚡️You want a therapy that holistically approaches your body and mind (no touching though!).

🎨 You want to work with someone who is open-minded, warm, a bit of a grandma, creative and holistic in their approach!

#donorconceived #dcp #donorconception #fertilityawareness #holistictherapy #therapyholborn #therapylondon #therapybuckhursthill #therapy #counselling #bipolar #onlinetherapy #eatingdisorderawareness #bingeeating #BED #anorexia #therapyforguilt

It’s been a while since I did a video about the goings on of my day with my wonderful clients ⚡️ so here is a funny spin on it with the help of audio from Jesse Eisenberg… a small insight into my day-to-day: I utilise talking as well as using drawing, image cards and mindful approaches with clients to create an approach that feels holistic and creative! I also have new availability for sessions in the early afternoon with clients in my cosy, green 🌿Buckhurst Hill location. Send me an email for more information!

#therapyholborn #therapybuckhursthill #counselling #cptsd #dcp #donorconceivedperson #therapy #counselling #eatingdisorders

There are lots of different and great therapy modalities and therapists out there, but here are a few reasons you might find my approach useful!

#therapy #therapywoodford #buckhursthill #therapybuckhursthill #therapyholborn #selfcare #mentalhealthawareness #onlinetherapy

Welcome to this space, from one imperfect person to another, you are welcome here 🫂

So much judgement pours through our screens, so little understanding of human nature. In therapy so many of my client are surprised to find that they share some of their deepest shames, regrets, and those experiences that fill them with anxiety, pain, and self loathing. Therapy is a place where I, as another human, can sit with you, and bare witness to this exploration from a position of compassion, holding, unconditional positive regard for you as a person, and the belief that together we will help you to find a way through shame to acceptance, courage and self-compassion.

#therapy #counselling #therapywoodford #buckhursthill #mentalhealthawareness #therapyholborn

Come for a walk and talk around the Buckhurst Hill centre that I’m working at today 😌🌸

A controversial opinion regarding the medicalisation. So let me expand. When I mention the medicalisation I am talking about the way that we view mental well-being. The way it is often framed is that you only go to the GP or to A&E when you are sick (broken leg, infections etc) so we assume the same with therapy. However, mental health and well-being is an everyday thing. Whilst therapy can be amazingly helpful for those who have diagnoses or that are struggling a lot, there is also solace in coming to therapy when you want to talk through certain experiences or the way you relate to others - it can be a real game changer in terms of how we relate to ourselves, others, and situations in our lives and can help make those “lows” that inevitably come to us all, a bit more manageable. It’s never too early or too late to get started. ✨ take good care of yourselves! 😌

If you would like to book a free 15-20 minute consultation call, please get in touch through my website cvmtherapy.com or email me at catherinejvanmaanen@gmail.com 🌱

#therapy #counselling #therapywoodford #selfcare #bluemonday #buckhursthill #therapybuckhursthill #therapyholborn #mentalhealthawareness #therapyclerkenwell #holborn

New blog post up on the website! In today’s post, ‘New year, more fear? A therapist’s perspective’, I’m reflecting on the anxiety, social (and personal) pressure that comes from the experience of welcoming a new year. In the post I look at reframing what a new year actually means, the subjectivity of time, and what the key factors behind self-betterment or goal achieving are!

#holborntherapist #therapylondon #therapybuckhursthill #counselling #selfcare #januaryblues #therapy #newyearnewme

Are the “this is the 2024 season coming to an end …” videos leading to anxious feelings and looming dread? Well … it’s completely understandable! There is so much pressure to have had the picture perfect year (literally!). But human lives are complex and not so cookie cutter shaped. When I work with clients I often hear the conditional ‘could’ and ‘should’ reflections.

However if you take a step back, shift your perspective, and consider whether you actually need to fit the generalised life/ success markers, then you might see that it doesn’t have to be a huge scary change, but a point of reflection before just taking another step forward. It’s not a sprint! If you’ve seen the long distance running at the Olympics you’ll see that people go past the start/end point several times, but what is crucial is looking at the long game or in the case of life: looking at what works for you and the direction you want to be going on.

