About Us
Dr Catherine Arciuli
Senior Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Supervisor & Practice Director
Dr Catherine Arciuli (or Cate) is a Clinical Psychologist & Supervisor with 20yrs experience providing therapy and counselling to Children, Adolescents, Adults, MumsnBubs, Parents & Families. She has worked in Paediatric, Perinatal and Adult services, and in a range of public mental health, NGO & private practice settings. She started the Branch Out Psychology practice in 2022.
Clinical Experience & Interest:
Cate has extensive experience treating: Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, Postnatal Depression and Anxiety, ADHD, Chronic Stress, Insomnia, PTSD, Complex Trauma, Emotion Regulation Difficulties & Anger Management.
Cate has supported many people going through difficult Life Stressors & Transitions, such as: Grief & Loss, Relationship Difficulties/Separation, Pregnancy & Adjustment to Parenthood, Adolescent & Youth Issues, Bullying, Domestic Violence or Relationship Conflict, HSC Stress, Occupational Difficulties, Sexuality Exploration & Gender Diversity, Female Hormonal Difficulties (perimenopause, PMS, PMDD) & Chronic Disease Management.
Over two decades, Cate has learnt an extensive range of evidenced-based therapy modalities and psychological techniques to help her clients reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, and improve their overall wellbeing. Due to working with many different client populations, she has learnt to modify and individualise therapy, to make it more effective and personally-tailored to each client.
Cate has spent much of her career working with clients who have a history of childhood difficulties and childhood trauma. She is passionate about helping these clients to liberate themselves from negative, self-defeating beliefs and coping behaviours, and supporting them to have more peace-of-mind, self-acceptance, and supportive relationships.
Cate also has a special interest in working with neurodivergent adults, including people with highly sensitive nervous systems (HSPs), ADHD, Autism and Learning Differences. Cate is passionate about supporting neurodiverse clients to achieve optimal health, functioning & wellbeing, despite the ongoing challenges of living in a neurotypically-dominated society.
Therapy Approaches
Cate has had extensive training & clinical experience providing Schema Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-based approaches, Attachment-based parenting approaches, family therapy and supportive counselling approaches . Cate works collaboratively with clients to find an approach that is the best "fit" for them, and often integrates different therapy approaches in her work.
Cate is passionate about holistic, integrative mental health. She enjoys integrating the latest scientific findings from neuroscience and lifestyle medicine (including nutrition and exercise science) into evidenced-based psychological interventions to help her clients optimise their health and therapy outcomes. She believes in multi-disciplinary care co-ordination, and often consults with other health professionals for the benefit of her clients.
Cate is competent providing culturally-safe interventions to First Nations clients, as well as to clients from multicultural backgrounds. She has experience working with LGBTIQ+ clients, and is strongly committed to offering culturally-inclusive, diversity-affirming, trauma-informed, socially-aware services.
Therapy Style
Cate aims to create a comfortable and safe space for her clients to talk freely without feeling judged. She believes in establishing a trusting therapy relationship and working collaboratively with her clients. She is committed to providing evidenced-based interventions that result in significant improvement for clients, but that are also tailored to each client’s unique personality, values and needs. Cate strives to be professional and ethical at all times, but with a personal manner that is warm, supportive, flexible & authentic.
Supervision Experience:
Cate has been an AHPRA approved clinical supervisor since 2013 and has supervised several Master's of Clinical Psychology Interns and Registrars. Cate co-developed a student internship program at a youth mental health service, and had several interns participate in it over several years. Please inquire for more information about her current supervision services.
Qualifications:
Cate has a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology and a Master's of Research degree from the University of Sydney. Her Master's research was about High School Bullying. Cate's undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Arts, with a double major in Psychology and Sociology. She also has a 1st class Honours degree in Psychology.
Personal Interests
Cate is a mother of two energetic boys. She is passionate about emotionally-attuned and mindful parenting. Before motherhood, Cate used to enjoy travelling, cinema, drumming and dancing. She has maintained a regular yoga & mindfulness practice for several decades, if even some days managing just a mindful savasna pose. These days, Cate is content with the simple things: like belly laughs, time with family and friends, being in nature, and on rare occasions: sleeping in.