
HOW I HELP
Therapy tailored to your specific needs.
As a new client, our initial session will begin with me learning a little bit about what is going on for you and what brought you into therapy. This helps me get a general impression of the ways you might view the problems you’re facing and the possible solutions. I can also answer questions you may have about therapy, the process and expectations.
I like to build upon strengths right from the beginning.
It’s important to understand how you’ve arrived where you are now. However, I like to put energy toward where you want to go. With that in mind, from the very start, we’ll begin to explore your inner and external strengths and how to use those assets as we address the obstacles that you may be facing.
I help you explore the problems and find solutions.
Becoming Solutions Focused
My main focus as a therapist is on the solutions to a problem rather than always the problems themselves. It is just a matter of perspective, but I have found that it makes a world of difference.
It is my belief that what we put our attention to expands. My goal is to help my clients in giving some thought and attention to the life and relationships that they are reaching for as a result of this time in therapy. In this way, I hope to help them to go beyond their problems and begin to dwell, at least a little bit, in the world they are working so diligently to create.
Addressing Trauma
I understand the impact of trauma and how to create a safe environment to address and explore how a trauma may be affecting your life or the life of someone you love.

Trauma is basically the deep impact something negative has on your life. It may be something that happened to you directly, like a burglary, child abuse, an assault, a car accident. It could be the impact of something that you witnessed or experienced peripherally, like witnessing a crime, or a death.
Trauma can be something that happened recently or a long time ago but still impacts you today.
Skilled, trauma-informed therapy can help you to name, understand, repair, comfort and truly begin to cope in healthy ways with what happened to you. With help, it is possible to move forward in a way that is less impacted and weighed down with the unresolved and often scrambled feelings that a traumatic event produces.
Working With Children
Children’s language is play. This is why I have a fully equipped playroom in my office. Children benefit from play therapy, art therapy, sand tray therapy, and talk therapy. With these, I am able to interact with the child on their terms and on their level. This helps create a safe and engaging environment designed to foster the work that needs to be done.
All work with children is also work with parents. I see myself as part of a team that includes the child that I am working with as well as their parents. Often there are simple, straight-forward ways in which the parents can support the work that is being done in therapy. I also involve the parents to help me develop a well-rounded picture of what is going on with their child and contributing factors. Whatever your child is struggling with, I work as a team with you to help your child.
Let’s Talk
Call now for an appointment
(831) 246-2545
CATHERINE MARCOTTE
720 River Street, Suite 7 (in the Gateway Plaza)
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Appointments available:
Tuesday: 9am - 5pm
Wednesday: 9am - 5pm
Thursday: 9am - 5pm
Friday: 9am - 5pm
Closed Monday, Saturday & Sunday
Evening appointments available.
Weekend appointments available by special arrangement.
© Copyright 2019. Catherine Marcotte, MFT. All Rights Reserved.