- Richard Schwartz
Cathy Lee
Somatic Psychotherapist
Holding the Space
Wollstonecraft, Sydney NSW 2065
Online Therapy Australia-wide
Philosophy & Vision
I believe therapy is about gently creating the conditions for healing and growth. Much of the suffering we carry shows up in the nervous system and in the body—through anxiety, depression, chronic stress, or a sense of disconnection. My work is to meet each person with warmth, and respect, supporting them to build the safety and capacity needed for lasting change.
Many of my clients come to therapy after trying approaches that didn’t quite “land,” often because their nervous system needed a slower, body-based way in. Together, we create space to understand what’s happening inside, explore practical ways to regulate the nervous system, and develop resources for steadiness, resilience, and deeper connection with self and others.
My vision is for therapy to feel like a safe harbour: a place where you can come exactly as you are, without pressure or judgment, and find a path forward that is both gentle and effective.
Background
My background is in management and sales, and for many years I was also raising my four children. Alongside this, I have spent extensive time studying psychology, counselling, and somatic therapies. My own healing journey has been a central part of this path, and it inspires the work I do now — supporting others to find their own way forward.
Services
I offer somatic psychotherapy for adults, with a gentle, trauma-informed approach that works with both body and mind. Sessions are paced to support nervous system care, self-understanding, and lasting change.
I provide a free 15-minute online discovery call so you can get a sense of how I work. I also run a Learn Focusing course online each school term, offering a safe and practical way to connect more deeply with your inner experience.
Quality Provision
I am committed to providing a high standard of professional care. My practice is guided by the Australian Counselling Association Code of Ethics and my ongoing training in somatic and trauma-informed therapies. I prioritise creating a safe, respectful, and confidential space where you feel supported to move at your own pace.
Sessions are currently offered online, making therapy accessible from anywhere in Australia. I regularly engage in professional supervision and continuing professional development to ensure that my work remains ethical, effective, and responsive to each person’s needs.
Accreditations
- Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) - ACAP
- Certified Focusing Practitioner and Focusing Orien - The Focusing Institute International
- Graduate Diploma of Counselling - Torrens University
- ACT for beginners - Russ Harris
- Certified Somatic EMDR Practitioner - The Embody Lab
- ACT for Trauma - Russ Harris
- Master of Counselling - Torrens University
Professional Associations
- Australian Counselling Association
Appointments
You can view my current availability and book directly online via the booking page on my website.
Fees & Insurance
My fee is $190 per session. At this stage, Medicare and private health fund rebates are not available.
I also offer a free 15-minute discovery call, so you can ask questions, get a sense of how I work, and decide whether it feels like the right fit before booking a session.
Payment Options
Payment is accepted via credit or debit card
Contact Cathy
Please contact me to book a 15 minute free initial consult
A conversation with Cathy Lee
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Initially, I was simply trying to make sense of people and myself. As I faced my own struggles, I discovered that body-oriented approaches and somatic psychotherapy were what truly helped me to heal and grow. That experience ignited my passion and led me to years of study in psychology, counselling, and somatic therapies, so I could offer the same kind of support to others.
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My professional development has been shaped by a range of body-based and experiential approaches. Somatic psychotherapy and Focusing have been central, guided by the work of Eugene Gendlin, Ann Weiser Cornell, and Barbara McGavin. I have also been deeply influenced by the trauma and nervous system work of Kathy Kain, Stephen Terrell, Aline LaPierre, Peter Levine, Gabor Maté, and Bessel van der Kolk. In addition, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), particularly the work of Russ Harris, and attachment theory have helped shape the way I understand human experience. Each of these philosophies has taught me the importance of compassion, presence, and working gently at the pace that feels right for each person.
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I’m especially interested in how our early life experiences shape the nervous system and continue to affect health, relationships, and emotional wellbeing into adulthood. I’m drawn to the places where people feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected, and to supporting the slow, embodied process of growing capacity and finding safety inside. I’m also deeply interested in how the body holds memory and wisdom, and how somatic approaches can open the door to healing in ways that talking alone often can’t.
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I use somatic psychotherapy, Focusing, and trauma-informed counselling methods, always tailored to each person. My approach is experiential and body-oriented, often weaving together gentle dialogue, awareness of the nervous system, and practical skills for self-regulation. I also integrate Somatic EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), attachment-based work, and elements of NeuroAffective Touch. Whatever the method, the focus is on moving at your pace and supporting what feels safe and manageable in the moment.
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In my experience, many clients begin to feel a sense of progress right from the first sessions. Simply having someone present, listening deeply, and holding space with care can be profoundly healing in itself. The therapeutic relationship is often the starting point of change. Alongside that, the body-based and somatic methods I use tend to create small shifts early on, which can grow over time into lasting change.
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Therapy has taken me from some of the lowest lows in my life to a place where I now feel safe in my own body, where my relationships are strong and nourishing, and where I am able to help others. The most powerful part of this journey has been somatic and body-oriented therapy, which gave me a way to slowly come back to myself. That lived experience continues to inspire and guide the work I do with my clients every day.
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What I love most about being a therapist is that I get to help others while continuing to grow myself. This work allows me to be alongside people in their healing, which feels deeply meaningful, and at the same time it keeps me learning and evolving. I feel grateful to work in a field that I’m endlessly passionate about and genuinely interested in every day.
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Of course — I have “bad hair” days too, but I’ve learned to pop my own stuff aside when I’m with clients so the focus stays on them.
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I think one of the biggest problems we face today is that the world is set up to pull us away from ourselves. We’re encouraged to stay busy, distracted, and constantly on the go, which leaves many of us in a state of ongoing stress or overwhelm. When we lose touch with ourselves in this way, it becomes harder to feel safe in our bodies, to connect deeply in our relationships, and to know what we really need.
This is why I value therapy, especially somatic and body-oriented approaches — they offer a space to pause, to listen inwardly, and to gently reconnect with ourselves in a world that so often makes that difficult. -
I’m often inspired by the poetry of Jeff Foster. A favourite of mine is his poem Let a Feeling Crack You Open from his book You Were Never Broken. His words speak to the possibility of meeting our feelings with presence and love, rather than trying to fix or get rid of them — a perspective that deeply resonates with both my own healing journey and the way I work with clients.