About Me

I am a fully qualified and accredited Systemic Family and Couple Psychotherapist (MA) with 25 years’ clinical experience working therapeutically with individuals, couples and families, of all ages, both within the NHS, and via my own independent practice. As a specialist relationship therapist I support those facing challenges in couple or family relationships. These may include issues related to managing communication and conflict, sex and intimacy, parenting and life transitions, recovery from domestic abuse, trauma or infidelity, or divorce, separation or bereavement. I also support those wishing to develop a deeper sense of relational connection, intimacy and closeness with the important people in their lives.

Keen to embrace gender, sexuality & relationship diversity, I work with couples and families of all kinds. My practice is strengths and resilience orientated, collaborative, and underpinned by the latest evidence based principles.

Fully insured to provide a worldwide online service offering Individual, Couple, Parenting and Family Therapy, as well as Mediation, Consultancy, Coaching and Clinical Supervision.

Practicalities:

- Appointments Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (8am-6pm), and Friday mornings
- Waiting time to start therapy varies from 2-4 weeks
- Online appointments only

I understand how hard it can be to find the right type of therapy, and therapist for you. I therefore include responses to Frequently Asked Questions, plus a link to information about Systemic Psychotherapy and Client Reviews below. If you have any further queries, do not hesitate to get in touch.

Referrals also accepted via Social Care and Family Law services.  Professionals can connect with me via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-cavallo-3250342a8/

Qualifications/Training:

- MA Systemic Family Psychotherapy, Tavistock and Portman Clinic, London
- Treating Couples: Surmounting Challenges, Harvard Medical School
- PGD Systemic Family Practice (Eating Disorders), Reading University
- PGC Applied Systemic Theory, Tavistock and Portman Clinic, London
- PGC Teaching and Assessment, Oxford Brookes University
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children and Young People, Oxford Cognitive
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – Enhanced (Eating Disorders), Prof Fairburn
- Dialogical Behavioural Therapy, Oxford Health DBT Service
- Multifamily Therapy for Eating Disorders, Maudsley Hospital, London
- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), Oxford Health Neurodevelopmental Service
- Psychological Perspectives in Education and Primary Care (PPEPC) Reading University

Background:

Within the NHS, my experience spans a variety of contexts including Community and Inpatient Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Specialist Eating Disorder Services. I have also worked within Paediatric Inpatient Services and Children's Palliative Care. Alongside a clinical role, I have been involved in Service Development and Leadership, as well as providing Training, Clinical Supervision and Consultation to allied professionals and agencies. As a Specialist Clinical Lecturer I designed and delivered teaching for postgraduate students in the treatment of eating disorders.

As an independent psychotherapist, I worked with the Oxford Priory Wellbeing Centre before founded Oxford Family Therapy. As my practice grew I expanded to offer clinics beyond Oxford. In 2020 Oxford Family Therapy extended services provided to include a range of online options enabling clients to connect with each other and access therapy from their own homes, across the UK and globally, and is currently offer an entirely remote service.

I am an active member of the Association of Family Therapy Independent Practitioners Network: Aspens, and their Couple Therapy Forum, and have a special interest in supporting couples with issues related to sexual intimacy. As a member of the AFT Court Related Work Group, I undertake court ordered therapy.

I am also a keen writer, on relational psychotherapy matters, and am regularly invited to contribute to the national media, including the Telegraph and Guardian newspapers, particularly regarding relational toxicity and domestic abuse.

Professional Accreditations:

Systemic Couple and Family Psychotherapist accredited by the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and Association of Family Therapy (AFT) to work with people of all ages.

Comprehensive insurance held with Balens Specialist Professional Insurers to offer online therapy worldwide.

Client reviews: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/katherine-cavallo&ved=2ahUKEwjC58fznYGJAxUsREEAHWb8PLMQFnoECBcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0WBvJCfvnlMbidLAsZwLeA

Frequently Asked Questions:

How many sessions will I need?
This depends on the type of therapy, what brings you to therapy, and what you are hoping to gain from the experience.  My focus would be to help you to achieve your therapy goals and work together towards these strategically.  With individual therapy I may suggest attending 6  weekly sessions, then we would review. You may feel this is enough, you may like to move from weekly to fortnightly, or you may wish to repeat 6 weekly sessions.   Similarly, with couple therapy, I may suggest 3-4 fortnightly sessions to begin with, then review, as above etc. With family therapy, the duration of therapy varies considerably. In some instances I may offer one or two consultation appointments, or you may find a handful of appointments makes all the difference, whereas others benefit from meeting with me less frequently but longer term.

How often would sessions take place?
This depends on the type of therapy.  In general Individual Therapy appointments would be weekly or fortnightly/bi-weekly to start with, and Couple Therapy appointments fortnightly/bi-weekly to start with. I support clients to use the space in between therapy appointment as opportunities to reflect on and integrate the therapy “work” into their every day lives and relationships outside therapy, in order to gain optimally from the overall process.

Would we meet at the same time each week?
Whenever possible, I recommend regular appointments to help create a rhythm, momentum and structure to therapy.

I’m not sure if I need Individual or Couple Therapy, what would you recommend?
I suggest organising an initial Individual Assessment appointment to establish the best course of action. If we decide together that you would benefit most from Couple Therapy, I would be happy to arrange to meet with your partner for a similar Individual Assessment appointment and should you both agree we would then continue with Couple Therapy. Alternatively, you may prefer to continue with Individual Therapy. In some situations having Individual and Couple Therapy simultaneously can complement the overall process so long as there is a clear and separate remit for both. I would not be able to offer both Individual and Couple therapy simultaneously. However, I would be happy for your partner to join your Individual Therapy on an ad hoc basis, or to offer ad hoc individual sessions to members of a couple, if this would be beneficial.

