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Cathytrenary

Turn toward grief as a sacred companion.

“Grief is not a problem to be solved; it’s a presence awaiting your witnessing.”
– Francis Weller.

Grief can be disorienting

Grief changes the way we experience ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. Whether you’re grieving the death of someone you love, the end of a relationship, a life transition, or a loss that’s difficult to name, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Grief work found me. It wasn’t something I set out to specialize in. It was something life handed me. My own experiences with loss continue to shape how I hold space for others, with deep respect for grief’s nonlinear nature and the many forms it can take.

Grief-can-be-disorienting

Grief is a sacred landscape

On some level, we are all grieving. Sometimes it’s the death of someone we love. Other times it’s an unlived dream, the end of a relationship, leaving a place that once felt like home, or a version of life we imagined would unfold differently.

Many people tell me they’re afraid to engage with grief. They worry they’ll never stop crying or that if they allow themselves to feel it, they’ll never find their way back. In my experience, the opposite is often true. When grief is acknowledged and witnessed, it begins to move rather than remain frozen.

Francis Weller writes that grief “invites us to the wild edge of sorrow.” While that edge can feel disorienting, it can also become a place of profound healing and transformation.

Grief is a sacred landscape

Engage with grief rather than endure it

Rather than trying to get over grief, our work focuses on learning how to be in relationship with it.

Together, we’ll create space for both containment and expression. Sometimes that looks like slowing down long enough to notice what’s happening inside. Other times it might involve writing, mindfulness, movement, guided imagery, ritual, or simply putting words to experiences that have felt impossible to express.

Over time, grief becomes something we learn to carry differently. It doesn’t disappear, but it often becomes less isolating and more integrated into the story of our lives.

How I approach grief work

My approach integrates Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, somatic awareness, and the work of Claire Bidwell Smith’s four-part grief orientation:
Entering, Engaging, Surrendering, and Transforming.

No two grief sessions look exactly the same.

Some days we may spend time making sense of the emotions that arise after a loss. Other days we may use mindfulness, guided imagery, writing, or movement to help your nervous system regulate and reconnect with your inner resources.

Grief unfolds in its own time. Together, we’ll honor that process while helping you build the support and tools you need to navigate it.

Invitation

Grief changes us. While we can’t change what has happened, we can change how we carry it.

If you’re looking for a place where your grief can be witnessed with compassion and without judgment, I’d be honored to walk by your side.

Schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit.

Interested in grief groups?

While I’m not currently offering a grief support group, I hope to offer one again in the future. If you’d like to be notified when registration opens, feel free to reach out.

Grief & the Heart is an ongoing support group
Michael L profile picture
Michael L
5 months ago
Now more than ever, men, good men should consider standing next to powerful women and say “YES, I seek therapy!”

I don’t know if I am a good man, but I want to be better, and I want to do better. Life can be challenging, painful, confusing, and lonely at times. But no one has to do it alone. I am grateful that I found Cathy and to be able to go to her for guidance.

Cathy is a patient, kind, compassionate, understanding, and empathetic professional who feels like a supportive and knowledgeable teammate. She does not make me feel less or more — just that this is what’s happening and I can overcome — and she helps me feel seen and heard.

I never feel judged and I feel safe to tell her everything —literally everything, knowing she will help me ground and reflect. I do not want to stagnate if I am stuck in patterns and I do not want to be validated for unrealistic thought processes. Her approach is balanced and I can tell that she truly cares.

Thank you Cathy!
Erin Gillman profile picture
Erin Gillman
7 months ago
With an incredibly calm and grounding presence, Cathy gently guides you through an exploration of the many parts of ourselves that shape who we are. She creates a space that feels safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental, making it easier to be honest and open. Through her caring approach and thoughtfully timed questions, Cathy helps you gain insight into patterns, emotions, and inner parts you may have been unconsciously repressing. Her guidance allows for deeper self-understanding, compassion, and meaningful personal growth. I’m so grateful for my sessions with Cathy and I recommend her to anyone looking to gain a deeper sense of personal exploration and self-understanding.
Yasmine Rugarli profile picture
Yasmine Rugarli
7 months ago
Cathy is an incredible therapist with a rare capacity to listen deeply, hold compassion, and gently untangle what feels complex.

My IFS (Internal Family Systems) session with her felt like an invitation to meet parts of myself with curiosity and tenderness. Through subtle visual and sensory cues, she guided me into what felt almost like a light hypnotic state, where everything became clearer and more connected.
It’s rare in therapy to move beyond the mind and truly reconnect with the heart and body. With Cathy, that shift happened naturally.

I’m deeply grateful for the experience and highly recommend working with her to anyone seeking meaningful, inner work.
Wisdom yatra profile picture
Wisdom yatra
8 months ago
Cathy is a wonderful therapist and an equally wonderful human being. We first met her when she joined one of our immersive tours, and her warmth and gentle presence were instantly noticeable. She carries that same energy into her work as a therapist deeply compassionate, grounded, and truly supportive.

Her approach helps you feel safe, understood, and cared for. If you’re looking for a therapist who leads with both heart and wisdom, Cathy is someone we would genuinely recommend. 🫶🏻
Mireia Martorell profile picture
Mireia Martorell
8 months ago
I had such a powerful session with Cathy. She guided me through the Internal Family Systems approach and helped me uncover and understand things from my past that I didn’t fully see before. The session was deeply transformative, and I felt so relieved and liberated afterwards. I highly recommend working with her
Albert Mercurio profile picture
Albert Mercurio
1 year ago
Cathy is kind, skilled, intentional, and very approachable 😊. I especially like how she sometimes takes a moment to respond. It's those little thoughtful touches that give her own Cathy flair to her practice that I appreciate.

We hosted a couple of lovely community gatherings together about romantic relationships and grief and she was a pleasure to work with. She did a great job holding the room and bringing skilled professionalism to our gathering. The participants seemed to really value her input and helpful suggestions too 😊.

Thanks Cathy!

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