I am Catherine Cleveland, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Counselor Supervisor, Keynote Speaker, Published Author, and a Private Practice Business Consultant.
My Background
Raised in the scenic area of Geneseo, NY, I spent many of my formative years at The Harley School, followed by studying International Business and Marketing at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). My family instilled in me a strong work ethic and a love for the outdoors. I was blessed to spend my youth and much of my adult life immersed in riding and racing horses, skiing, family, and farm life.
I am grateful for my late husband, Carl, a dedicated fifth-generation dairy farmer, was one of my greatest influences, teaching me the values of resilience, commitment, and consistency. In addition to farming, I continue a professional skiing career which has earned me a Level III Certification with The Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA), and for over 27 years, I have trained and coached in both Alpine and Telemark disciplines.
After the passing of my husband, I felt a profound desire to return to higher ed and study the intricacies of human behavior. This led me to the Master’s and PhD programs at The University of Rochester in with degrees in Psychology/Neuroscience and Mental Health Counseling and Counseling Education. At this point in my life, my greatest passion is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others through my work as a mental health counselor and now with my practice-informed mental health books that are written specifically for you—the seeker of happiness and a better life.
My Commitment to You
My commitment to you as your counselor is to create a space for you to safely and privately express your problems and personal pain.
My commitment to you is to enhance your counseling experience, therefore, we co-create your treatment process (rather than dictated by the insurance companies) with the intention to reach your goals and desired outcomes.
(585) 432-0313 ~ clevelandemotionalhealth@gmail.com
Fees
It is up to you to choose how often to have your sessions. Ask yourself this question: what works best for my specific situation? Weekly? Bi-weekly? Every three weeks? Monthly?
Individual
- The Fee per 50-minute individual session is $120.00 if paid in cash
- Paid by credit card/HSA/FSA cards = $130.00
- Paid by insurance with out-of-network benefits, you pay your co-pay (after any deductible) billed at $150.00. To verify your benefits, call the customer care number or go to Thrizer.com
Couples Counseling
- The fee for 50-minute couples counseling is $130.00 if paid in cash
- Paid by credit card/HSA/FSA cards = $140.00
- Paid by insurance with out-of-network benefits, you pay your co-pay (after any deductible) billed at $160.00. To verify your benefits, call the customer care number or go to Thrizer.com
Theories & Interventions
Theories and interventions serve as treatment modalities which provide the necessary framework and scaffolding to support the healing process in addition to developing well-being and finding meaning and purpose in your life (no matter what stage of life you are in).
Psychodynamic Theory works with conflicting unconscious forces within the psyche, with a particular focus on defenses, anxiety, avoided feelings, and transference.
Experiential emphasizes the importance of experiencing rather than avoiding healthy emotions during psychotherapy sessions, because simply talking about emotions is not sufficient to bring therapeutic change.
Compassionate Inquiry® (Gabor Maté) is a psychotherapeutic approach that reveals what lies beneath the appearance we present to the world. Through Compassionate Inquiry, the patient can recognize the unconscious dynamics that run their lives and how to liberate themselves from them. “The purpose of Compassionate Inquiry is to drill down to the core stories people tell themselves – to get them to see what story they are telling themselves unconsciously; what those beliefs are, where they came from; and guide them to the possibility of letting go of those stories, or letting go of the hold those stories have on them …”
Parts Work (Jung, Schwartz’s IFS) is an approach that views the mind as composed of distinct “parts,” each with its own feelings, beliefs, and behaviors. These parts often develop as a response to life experiences, particularly trauma, and may include roles like protectors, inner critics, or wounded children. The goal of parts work is to promote awareness and observation from the “Higher Self” with compassion and conscious understanding to healing from chronic problems. Isolating and observing allows individuals to engage with their parts, resolve inner conflicts, and resolve past experiences.
Existentialism (Frankl, May, Yalom) – The goal of existential therapy is to help people find meaning and purpose in their lives. When successful, it will help you find your true nature through intrinsic creativity and accomplishment. You learn to be your authentic self with compassion and boundaries instead of living a life filled with guilt and fear.
