About Me

I am a fully qualified and accredited Systemic Couple and Family Psychotherapist (MA) offering psychotherapy online worldwide. I have over 25 years’ clinical experience working therapeutically with individuals, couples and families, of all ages, both within the NHS, and via my own independent practice.

Whether you share a bed or live on different continents, my practice is dedicated to helping people connect, communicate, rediscover intimacy, and find ways to develop more meaningful relationships with the people who matter most.

Some of the issues I work with include:

- infidelity, trust and commitment
- sex, desire, connection and intimacy
- parenting, loss & life transitions
- separation, divorce & blended family dynamics
- managing low or no contact arrangements & recovering from unhealthy relationships
- creating healthy relationships

I work in an collaborative and non-judgemental way with clients across gender, sexuality and relationship diversity, and welcome couples and families of all kinds.

My practice is strengths and resilience orientated, collaborative, and underpinned by the latest evidence based principles.

Alongside my independent practice, as UKCP Media Spokesperson, I'm frequently invited to contribute to the national and international media, (including the Guardian, Telegraph & Independent) providing expert opinion on a range of topical relationship and psychosexual related matters.

I'm also involved in a number of not-for-profit initiatives including with charities Clean Slate and Support Through Court, in my commitment to improve access to specialist support for those most in need.

Below you can find the following:

1. Clinical Experience
2. Qualifications & Specialist Training
3. Professional Accreditation and Certification
4. Media & Publications
5. Social & Charitable Initiatives
6. Responses to Frequently Asked Questions
7. Practicalities
8. Next Steps

NB Client Reviews - in keeping with professional ethical standards, I do not publish client reviews or testimonials but am happy to provide anonymised client feedback if this would be helpful upon enquiry.


1. Clinical Experience

Within the NHS, my experience spans a variety of contexts including Community and Inpatient Mental Health Services. Alongside a clinical role, I have been involved in service development and leadership, as well as providing training, clinical supervision and consultation to allied professionals and agencies, and developed graduate and postgraduate training as a guest Specialist Clinical Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University.

As an independent psychotherapist, I initially worked with the Oxford Priory Wellbeing Centre before founding my own independent systemic and relational psychotherapy service, which quickly flourished. In 2020 the service developed a range of online options enabling clients to connect with each other and access therapy remotely across the UK and globally, and now offers an entirely remote service.

As an active member of the Association of Family and Systemic Psychotherapy (AFST) Independent Practitioners Network: Aspens and AFSTs Court Related Work Group I often provide therapy alongside statutory and family law services, funded by social care services or mandated in court proceedings.

Having completed additional specialist training with the British Emotion Focused Therapy Centre, I am a certified member of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotion Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) and an active member of the Association of Family and Systemic Psychotherapy Couple Therapy Forum. I have a special interest in supporting couples with sexual intimacy, have undertaken specialist post graduate training in psychosexual and relationship psychotherapy, and am a Professional Associate of the College of Sex and Relationship Therapists (COSRT); the UK's professional body for clinical sexology.


2. Qualifications and Specialist Training

Core Clinical Training

- MA Systemic Family Psychotherapy, The Tavistock and Portman Clinic, London
- PGD Systemic Family Practice (Eating Disorders), University of Reading
- PGC Applied Systemic Theory, The Tavistock and Portman Clinic, London

Advanced Specialist Training

- Treating Couples: Surmounting Challenges, Harvard Medical School
- Multifamily Therapy for Eating Disorders, The Maudsley Hospital, London
- Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) Levels 1 & 2, British EFT Centre
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre (OCTC)
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Oxford Health DBT Service

Professional Education & Supervision

- PGC Teaching and Assessment, Oxford Brookes University
- Psychological Perspectives in Education and Primary Care (PPEPC), University of Reading


3. Professional Accreditations/Certifications etc.

Committed to providing the highest standard of care, I am a fully accredited member of:

- The United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) 20111688641
- The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) 01034041
- The Association of Family & Systemic Psychotherapy (AFST) 2088746 &

- Certified member of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotion Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) &
- Professional Associate of the College of Sex and Relationship Therapists (COSRT)


4. Media & Academic Publications

As UKCP Media Spokesperson I am regularly invited to contribute to the national media on a range of relational psychotherapy matters:

