Catherine Hirst, BACP

Catherine Hirst trained in the Person-Centred approach advocated by Carl Rogers and values an empathic stance as a foundation for healing. She believes that offering deep understanding is one of the most meaningful gifts a practitioner can give, and she aims to create a welcoming environment where clients can safely explore their feelings, life stresses, and difficult situations.

Known for an approachable and warm manner, Catherine places the therapeutic relationship at the heart of her work, seeing it as the key vehicle for change and personal growth. She is a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) - the professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the United Kingdom - and follows its ethical framework to protect both client and counsellor.

Her own life experiences, which have included both challenges and celebrations, shaped a desire to support others through difficult periods and to help them develop greater resilience. Catherine works with primary and secondary school children as well as adults, addressing concerns such as anxiety, low mood, depression, and bullying.

Although her training is rooted in the Person-Centred modality, she has developed an integrative style that is tailored to each individual, drawing on different techniques to meet the specific needs of the person in front of her.

Person-Centred and Integrative Approaches Delivered Online

Catherine Hirst works primarily from a Person-Centred perspective, which emphasizes empathic listening, acceptance, and helping clients feel genuinely understood. This approach supports people dealing with anxiety, low mood, self-esteem concerns, family difficulties, and the stress of life changes by creating a calm space for reflection and exploration. She also uses an integrative style, adapting techniques from different therapeutic approaches to suit the unique needs of each individual - for example blending reflective listening with practical coping strategies when appropriate.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and Catherine treats it as a collaborative process. She will work with clients to identify goals, review what is helpful, and adjust methods as therapy progresses so the approach fits the client’s needs, preferences, and circumstances.

Online sessions - whether by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging - make it easier for clients to access therapy around work, family commitments, or other responsibilities. These options offer flexibility in scheduling, continuity of care when in-person meetings are difficult, and more choices for how clients prefer to communicate with registered professionals and therapists.