Instead of making self flagellating New Years resolutions, maybe consider taking the time to consider what it is you want going forward and what led to the choices you have been making so far. If you would like to work with me from next month, I have some new availability in Holborn and Buckhurst Hill as well as some online spaces ✨ get in touch via my website or email: catherinejvanmaanen@gmail.com. Be kind to yourself 🌱

#therapy #newyearanxiety #selfcare #therapyholborn #therapybuckhursthill #therapywoodford

(Ps… it’s not really a secret!) Paying a private therapist does not mean that the care isn’t real! We truly DO care. That’s why we do this. The non-judgement and the unconditional positive regard may be a part of our skill set, but people who tend to become therapists also do truly care about other people. So yes, I think about you outside sessions, and after we’ve ended our sessions, I hope for the very best for you, and wonder how you are doing.

It’s understandable why there is cynicism towards the idea of therapists *truly* caring when they are getting paid, but this is part of the misconception with therapy/ therapists and even some of the remaining stigma around getting support for your mental health.

I am always rooting for my clients from the sidelines 🙌🏻. I feel privileged to be able to support so many wonderful people in their most vulnerable moments 🌱

#therapyholborn #therapist #mentalhealthmatters #counselling #therapy #buckhursthill #therapywoodford #therapist #therapybuckhursthill #therapylondon #counsellinglondon #donorconceived #DCP #eatingdisordersupport

My response to these questions as a holistic integrative therapist 🎄
Whether you celebrate or not, holiday seasons can stir up complex emotions and difficult memories … especially if you’re no-contact with family. Here are 4 gentle, therapist-approved tips to protect your peace and nurture your well-being this season:
1️⃣ Feel Your Feelings! Don’t Fight Them As a therapist who uses focusing, I always remind clients to notice when sadness, guilt, or anger shows up in your body. Try to learn to understand that these feelings are not enemies, but messengers letting you know what might be going on for you. This can also help you with the next point.
2️⃣ Give yourself what you needed as a child Christmas/ the holidays often activate old psychological wounds. Being no-contact gives you the chances to reflect. Ask your inner child, “What do you need right now?” — and give yourself that love, safety, or reassurance. This might be about giving yourself a bath with some lovely bath bombs, but it could also be reminding yourself that you don’t have to be perfect or do things you don’t want to do (just to keep others happy).
3️⃣ Rewrite the Story
I use a tool called Transactional Analysis to help clients understand what limiting beliefs or ideas about themselves they have internalised. In particular, old “life scripts” we inherited from family roles. You are NOT your family’s “black sheep,” “fixer,” or “outsider.” Rewrite your narrative: “I am worthy just as I am.” “I am not too much” and “I am *actually* deserving”.
4️⃣Protect Your Peace with Boundaries Not everyone will understand your no-contact decision — and that’s okay. Your boundaries don’t need to make sense to anyone else: colleagues, friends, other family members etc ... Being no-contact isn’t “acting out” and is often a last resort after a long time of hurt. Tradition be damned if it comes at the expense of your mental, physical and spiritual (if this pertains to you)health. Block, mute, or walk away without guilt.

If you feel stuck and feel that I would be a good fit for you, get in touch via my contact form cvmtherapy.com which includes helpful blog posts (if say so myself!) and my practice approaches 🌱

(Take two because the post from a few months ago had typos!)

As humans we are complex and multi-faceted and so we are both innately fallible but also perpetually in states of change and evolution (should we welcome it).

Accountability is important, however one side of behaviour that we tend to speak on less is how little people are willing to allow their perception of others to change. If we have the courage and compassion to witness that someone may no longer be the person we once knew, or the person who acted in such-and-such a way, we allow ourselves the freedom to witness that humility towards ourselves. Besides, if we turned the light onto our own skeletons and behaviours, I’m sure there will be something that brings us a sense of shame, guilt or desire for atonement.

Mistakes are human, we don’t get through life without some scrapes. If you’ve messed up, done wrong, and are looking for a safe space to process and explore how to process it and work on it, then you’re in the right place. Welcome.

#nonjudgement #reminder #mentalhealthawareness #therapistsofinstagram #counsellorsofinstagram #counsellorwoodford #buckhursthill #southwoodford #therapy #therapyquote #counsellor #forgiveness #growth #therapyholborn #therapyeastlondon #therapychancerylane #therapyfarringdon #therapylondon

I now have availability for clients on Tuesday morning and afternoons. Whether you would like a lunchtime booking 🍱or a a therapeutic start to the day 🌅 then please do get in touch via the website: cvmtherapy.com or email 📧 catherinejvanmaanen@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

It took a long time for me to find a little corner of the city that felt homely, cosy and just right for my clients.