Short-Term Dynamic (Davanloo) – as an integrative experiential dynamic approach. This intervention facilitates the rapid resolution of a broad spectrum of emotional distress. Short-term dynamic interventions are specifically designed to heal issues such as anxiety, depression, and somatization disorders (such as chronic pain), PTSD, and more severe psychosis. This collaborative intervention alleviates a variety of self-harming behaviors, many of which derive from traumatic experiences including unstable or troubled early life attachments (emotional neglect, verbal abuse, physical & sexual abuse, and assault).
Strengths-Based (Clifton) – Focuses on your attributes rather than your weaknesses. Helping you identify your strengths that you may not have previously considered. For example, a strength that you have is taking steps to address issues to improve your mental health.
Mindfulness-Based (Kabat-Zinn; Tolle) – Mindfulness is an ancient method of non-judgmentally paying attention to yourself and your environment in the present moment. With practice, you will be able to notice the amount of energy you spend on ruminating or anxious thoughts (possibly disrupting your quality of sleep). Mindfulness-based interventions develop present moment and intrapsychic awareness thus diminishing uncontrolled intrusive and self-judging thoughts.
Humanistic Psychology (Maslow, Rogers) – emphasizes looking at the whole individual and stresses concepts such as free will, self-efficacy, and self-actualization. Rather than concentrating on dysfunction, humanistic psychology pays special attention to such phenomena as creativity, free will, and the human potential. Humanistic psychology acknowledges spiritual aspiration as an integral part of the psyche. Autonomy and self-determination are encouraged.
Polyvagal Mapping (Stephen Porges) – Polyvagal mapping explains how neuroception (unconscious perceiving) affects the nervous system. How do you react to situations that you perceive to be distressing? For example, fight (anger, temper) flight (avoidance), or freeze (depressing, shutting down). Somatic (physical) symptoms such as anxiety and depression are directly related to your central nervous system through vagus nerve stimulation. Environmental and intrapersonal triggers related to PTSD, chronic pain, and social anxiety can be processed and healed through mapping (intrapsychic focus) the vagal nervous system.
Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (Bruce Perry) – Based in brain science, early attachment problems can cause developmental trauma to a fetus, infant, or child – just when the brain is developing. External experiences profoundly influence the development of the brain. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) shape the brain’s organization, which, in turn, influences the person’s emotional, social, cognitive, and physiological development and behaviors. Healing begins with relationships – first through the relationship with yourself and then with others.
Nutritional and Metabolic Foundations of Mental Health (Georgia Ede) – Emphasizes that the brain is an energy-dependent organ, and that modern, ultra-processed diets and insulin resistance can contribute to mood instability, anxiety, depression, cognitive fog, and emotional dysregulation in some individuals. This approach prioritizes whole, minimally processed foods and explores carbohydrate reduction or ketogenic strategies when clinically appropriate, with the aim of stabilizing brain energy and reducing physiological stress.
The power is in you. The answer is in you. And you are the answer to all your searches: You are the goal. You are the answer. It’s never outside.
~ Eckhart Tolle
Supervision Theories
All counselors (licensed and permitted) need a regular and ongoing supervisor to operate an ethical practice. As a Ph.D. Level trained supervisor, I supervise other counselors/therapists in their practices in addition to providing weekly supervision to my Private Practice Residents — for new graduates seeking licensure. Supervised Internships are also available on a limited bases to Bachelor and Master’s level mental health counseling students. The theories I use to guide my supervision practice include:
Discrimination Model (Bernard) This model is comprised of three separate foci for supervision (i.e., intervention, conceptualization, and personalization) and three possible supervisor roles (i.e., teacher, counselor, and consultant). For example, the supervisor may take on the role of teacher while focusing on a specific intervention used by the supervisee during a counseling session, or the role of counselor while focusing on the supervisee’s conceptualization of the work. Because the response is always specific to the supervisee’s needs, it changes within and across sessions.
Integrative Developmental Model (IDM) stresses the importance of assessing the counselor’s developmental level while at the same time providing the optimal supervisory environment for progression through those levels. The goal of the integrative developmental model (IDM) is to promote personal and professional growth through three developmental levels by closely attending to the three overriding structures of Self-and Other-Awareness, Motivation, and Autonomy across multiple domains of counseling practice including intervention skills competence, assessment techniques, transference and countertransference, counselor identity, and professional ethics.