Guardian - its a risky business emotionally; the social shift towards open relationships
- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/31/open-marriage-relationships-society-trends-therapy

Guardian - the rise in low contact family relationships; a compromise fraught with complexity 
- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/feb/05/the-rise-of-low-contact-family-relationships-i-said-mum-i-need-to-take-some-space

Telegraph - contemporary ideas regarding narcissism in close relationships
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/wellbeing/mental-health/dark-empath-traits/

Guardian - is my sons' relationship abusive?
- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/27/my-sons-girlfriend-has-taken-over-his-life-and-i-fear-hes-being-suffocated

Independent - managing feelings of loss when others are celebrating milestones
- https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/surviving-wedding-season-single-b2764335.html

Stylist Magazine - can changes in sex life lead to divorce?
- https://www.stylist.co.uk/relationships/how-often-people-had-sex-before-splitting/1051374

Telegraph - coping with grief on Mother’s Day
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/life/i-hate-those-mothers-day-emails/

Guardian - trans-generational difference - amplifying closeness & connection
- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/sep/14/im-ashamed-of-my-daughters-messy-garden-should-i-say-something

Telegraph - finances in couple relationships - its not simply about money
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/why-more-women-are-building-a-f-you-fund/

Context (AFT): Upcoming — Managing intimate partner violence emerging in couples therapy (2026).

Journal of Family Therapy (JFT): Co-guest editor for the Special Edition: Systemic Approaches to Domestic Abuse in Couple and Family Relationships (2027).


5. Social and Charitable Initiatives

Alongside clinical work, I remain committed to supporting access to specialist therapy and social justice through a number of voluntary and charitable initiatives:

- The Clean Slate Partnership

A limited number of clinical supervision appointments are reserved for therapists working with the domestic abuse charity Clean Slate (https://www.cleanslate.org.uk). These appointments are offered on a pro bono basis, with all fees paid by the therapist directly to the charity. This ensures those working in this complex field receive specialist clinical supervision, while simultaneously funding the charity's ability to support more people affected by domestic abuse.

- Support Through Court Guardianship

I work closely with Support Through Court, who provides vital support to people navigating the legal system without legal representation (litigants in person). As part of my role, a regular sum from my monthly income is donated to the charity to ensure that those who cannot afford a lawyer still have access to a fairer experience in the court system. My contribution is acknowledges on their website - https://supportthroughcourt.org/get-involved/individuals-and-the-legal-community/.


6. Responses to Frequently Asked Questions:

- How many sessions will I need?

This depends on what brings you to therapy, and what you are hoping to gain from the experience. I do not offer a fixed number of sessions; some choose to have a handful of sessions, whilst others benefit from longer term support. We’d make a collaborative plan at the start and review regularly.

- How often would sessions take place?

In most cases, appointments are fortnightly/biweekly initially. From my experience, this gives space between sessions to reflect and integrate the therapy into daily life, but we can review the frequency if your situation requires something different. Monthly or ad hoc appointments can be helpful on approaching ending therapy.

- Do you offer face to face appointments?

I offer online appointments only, via Google Meet.

- Where can I join online therapy from?

It is important you are somewhere comfortable, quiet and safe, where you will not be overheard or interrupted. You will need good access to wifi and your devices charged.

- For Couple or Family Therapy, do we need to be in the same place to attend therapy?

No, one advantage of online couple and family therapy is being able to support couples and family members to join therapy from different locations or even different parts of the world. Similarly, some clients find it convenient to attend therapy from a private location away from home, such as at work, for example. However, as much as this approach can be both practical and convenient, unless there are reasons why joining together for therapy is not possible, in most instances, I would recommend joining therapy from the same location, if at all possible.

- When do you offer appointments?

Regular appointments are available Tuesday to Thursday, predominantly during the day.

- Do you have a waiting time to start therapy?

As I offer both short and longer term therapy, waiting times can vary. Having a clear sense of your availability will help me to prioritise you for a suitable appointment time once this becomes available - the more flexibility you have, the sooner this is likely to be. Once you have had an initial appointment, my aim would be to offer ongoing therapy appointments without any subsequent delay.