What does Family Therapy and Mediation involve?
This depends on your situation, who is hoping to join therapy and what you hope to gain from therapy.  In many situations, I would meet with different members of the family, or subsystems within the family, separately prior to joining together, as part of an assessment, and to establish the most suitable course of action.  I may meet with family members in different combinations throughout therapy.  Family Therapy appointments tend to take place fortnightly/biweekly or monthly.

Do you work with children and teenagers?
I am qualified to work with children, young people and adults of all ages. When working with younger children, my emphasis would be on supporting parents as they are best placed to support their child. The therapy therefore would often be directly with parents to indirectly help the child.  With teenagers, depending on their age, I would require parent/s or carer/s to have some degree of involvement in the therapy.  This may be joining part of an assessment and review appointment, for example. It would be important for you to be aware when appointments were taking place and available or on hand should you be needed during or after the appointment, whilst providing a private space for your child to connect with me online. In some situations I would recommend an extended assessment in which I would be able to meet with you both whilst also providing some individual time for your child/teen, should they wish for this, and parent/s, prior to joining together to formulate a therapy plan. If you are a parent or carer, concerned about your child or teen, I would suggest getting in touch to establish whether it would be suitable for us to work together, prior to booking an appointment for me to meet with your child or teen. In some instances, face to face therapy may work best and I would be happy to make recommendations accordingly should this be the case.

I’m not sure what I’m looking for fits with “Couple” or “Family Therapy?”
As a specialist relationship therapist I use the terms “Couple” and “Family” broadly.  We all know there is no “normal” couple or family.  In essence Couple Therapy refers to adult/romantic relationships in all the forms this may take.  I work with people irrespective of their gender, sexuality or the types of relationships they may be wishing for support with. Equally families come in all shapes and sizes and I use the word loosely to include extended family and kinship, blended family and close friendships. My aim is to support clients with relationships with the important people in their lives…  

Does Systemic Psychotherapy always work?
Systemic Psychotherapy is an evidence based approach recommended to support people experiencing a broad range of issues. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), which informs what treatments the NHS provides, recommends Systemic Psychotherapy for a range of different psychological problems in children, adolescent and adults, across the age spectrum.  However, we all know that relationships are complex. Systemic Psychotherapy is not an exact science.  I therefore use an individualised approach, based upon my training and expertise, as well as extensive clinical experience, which informs the techniques and approaches I use.  In some instances opening up about things with those we are closest to can make things feel like they are getting a bit worse before they get better.  I use an ethical approach to support clients navigate a way forwards, with safeguarding integral to my approach. Sometimes it can be helpful to explore the past together. Sometimes this can feel very difficult, and the focus will be on working towards finding ways to rebuild relationships in the here and now, and finding a place that is “good enough.”  Sometimes moving from estrangement to having limited direct contact can feel like a positive outcome for Family Therapy.  

We are thinking of splitting up, is Couple Therapy for us?
When it comes to Couple therapy most couples are seeking to improve their relationship, but in some situations either or both have come to the realisation that the relationship is coming to an end, and may be struggling to find a way to have the most difficult conversations to find a way forwards. This will be exacerbated when the systems of family and friends around them are intertwined, and particularly when they share children. In some situations, finding a way to end a relationship kindly, and to support children through this process can be the most positive outcome.

Where can I join therapy from?
It is important you are somewhere comfortable, quiet and safe, where you will not be overheard or interrupted. You will need good access to wifi and your devices charged.

Do we need to be in the same place to attend therapy?
No, one advantage of online Couple and Family Therapy is being able to support Couples and Family members to join therapy from different locations or even different parts of the world.  Similarly, some clients find it convenient to attend therapy from a private location away from home, such as at work, for example. As much as this approach can be both practical and convenient, unless there are reasons why joining together for therapy is not suitable, I find that having some sessions when you are together in the same location, if at all possible, is ideal.

Do you offer face to face appointments?
No, I am offering only online appointments.

I would like to learn more about Systemic Psychotherapy, what resources would you recommend?
The Association of Family Therapy has some helpful information and guidance available here: https://www.aft.org.uk/page/whatisfamilytherapy

I work with

• Children and young people
• Companies
• Couples
• Families
• Groups
• Individuals
• Private healthcare referrals

Special Interests

Like all UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors I can work with a wide range of issues, but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience.

Types of Therapies Offered

• Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
• Family Therapist
• Systemic Family and Couple Psychotherapist
• Systemic Psychotherapist

What I can help with

• Abuse
• ADHD
• Adoption
• Age-related Issues
• Anger Management
• Anorexia
• Anxiety
• Autism
• Bereavement
• Bullying
• Chronic Illness
• Couple Issues
• Depression
• Disability
• Divorce
• Domestic Violence
• Eating Disorders
• Employment Difficulties
• Family
• Gender
• Health-related Issues
• Identity Problems
• Infertility
• Mental Health Issues
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Online Counselling
• Parents
• Phobias
• Post-Traumatic Stress
• Relationships
• Separation
• Sex Problems
• Sexual Abuse
• Sexuality
• Step Families
• Stress
• Telephone Counselling
• Terminal Illness
• Transgender
• Trauma