Hi, I'm Catherine Buchan
I help people get their spark back.
Are you a conscientious, self-critical perfectionist, who is driven to achieve and struggling with chronic stress or burnout?
If so, I understand what that’s like because that was me! I’ve experienced burnout twice, in two different careers and it was incredibly challenging to overcome burnout and get my spark back.
Eventually I found a way and successfully restored my well-being. I am still conscientious, and I am still an achiever! But the big difference is I’ve learnt to be self-compassionate, and effectively manage the driven part of me, and my perfectionistic tendencies, so that they no longer dictate my life at the cost of my well-being and happiness.
Now I’m passionate about using my hard-earned experience and years of professional training to help others regain their spark, find fulfilment, and learn to thrive through self-compassion, and the other science-based tools that helped me.
Other Reasons You Can Have Peace of Mind Working with Me
- I’m a qualified psychologist, with a doctorate in counselling psychology, as well as a coach.
- I’ve spent nearly 20 years in the field of psychology, having completed my first psychology degree and qualifying as a coach in 2003.
- I’ve worked as therapist for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
- I’ve been a volunteer therapist for a substance abuse charity.
- I have organisational experience too. My first career was in the travel industry, working in marketing and PR for various public and private sector organisations.
I live in the UK with my husband Mark and our rescue dog Tommy.
My Qualifications and Other Training
Integrating Mindfulness & Compassion in Professional Practice Certificate (2019-2020)
An Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): (2014)
Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence-based Treatment/CBT (2012-2013)
Practitioner Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (2009-2012)
Fundamentals of Co-Active® Coaching & Training (2008)
An Introduction to Mindfulness-based approaches (2007)
BSc (Hons) in Psychology & Counselling (2000-2003)
Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming & Coaching (2003)
I’m also a trained Reiki practitioner and massage therapist.
My Mission
The 14th Dalai Lama is quoted as saying “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional”. Compassion means being aware of our own and others’ suffering and being motivated to reduce that suffering.
My mission is to help as many people as possible reduce their suffering, enhance their well-being and learn to thrive, using self-compassion and other science-based tools in my coaching, consulting, teaching and writing.