- I’m not sure if I need Individual or Couple Therapy, what would you recommend?

We can use an initial individual appointment to decide together what would be most helpful. Sometimes it’s best to continue individually, other times to include your partner in couple sessions. I don’t provide individual and couple therapy simultaneously, but I can be flexible, and either offer occasional ad hoc individual appointments as part of couple therapy, or vice versa, occasional ad hoc couple appointments, as part of individual therapy, if this would feel helpful.

- What does Family Therapy and Mediation involve?

This depends on your situation, who is hoping to join therapy, and what you hope to gain from therapy. In most situations, I would meet with different members of the family, or subsystems within the family separately, as part of an assessment, in order to establish the most suitable course of action. I may meet with family members in different combinations throughout therapy and offer a mix of combined and individual appointments where appropriate. Please note I am not an accredited legal mediator, do not act as an expert witness or write court reports.

- Do you work with children and teenagers?

I am qualified to work with children, young people and adults of all ages. As I work entirely online these days, I tend to work directly with older teens or adults. For teenagers, under the age of 18, there would need to be some degree of parent/carer involvement in therapy - this could include, for example, a parent or carer attending part of an initial appointment/review appointments. I also work indirectly with children by helping parents to support their child/children.

- We are thinking of splitting up, is Couple Therapy for us?

Most couples seek therapy to improve their relationship, but sometimes one or both partners realise the relationship is ending and struggle with difficult conversations. In such cases, my role is neutral, supporting both partners. Couple therapy can help ensure you’ve done your best to resolve issues before ending the relationship. If separation occurs, therapy can support ending the relationship kindly and, where children are involved, help parents co-parent effectively through the transition.

- Does Systemic Psychotherapy always work?

Systemic Psychotherapy is evidence-based and recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for a wide range of difficulties. Relationships are complex, so therapy is not an exact science — sometimes things may feel harder before they improve. I take a collaborative and ethical approach, with safeguarding central, and if therapy doesn’t feel helpful we will discuss this openly and agree next steps. Systemic Psychotherapy usually works best when there is some degree of contact between those participating outside of sessions, so that therapy can be integrated into relationships outside therapy.

7. Practicalities

Clinic Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (predominantly daytime).

Format: All sessions are held online via Google Meet. This allows for flexibility and supports those choosing to join from different locations globally.

Frequency: Sessions are typically held fortnightly (bi-weekly). Clinically, this provides the necessary space to integrate insights from therapy into daily life.

Duration: There is no fixed number of sessions. The overall duration of therapy is uniquely tailored to your specific goals and is decided upon together.

Fees: Based on the type and format of the appointment (individual, couple, or family etc). A full fee schedule is available upon enquiry.

8. Next Steps

Enquiries: Please email admin@katherinecavallo.com with a brief summary of what brings you to therapy, the format sought (e.g., couple, family), and your general availability.

Process: I personally review all initial enquiries and aim to respond within 3–5 working days. Please check your spam/junk folder if you haven't heard from us within this timeframe. My PA then manages the logistics of registration and booking.

Consultation: The initial consultation is an opportunity to explore your situation and identify the most effective clinical pathway before we establish a plan for ongoing therapy.

I work with

• Children and young people
• Companies
• Couples
• Families
• Groups
• Individuals
• Private healthcare referrals

Special Interests

Like all UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors I can work with a wide range of issues, but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience.

Types of Therapies Offered

• Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
• Family Therapist
• Systemic Family and Couple Psychotherapist
• Systemic Psychotherapist

What I can help with

• Abuse
• ADHD
• Adoption
• Age-related Issues
• Anger Management
• Anorexia
• Anxiety
• Autism
• Bereavement
• Bullying
• Chronic Illness
• Couple Issues
• Depression
• Disability
• Divorce
• Domestic Violence
• Eating Disorders
• Employment Difficulties
• Family
• Gender
• Health-related Issues
• Identity Problems
• Infertility
• Mental Health Issues
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Online Counselling
• Parents
• Phobias
• Post-Traumatic Stress
• Relationships
• Separation
• Sex Problems
• Sexual Abuse
• Sexuality
• Step Families
• Stress
• Telephone Counselling
• Terminal Illness
• Transgender
• Trauma