Cathleen Brentnall, BACP - Therapist in United Kingdom

Focus on sleep and rest
Values-based support
Practical coping steps

About Cathleen

Cathleen Brentnall works with people who are struggling to sleep, cope with stress, and manage emotional upheaval. She speaks plainly and offers a calm, steady presence for conversations about anxiety, relationships, loss, parenting pressures and changes in life. Cathleen is a BACP counsellor and has ten years of practice in therapeutic settings across the United Kingdom and internationally.

Her style is practical and client-led. Sessions focus on what matters to the person in front of her - their goals, values and daily routines. She uses tools from several well-known approaches to help people notice patterns, learn new ways of responding, and experiment with small changes that can improve rest and functioning.

Cathleen integrates trauma-informed methods when needed and can use eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing as one option. She also draws on emotionally focused work and cognitive techniques to untangle thoughts that keep people awake or on edge. When faith is important to a client, she can bring that element into sessions if requested.

Her background includes work with relationship difficulties, grief and loss, parenting strain and a range of mood and stress-related concerns. Cathleen tailors conversations to each person’s learning style and pace, helping them find coping strategies and clearer daily routines. She pays attention to how people organise their lives and where energy is gained or drained.

People who contact her will find straightforward discussion of challenges and practical steps to try between meetings. The aim is to make everyday life feel more manageable and improve sleep, mood and relationships through gradual, collaborative work.

How Cathleen’s approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small, practical steps toward those values. This approach is useful for managing anxiety, stress and patterns that can disturb sleep. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) concentrates on the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and offers clear exercises to change unhelpful thinking and nightly routines. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is used when trauma affects day-to-day life and sleep; it involves guided processing to reduce the intensity of distressing memories.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Cathleen will discuss options and try different methods with the client so the plan matches their needs, goals and preferences. This is a collaborative process where adjustments are expected as progress is made.

The biography does not specify which online session formats are offered, so please confirm current options before booking. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Those practical benefits can help people maintain regular sessions and test new sleep and coping strategies within everyday life.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesTrauma and abuseParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficulties

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsGriefEating disordersSleeping disordersAnger managementBipolar disorderDepression Coping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stress Chronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDivorce and separationEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purpose Midlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

10+ years

Credentials

United Kingdom

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she help with?

She supports people with sleep difficulties, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, grief, parenting stress and a wide range of other concerns listed on her profile.

What is her general therapeutic style?

She works in a practical, client-led way and focuses on goals, values and daily routines. Sessions bring together techniques and discussion to help people try small changes between meetings.

What experience does she have?

She has ten years of experience working in therapeutic settings and has practised both in the United Kingdom and internationally.

What credentials and location are listed?

She is a BACP counsellor and is based in the United Kingdom according to her profile details.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English and she also accepts international clients.

What session formats are available?

The original biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options with the service before booking.

How are fees handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.