In the midst of the bustling, beautiful, and historic part of the city, this location is a small haven, full of calming greenery, inspiring art and a gentle tranquility. This cosy room provides a calming landscape for our work together, far away from the hustle and bustle of the street below.

The space is just a short walk from Holborn, Russell Square and Chancery Lane stations and several central bus routes.

There are beautiful parks, inspiring exhibitions and cosy cafes nearby too!

So let’s get started!

I wish you all a relaxing weekend.

#therapylondon #therapyeastlondon #therapyclerkenwell #clerkenwell #holborntherapy #therapistsholborn #counsellingeastlondon #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthholborn #therapist #localtherapist

Why is it so hard and painful? Why do you crash when you finally start to heal and recover 🌊 here’s a brief reflection on this.

As a gentle reminder, things sometimes feel worse before they feel better. Make sure you are getting the support you need.

It’s darkest before the dawn, but when the dawn rises, so do you 🌱🌄

#therapy #counselling #counsellorsofinstagram #therapywoodford #buckhursthill

🌊 When a person cries, it might feel almost natural to offer them a tissue - an unspoken token of affection, solidarity and sympathy. However, for some people it may feel like an interruption to the emotional experiences that the person is going through. A sort of ‘get over it’ or a gentler ‘stop crying’. Therapy is the place where a person can cry freely and express, through their body and through their crying, their pain and whatever is behind the tears. My not offering a tissue isn’t about me just ignoring it, instead I am welcoming the tears into the room. I am offering a space for the person to feel heard and to feel themself being heard by me. There is no judgement, just a calm and private space to put down their need to be collected and “put together”, and to safely reflect on how it really feels. In any space, I always ensure that tissues are available if the person should want to use them. It is their choice. 🌊

visit cvmtherapy.com 💻 or email me at: catherinejvanmaanen@gmail.com 📧 to book a free 15-20 minute consultation ☺️

#thingsthatmakesenseintherapy #therapy #therapywoodford #therapybuckhursthill #counselling

If you feel chronically misunderstood, unheard and unseen. If you feel like the odd one out, then maybe we would be a good fit. Therapy is a place of support and an adventure of sorts, all are welcome in this holding and judgement free space 🌄

Whilst therapists and counsellors are trained to work with many life difficulties and experiences, most professionals will have particular areas that they work with and that they are particular passionate about. For me these include:

🌱eating disorders (diagnosed or not).
🌱identity explorations including people who are donor conceived.
🌱bullying in childhood and adulthood.
🌱CPTSD and developmental adversity.
🌱challenging behaviours (including those we carry feelings of shame or guilt for).
🌱chronic pain and neurodivergence.

Let’s start on the next chapter of your life. If you feel like having a 15-20 minute chat, even if it’s just to discuss what therapy might look like, then please get in contact via email 📧: catherinejvanmaanen@gmail.com.

Something new! Happy autumn 🍂 🌻🎃 arguably my favourite season. And it is certainly a season of change and growth … shedding the old unhelpful behaviours perhaps, in order to welcome in self-understanding, perspective, and a renewed sense of possibility 🧡

Do you have difficult behaviours or are you anxious about past decisions that you feel embarassed or ashamed or scared about? It might be worth speaking to a therapist, and seeing if this journey would be beneficial to you! Maybe start by visiting cvmtherapy.com or emailing me at catherinejvanmaanen@gmail.com for a free 15 minute consulation.

I want to make clear here that I am referring to feelings that start emerging or memories that come up during the process of therapy and when you have started to feel more calm and regulated. Of course there are numerous reasons why you might experience this, one of which includes experiencing flashbacks. This is just one possible reason. 🌻

#therapy #uktherapist #Woodfordtherapist #counsellingwoodford #counsellinglondon #therapistinlondon #trauma #CPTSD #complextrauma #therapyworks #mentalhealthmatters

A day in (my) life as a therapist. Today I was at the centre in Buckhurst Hill before heading home for a cup of tea and to prepare for my online clients! 🌸☕️

Each room has its own feel and some of my clients definitely have favourite rooms! 🏡

If you woke up tomorrow and everything was exactly as you wanted it in your life, what would it look like and what would be different? 🌻✨

Maybe think about that problem you are tackling, the job you want to quit, the relationship struggles you were having or that feeling of utter hopelessness and stuckness.

