ABOUT

Meet Cathy:

Catherine Kioi (Cathy) is the founder of Safe Haven Counseling. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) credentialed by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. Cathy's first career was in Computer Science, where she completed her Bachelor's degree (B.S. in Computer Science) at Towson University in 2005. After working in the field for 5 years, Cathy realized that she needed to switch to a career that allowed her to use her gifts and talents to help children and adults struggling with life's challenges. She returned to school and received her Bachelor's degree (B.S. in Psychology) at Towson University in 2010, and went on to receive her Master's degree (M.S. in Counseling Psychology) from Loyola University in 2012. Thereafter, Cathy worked in various capacities as she trained and developed her skills as a Professional Counselor.

Cathy's true love is helping people through the process of healing and growth, which in turn leads to a more fulfilling, peaceful and happier life.

Mission:

To provide a safe space for children, teenagers and young adults who are struggling with mental health illnesses and related challenges. My goal is to take them from a place of turmoil to a place of healing and peace of mind.

Approaches used in therapy:

I use a variety of approaches and tailor each session depending on the clients needs and experiences. Below are my main approaches to therapy.

• Person centered therapy allows me to accept each person as they are, without judgement.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps clients identify negative thoughts and core beliefs that might be affecting their lives in a negative way. CBT helps the clients connect the link between their thoughts, feelings and actions.
• Mindfulness therapy teaches clients grounding techniques they can use to get away from an overwhelmed mind that keeps us stuck in the past or future, and helps us remain in the present to achieve a calmer and peaceful mind.
• Brainspotting therapy helps clients process trauma from their past, as well as areas of their lives where they feel stuck. It allows clients to release emotions that may be stuck in their body, that often come up when triggered.
• Nature Informed therapy uses nature as a co-therapist to help clients find relaxation, meaning and healing.
• Art therapy techniques are great for children and adults that struggle with expressing their feelings using words, as it gives them another creative outlet that is safe for expressing their emotions.