Philosophy & Vision
Julie Catt is a psychologist with over 20 years’ experience in private practice, based in Sydney and Byron Bay. She offers a warm, collaborative, and practical approach to therapy for adults, adolescents, and couples.
Julie has particular interests in working with creative and neuro-spicy clients, blended families and step-parenting dynamics, complex relationship patterns, and people exploring sexuality, gender, identity, and life transitions. Her work is evidence-based and focused on helping clients develop insight while building practical tools for meaningful and lasting change.
Julie uses an integrative, tailored approach that may draw on somatic therapy, CBT, DBT, ACT, Internal Family Systems (“parts work”), Narrative Therapy, and hypnotherapy. Clients often describe her as calm, warm, pragmatic, and deeply engaged, creating a space that feels safe, respectful, and genuinely collaborative.
Background
Before becoming a psychologist, Julie worked as a journalist and writer—roles that nurtured a deep curiosity about people and the stories that shape their lives. She has lived in Australia for more than 30 years and has been in private practice since 2003.
Alongside building her career, Julie raised a large, lively, blended family, giving her a grounded appreciation of how complex and meaningful relationships can be.
She particularly enjoys working with creative and neurodivergent clients, blended families, and people navigating identity, relationships, and life transitions. Julie believes therapy works best as a thoughtful, collaborative conversation between two humans trying to understand something important.
Services
Julie provides psychotherapy for adults, adolescents, individuals, couples, and families navigating emotional, relational, and life challenges. She offers individual therapy, adolescent counselling, parenting consultations, and relationship and couples counselling.
Julie also works with people in polyamorous and polycule relationships, providing a thoughtful space to explore communication, boundaries, and relationship structures. She supports individuals exploring gender identity and sexuality in an affirming, respectful environment.
Her approach is collaborative and integrative, drawing on evidence-based therapies including CBT, DBT, ACT, somatic approaches, Internal Family Systems (“parts work”), narrative therapy, and hypnotherapy.
Quality Provision
Julie is committed to thoughtful, ethical, and evidence-based care. She maintains ongoing professional development, reflective practice, and professional supervision. Her approach is collaborative and inclusive, providing a respectful space for neurodivergent clients and people of diverse identities, genders, sexualities, and relationship structures.
Areas of Interest
Accreditations
- Master of Arts Psychology - 1995 - Sydney University
- Grad Dip Counseling - 1996 - ACAP
- Bachelors of Psychology - 1991 - Columbia College
Modalities
DBT - Existential - Gottman Method - Internal Family Systems - Interpersonal - Marriage and Family - Mindfulness - Narrative Therapy - Trauma-Informed
Professional Associations
- Australian Association of Psychologists Inc
- Australian Psychological Society
Practice Locations
2 Wordsworth St
Byron Bay NSW 2481
185 Elizabeth St
Suite 106
Sydney NSW 2000
Fees & Insurance
Medicare and Private Health Fund rebates available.
Contact Julie
Please contact reception to make an appointment
A conversation with Julie Catt
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I was first drawn to psychology at university, where I discovered both a strong aptitude for the subject and a deep interest in how people make sense of their lives. More than two decades later, what continues to sustain my work is the privilege of thoughtful conversations with people who are trying to understand themselves and move toward lives that feel more authentic and workable.
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My practice is strongly influenced by narrative therapy, particularly its focus on the stories people hold about themselves and how those stories can evolve. I am also interested in Jungian perspectives on symbolism, meaning, and personal development. When relevant, I enjoy exploring existential and spiritual themes that can arise as people reflect on identity, purpose, and change. Overall, my approach is integrative and client-led, drawing from a range of perspectives in ways that support each person’s unique process.
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I’m particularly interested in working with people during times of transition, when something in life is shifting and there’s an opportunity to reflect, grow, and make more intentional choices. This often includes people who want to deepen their relationships, become better partners or parents, and live in ways that feel more aligned with their values.
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Over time my work has become integrative and responsive to each client. I draw on approaches such as narrative therapy, DBT-informed strategies, existential perspectives, and parts-based work. With experience, therapy can feel less like applying techniques and more like playing an instrument - listening carefully and responding to what is needed in the moment.
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Progress in therapy often shows up first in everyday life. Clients may notice their relationships feeling easier, decisions becoming clearer, and situations that once triggered anxiety feeling more manageable. Over time, people often find their mood improving, their sense of direction strengthening, and a greater ability to appreciate the good things in their lives.
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Therapy has been a meaningful support to me at various points in my life, particularly during times of challenge, transition, and growth. Having thoughtful therapeutic and supervisory support has helped me clarify my values, navigate difficult experiences, and face fears that can sometimes stand in the way of living more fully. These experiences deepen my respect for the courage it takes for clients to enter therapy and engage in this work.
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What I enjoy most about being a therapist is the sense of collaboration that develops over time. I love the process of getting to know someone deeply and working together to understand what is happening in their life. It’s exciting to see people take what they learn in therapy and use it to improve their relationships, make clearer decisions, and build a life that feels more satisfying.
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Sure thing. Life doesn’t stop being complicated just because you’re a therapist. What this work has taught me is that messy days are part of being alive, and they usually have something to teach us.
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One of the most significant challenges we face today is a growing sense of disconnection from one another’s humanity. In times of uncertainty and rapid change, many people feel unseen, misunderstood, or pushed to the margins. Rebuilding our capacity for empathy, curiosity, and genuine care for one another feels more important than ever.
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I'm obsessed with the work of Andrea Gibson and Taylor Swift, in equal measure.