Private Practice Business Consultation
My private practice business book serves as a comprehensive guide for mental health professionals looking to establish and grow their own successful practices. Drawing from my extensive experience in private practice, this book offers practical advice, proven strategies, and invaluable insights into the intricacies of running a mental health business. From navigating legal and ethical considerations to mastering marketing and branding techniques, each chapter equips readers with the tools and knowledge needed to build a thriving practice. In addition to the book, I offer tailored business development and consultation services, providing personalized guidance and support to mental health professionals at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey. Whether it’s refining business plans, optimizing workflow processes, or enhancing client engagement strategies, my consultation services are designed to empower practitioners with the skills and resources necessary to achieve their business goals and make a meaningful impact in the field of mental health. Contact me for more information clevelandemitionalhealth@gmail.com or call (585)432-0313.
The Business of Private Practice© is now available
Research Studies
Through rigorous academic training, one of my research interests relate to how the mind and body are connected. This includes how distress impacts the central nervous system and the long-term effects of emotional suppression. Physical reactions to distress often go unnoticed (neuroception), which can result in lifelong physical and mental health issues, including chronic pain, depression, anxiety, mood, and personality disorders.
My Ph.D. dissertation, a Case Study Model of Qualitative Inquiry, is about the success and processes of the Cleveland Emotional Health Network of Practices and Residency Program. This Network is an innovative model that helps recent graduates of Mental Health Counseling Master’s and Ph.D. programs complete their mandated residency required for licensure. Eligible residents are selected based on interests and marketability of their innovative self-employment private practice ideas.
Drawing from my farming background, I embarked on research endeavors focusing on the mental health of farmers. Through a combination of Literature review, interviews, surveys, and observational studies, I found multidimensional and distinct challenges and stressors encountered by individuals within the agricultural culture and community. These challenges encompass financial pressures, weather-related uncertainties, social isolation, strong family legacies, and the pervasive stigma of seeking mental health counseling among this population. My research endeavors and my personal life experience illuminated the complexities of farmers’ culture and have helped develop personalized and effective strategies tailored to farmers’ unique needs. By leveraging my firsthand experience in farming, I strive to contribute the cultivation of resilience, cultural understanding, and improved mental health among my local agricultural communities.
Publications
My books on mental health are the culmination of years of practice-informed research, drawing extensively from my hands-on experience working with individuals facing various mental health challenges. Informed by real-world interactions, observations, and insights gained through my professional practice, these books offer practical strategies, evidence-based interventions, and compassionate guidance to support individuals on their mental health journeys. Grounded in the realities of clinical practice and informed by the latest research findings, each page reflects a deep understanding of the complexities of mental health and a commitment to providing accessible, effective support to those in need. Through a blend of theory and practice, my books aim to empower readers with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to navigate you mental health challenges and lead a fulfilling lifes.
My Blog, The Wisdom Room is a sanctuary for exploring the depths of mental health wisdom and insight. Within the blog, you can travel on a journey of self-discovery, enlightenment, and growth. Through a blend of personal reflections, thought-provoking articles, and curated wisdom from podcasts, interviews, and videos, I create a space where you can find mental health education, inspiration, and empowerment. Whether you’re seeking guidance on navigating life’s challenges, exploring philosophical concepts, or simply looking for a moment of contemplation, The Wisdom Room is available to accompany you on your quest for deeper understanding and meaning in your life.
Teaching
- I am honored to be a part of the instructor team at the Counseling Program at the University of Rochester teaching the course EDU 510: Working with Clients’ Defenses: Psychodynamic and Emotion-Focused Approaches. This Ph.D. Level course is an evidence-based Experiential Dynamic Therapy treatment proven to be expeditious and effective, with gains maintained and even enhanced at long-term follow-up.
- Additionally, I have the great fortune to train with and be supervised by many of the best researchers and educators in the field. These distinguished individuals include Dr. Andre Marquis, my advisor; Dr. Oliver Boxell, my Resident Program alumni and colleague; Marvin Skorman, my ISTDP supervisor-retired; and Leslie Baker, my Resident alumna and peer supervisor.