This is a question I sometimes ask my clients when we explore their goals. This line of questioning comes from Solutions Focused Therapy (SFS) and is called The Miracle question. This is often used when clients feel stuck in their situation, when solutions seem like immovable obstacles and the strengths that the client has seems unreachable.

This is by no means a miracle in that in “fixes” all the clients’ problems. But it does provide that fresh space to remove the conditional thinking processes “should, could, can’t” etc. Instead of looking up at the formidable mountain of a situation or blockage, the client then sits on top of the mountain and looks down - a birds eye view of sort of thing. In this way clients can reverse engineer their perspective and find a new way of discovering their inner resolve, solutions and their values. It’s a really great intervention!

#anxiety #therapy #counsellorsofinstagram #counselling #selfcare #buckhursthill #therapywoodford #therapistsofinstagram #mentalhealthawareness

New blog post up! ⚡️💌

Therapy can be a rebellious and revolutionary act, defying societal norms that pressure us to hide our pain and stigmatize vulnerability. It challenges the status quo, encouraging us to embrace self-awareness and emotional honesty in a world that often rewards conformity and suppression. Choosing therapy is revolutionary because it confronts and looks at dismantling the internalized narratives of trauma, shame, and oppression imposed by society whilst being aware of the socio-political, environmental, financial and situational structures which marginalise and limit us. It’s an uprising against inherited wounds, a radical commitment to healing, and a powerful assertion of our right to live ‘authentically’. In this way, therapy is not just a personal journey but a collective act of resistance, with the potential to transform individuals, communities, and entire systems.

To caveat, therapy is a tool in the belt of transformative work! Please find a slightly more nuanced exploration on my blog at 💻cvmtherapy.com.

Drop me an email 📧 at catherinejvanmaanen@gmail.com or 📞 07856553891 to enquire about sessions with me ☺️

Happy Tuesday!

#therapyistransformative #therapy #counselling #buckhursthill #woodford #inclusive

Looming despair at the approach of your birthday? Anxiety, stress and feelings of depression when your birthday rolls round? Or maybe at a social holiday or any other celebratory event.

Reasons are nuanced and varied and in my practice I have worked with many clients who have found these social events to be extremely difficult and anxiety inducing. They can be raw reminders of those who are no longer with us, our inability to afford the gratuitous and expensive activities that we see strewn across influencers’ social media pages. Perhaps it is because we have other worries: world issues, the state of our environment, the fear of growing older, lack of friends and family, difficult family relationships or pre-existing mental health/ health struggles (to name just a few examples). Perhaps it is because we are alienated by the need to “do something” when in reality you don’t want to and it doesn’t fit who you are.

You are not alone in these feelings and experiences! Many people feel this way. Here are just a few steps you can take to reduce your stress include:

⚡️Explain to close friends and/or family that you struggle with the celebratory events and are feeling anxious and overwhelmed so you can explore how you can manage the feelings and organise your day around this.
⚡️Remind yourself that social media can be misleading and that it only shares a small facet of a person’s experience and also does not guarantee happiness! Instead consider what you actually value and what is most important for you.
⚡️It is only one day! Remind yourself that it is not the only day in which you are allowed to celebrate yourself and take moments to treat yourself. On the other hand, just because it is your birthday, it doesn’t make it necessary for you to do things that you don’t enjoy or that make you uncomfortable.

#birthdaysadness #therapy #counsellorsofinstagram #therapywoodford #therapistsofinstagram #anxietyrelief #depressionhelp #buckhursthill #woodford

New blog post up on cvmtherapy.com ⚡️🙌🏻

This blog is all about working with challenging behaviours. As a therapist, I am not here to judge, but I am here to help you to help yourself. You are not a write-off because you made a mistake or two. Let’s talk about it.

#therapy #therapyforcheating #therapyisforeveryone #selfcare #therapistsofinstagram #therapybuckhursthill #therapywoodford

I’m not always online … but that’s ok 🌸🐚 because I’m present with my clients! 🙌🏻

A gentle reminder 🍃 relax your jaw and drop your shoulders, perhaps listen to some sleep music or a sleep story (@calm has some good’uns!) 😌 feeling anxious about mistakes is understandable, but try to build that all important muscle in terms of maintaining boundaries with yourself, and allowing yourself to get to sleep. We’ve got this!!

