Cath Edwards Biography

35 years in mental health

Cath has spent the last 45 years working in a variety of positions across all levels of Government and Not-for-Profit Organisations. She has managed large regional programs in Road Safety, Mental Health, and Community Safety, as well as held a portfolio of adult teaching roles within marginalised communities, including Indigenous, migrant, and correctional populations. Exposure to these roles has given Cath a deep understanding of mental health concerns and trauma at the community, family, and individual levels. She has witnessed the long-term negative impact of trauma on both physical and mental health, and its contribution to decreased health outcomes.

During her time working in acute, high-dependency, and community mental health settings, Cath ran weekly group programs with a special focus on recovery. She developed a deep understanding of the principle that “it’s what has happened to you” rather than “what is wrong with you” that needs to be the focus. Working in these groups was a powerful and humbling learning experience that reshaped her view of mental health.

More recently, Cath felt compelled to work in greater depth to support people suffering from trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress. After experiencing her own trauma while working in an acute mental health setting, she vowed to learn more about respectfully and safely reducing the impacts of trauma.

This led Cath to study Life Coaching, Executive Coaching, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Matrix Coaching, Passion and Purpose Coaching, NLP, and finally EMDR and EMIT—creating a new career path.

Cath was driven to create a calm, supportive space for clients to explore, understand, release, heal, and grow through their trauma. She now runs a thriving practice in the Blue Mountains, with special provisions for children and adolescents.

Although this was a new and challenging path, it has brought rewards both personally and professionally. Cath now has clarity and focus around her true passion: decreasing suffering for those with a dysregulated nervous system following trauma.

Cath is also an affiliated therapist with Cancer Wellness, a regional service providing physical, financial, and emotional support to clients experiencing cancer—and to their carers. This is an important part of her work, reflecting her commitment to increasing awareness of cancer’s traumatic impact on individuals and families.

She provides therapy (including some in-home sessions) for clients with Traumatic Brain Injury, Paraplegia, and Quadriplegia. Cath was part of a pilot program with I-Care for clients involved in catastrophic injuries from road trauma, and she is additionally affiliated with NDIS providers working with children, adolescents, and children with exceptional abilities.

Cath also facilitates women’s groups called All Mum’s Matter, supporting mothers who struggle with day-to-day challenges, and delivers Stress Management Programs to corporate, not-for-profit, and government organisations. Her journey of study is ongoing—she continually reviews the latest research and webinars to ensure best practice for her clients.

Throughout her career in coaching, education, and therapy, Cath has gained extensive experience working with the most challenging presentations of client distress and trauma. She also has experience with rarer medical conditions, including Neurological Functional Disorder, Regional Pain Syndrome, Aerophagia, Trichotillomania, Tics, PANDAS, and ARFID. Cath encourages treating psychiatrists, general practitioners, and specialist hospital teams to collaborate closely with her.

Trauma-Specific Training & Experience Level 4 EMIT/EMDR Practitioner and Trainer

Qualifications

  • Masters in Safety Promotion – Karolinska Institute (Sweden)

  • Graduate Diploma in Adult Education and Training

  • Diploma in Welfare

  • Diploma in Community Organisations and Development

  • Diploma in Life and Executive Coaching

  • Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy

  • Certificate IV (Business)

  • Certificate in Engineering Leadership

  • DISC Consultant and Trainer

  • Level 4 – Eye Movement Integration Therapy (EMIT)

  • Master Practitioner – Matrix Therapy

  • Passion and Purpose Coach

Advanced Study Majors

  • Biology of Trauma

  • Grief and Loss

  • PTSD and First Responders

  • Moral Trauma

  • PTSD and the COVID Pandemic

  • Conflict and Negotiation Skills

  • Cultural Diversity

Memberships & Registrations

  • ASCH (Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists)

  • Cancer Wellness – Nepean Blue Mountains

  • Registered for Private Health – Medibank Private

Other team member profiles:
Grahame Smith
Glen Hughes
Ken Schmidt
Linda Elsey