- Stress and anxiety
- Family of origin issues
- CBT and solution-focused
About Catharina
Catharina Oberholster is an AASW social worker with ten years of practice in Australia. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem and major life changes. Catharina also lists relationship and family concerns, parenting strains, ADHD and depression among the issues she addresses.
She uses a person-centred style that keeps conversations focused on what matters to the client. Sessions are interactive and practical. Catharina pays attention to strengths clients already have and looks for concrete steps to make day-to-day coping easier.
Her work draws on cognitive behavioural ideas when thinking about unhelpful thought patterns and habits. She also uses solution-focused techniques to set short-term, achievable goals. The combination is aimed at reducing overwhelm and improving problem-solving in everyday life.
Catharina describes herself as respectful and sensitive in how she listens. She avoids labels and helps people clarify values, boundaries and priorities. Practical tools, homework tasks and straightforward feedback are common elements of her sessions.
People who want to talk about how family of origin issues shape their current relationships will find this listed among her focus areas. She also supports caregivers dealing with compassion fatigue and stress, and people working through guilt, forgiveness and questions of life purpose.
To begin, a short matching questionnaire and an initial appointment are used to identify priorities and plan next steps. Catharina works in English and Afrikaans and bases her practice in Australia.
How her approaches work for online sessions
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact. In practice this means identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing small changes to break stuck routines. Solution-Focused Therapy focuses on clear, short-term goals and practical steps. It helps people move from feeling stuck to trying specific, manageable actions that can be reviewed quickly. Client-Centred Therapy centres the client's experience and priorities, with the therapist listening closely and reflecting back to help clarify next steps.Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. Catharina will work with the person to decide which combination of methods fits their needs, goals and preferences. That choice can change as progress is reviewed and new priorities emerge.
Confirm the exact session formats before booking, as the biography does not specify formats. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, for example by avoiding travel or allowing shorter check-ins during a lunch break. It can also let therapy continue when life events make in-person meetings difficult. Practical arrangements such as camera use, session length and scheduling are discussed with the therapist so sessions fit into everyday routines.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English, Afrikaans
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression, ADHD, relationship and family concerns, parenting strain and life transitions.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style is person-centred, interactive and practical. She uses strengths-based work alongside problem-focused techniques.
How much experience does she have?
Catharina has ten years of professional experience working with people on a range of emotional and practical concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is listed with the AASW and practises in Australia.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and Afrikaans.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start a session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to begin.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.