If you’d like to book a session with me then you can email me at catherinejvanmaanen@gmail.com or visit my website 🔗 in bio to find out more, and request your free 15 minute telephone appointment to explore whether we would be a great fit for your therapy! 🌸☺️

Now get some rest! 😴

#mentalhealthmatters #anxiety #feelinganxious #therapywoodford #therapyeastlondon #therapist #counsellor #selfcare

When trauma happens to us when we are young/ pre-verbal, we remember it at a symbolic level (think #thebodykeepsthescore ). Before we are able to cognitively process, verbalise and organise information in a linear way, or make sense of experiences, we feel it physically in our bodies. We internalise our distress in a way we cannot fully compute. What this means is that sometimes when we are older, we still hold onto that pain and that “wound” until we are able to address it and process it as an adult with different cognitive abilities to that of a child.

One really great way to explore felt experiences that we don’t fully understand is to use #Focusing which is a technique popularised by and a therapeutic approach devised by #Gendlin - this helps us find a way of giving a name to our experiences so that we can bring the experience into conscious awareness and then process that. We must also acknowledge that pain and trauma held within the body must be approached gently and seriously, therefore working with a qualified practitioner and especially working with trauma best practice is important when exploring anything that may trigger us deeply.

I hope you have a lovely bank holiday weekend 🌞🌸 additionally, I hope you like my photo from my trip to Norway!

#therapy #counselling #psychotherapy #selfcare #psychotherapistsofinstagram #counsellorsofinstagram #childhoodtrauma #developmentaltrauma #trauma #eatingdisorders #bankholidayweekend

How do you get the best results from therapy in your experience? 🌸🤔 from a therapists perspective it is important to do your own work outside of therapy - Iain Dolan put this well and succinctly. In the same way you also wouldn’t go to a physiotherapist and then not do the stretches outside of the therapy, you should also consider how you can get the most out of your counselling/psychotherapy by doing your own due diligence. How might this look?

A few ways you might apply your session work 🌸

✅ practicing exercising boundaries with people in your life (including yourself!).
✅ make notes of how you handle yourself in challenging experiences and reflect on how you have processed that experience.
✅ acknowledging your therapist can only go as far as you are willing/ able to go ❤️.
✅ practicing self care. Including exercise, dietary measures (not diet culture!!), getting out into nature, taking your medication if required.
✅making a note of your support system: family and friends - how can they help you? Can you tell them that you are going to therapy?
✅ challenge damaging beliefs you hold or unhelpful patterns of behaviour.

There are many more ways, all of which are nuanced and specific to individuals!

Happy Monday - in the meantime, feel free to check out the blog for yesterday’s post and drop me an email if you are hoping to book a free 15 minute consultation 🦋.

#therapistsofinstagram #counsellorsofinstagram #therapymemes #mentalwellbeing #mentalhealthawareness #bpd #selfcarethreads #selfcare #eatingdisorders #childhoodtrauma #therapywoodford #therapybuckhursthill

New blog post! I seem to have bookended #mentalhealthawarenessweek 👀 but as I have previously mentioned, it is important to acknowledge mental wellbeing on a regular day-to-day basis.

This Sunday’s post I discuss disconnecting and recharging admirer tumultuous times.

I wish for you a relaxing Sunday and a good rest of your week 🌸

#mentalhealthawareness #mindfulness #selfcaresunday #mentalwellbeing #psychology #psychotherapy #counselling #counsellorsofinstagram #therapistsofinstagram #bpd #eatingdisorders #developmentaltrauma

This week is #mentalhealthawarenessweek - however we know that a week or month of “awareness” is not enough to tackle the epidemic in mental health crises we are experiencing in the UK and globally. However, I thought I’d kick the week off with something that I know is a challenging thought for so many.

And that is this: your traumatic experience and your trauma (be it PTSD, PTS or CPTSD for example) are not the result of you being a bad person.

Outside of obsessive thought patterns and behaviours, this concept is not something that is that uncommon for people to feel. To paraphrase leading trauma theorist, Babette Rothschild: trauma is what happens when we are out of control. When something happens we need to find a “reason”. Why me? Why them? Why didn’t I get to the phone quicker? If only I left 10 minutes later …

Moreover, when we consider our understanding of childhood attachment behaviours, we know that children are dependent on primary caregivers (often parents) and this is something that is legitimately life or d3ath: a child must be bonded, they must have a carer or they will possibly d1e. Therefore we understand that children will often blame themselves in abusive situations because (1) it doesn’t make sense and (2) they need to remain close to their PCG so that they get their support - even if that support is not necessarily safe.

I am not trying to belittle any person’s faith or religion here.

However, here I am gently considering questioning, if this isn’t the result of some karmic retribution, and it’s not because you’re a bad person - what are the other possibilities?

This is not an exhaustive perspective and is only a snapshot view. If this concept opens up thoughts that you would like to explore, I would definitely recommend taking it to therapy or to process it in a way that is safe and holding for you.

#trauma #cptsd #traumaresponse #attachment #childhoodtrauma #mentalhealthmatters #karma #buckhursthill #woodford #therapy #therapistsofinstagram #counsellingandpsychotherapy #counselling

“When everything feels like the movies … try meeting people and going outside” 🎶 I’m sure that’s how the song goes … 🤷🏼‍♀️ in this Sunday’s blog post I discuss the links between intimacy and reductions in low mood. We know that the lower our mood is the less likely we are to go out and see people, but there is also something cyclical about the process involved in our loneliness (as well as the institutional and practical difficulties of course). I tap into what is simply a fraction of the thinking behind closeness and overall well-being.

#lonelinessquotes #nofriends #lonely #selfcare #nature #wellbeing #googoodolls #therapistsofinstagram #therapist #londontherapist #essextherapy #counselling #counselor #counsellorsofinstagram

Never mind the typos! 😂 As humans we are complex and multi-faceted and so we are both innately fallible but also perpetually in states of change and evolution (should we welcome it). Accountability is important, however one side of behaviour that we tend to speak on less is how little people are willing to allow their perception of others to change. If we have the courage and compassion to witness that someone may no longer be the person we once knew, or the person who acted in such-and-such a way, allows us the freedom to witness that in ourselves after all, if we turned the light onto our own skeletons and behaviours, I’m sure there will be something that brings us a sense of shame, guilt or desire for atonement.

#nonjudgement #reminder #mentalhealthawareness #therapistsofinstagram #counsellorsofinstagram #counsellorwoodford #buckhursthill #southwoodford #therapy #therapyquote #counsellor #forgiveness #growth

“There’s a void only silence can fill” @monroviaboy

It may seem counterintuitive but silence is an important tool in the therapeutic relationship. As a society and culture, we are often taught to try to fill silences “listening to respond, not to hear”. However silence allows two people to sit, somewhat in discomfort perhaps, to really acknowledge something that has been said, to process, to consider and to try to feel how something has impacted them in the space. Silence helps us process without trying to distract with conversation that is designed to detract. Perhaps you may even reflect on why you can’t stand the silence. Silence can be very healing, and most definitely when you are in a space of compassionate silence, where you are held by your therapist! I may write more in this some day 🌸

#counsellorsofinstagram #therapistsofinstagram #counsellor #therapist #londontherapist #essexcounsellor #woodford #buckhursthill #therapy #therapymemes #mentalhealthawareness #silence

A gentle reminder to all of you this week. Compassion first ✨🌿

#counsellorsofinstagram #counselling #therapist #counsellor #therapistinlondon #essexcounsellor #childhoodtrauma #neurodivergent

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"Recovery can only take place within the context of relationships; it cannot occur in isolation"
Judith Lewis Herman

One of the most common struggles that clients describe when coming to therapy is feeling like a 'misfit', like a misunderstood member of every relationship - an outsider.

As humans, the way we relate is a definitive part of our species: the need to belong. My practice approach allows clients to feel seen and heard, maybe for the first time in their life. I use my personality and warmth to create an authentic connection that cannot be manufactured and is entirely necessary for therapy to take place.

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@catvanmaanentherapy

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Therapy for the people who feel like the odd-one-out... For those who feel misunderstood, alone and want warmth and acceptance. You're in the right place.

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"I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it" Dr. Maya Angelou

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How do I cope with 2026?

New year, more fear? A therapist's perspective

Therapy can be an act of revolution and resistance

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"Recovery can only take place within the context of relationships; it cannot occur in isolation" Judith Lewis Herman

Ready to make an appointment?

I'm ready and waiting!

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Therapy for the people who feel like the odd-one-out...

For those who feel misunderstood, alone and want warmth and acceptance.

You're in the right place.

"I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it"
Dr. Maya Angelou

"Recovery can only take place within the context of relationships; it cannot occur in isolation"
Judith Lewis Herman