Hi, I am Catherine

International Coach, Speaker and Unshakeable Optimist

Supporting YOU in Achieving what YOU want in Your Life

Helping you create a life you love

Despite suffering mood swings since the age of 12, Catherine was accepted to study Medicine at Sheffield University Medical School, but had to leave after 4 years due to 2 episodes of severe depression.

She was diagnosed with and began treatment for Bipolar Disorder at the age of 25.  She worked in the pharmaceutical industry in clinical research for over 25 years, as a project and programme manager for global clinical trials.

Since 2018, Catherine has overcome some incredible life challenges, including severe depression, losing both parents, and being diagnosed with breast cancer.  She has been able to navigate these challenges with a renewed mission to help others dealing with bipolar disorder.

To date, Catherine has lived with bipolar disorder for 49 years and during this time she has done extensive research into this condition. So she has the capability and experience to help others.

Currently, in the UK the average time that it takes for someone to get a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is 9.5 years - it is difficult to diagnose and it has to be done retrospectively.

However, Catherine believes this is completely unacceptable and one of her aims is to reduce this so people can get the help they need much sooner as this condition causes huge disruption to peoples’ lives – not only to the sufferer but also the friends and relatives.

I am deeply passionate about supporting people diagnosed with bipolar to find balance and thrive, and that is why I do this work.  I share my story so that you can know that you are not alone.  Please contact me here so that we can explore how I can support you

Move Beyond Bipolar

Coaching

Because You Matter – I coach and support you with bipolar disorder and also your relatives, friends and supporters.  I can help you learn to manage your emotions and minimise any stress and anxiety so you can move forwards and thrive, living a life filled with gratitude, balance and joy.

Speaking

Because You Deserve to be Heard – I speak about bipolar disorder on Mental Health First Aid Courses, videos, podcasts and webinars;

Below is a link to a video Jo Morton-Brown and I recorded for teenagers with a bipolar parent.

Testimonials

“I have been suffering for 8 years with my condition declining year on year to the point where for the year from Aug 2021 I was almost completely debilitated. Since meeting Catherine, my energy levels have improved significantly.

I now find I am in a position where I have a set of tools which are proven to me, and I can use on an as-needed basis to maintain the level which I have now reached.

I highly recommend Catherine and thank her sincerely for all she has done to make me feel ‘real’ again."

Read full testimonial >>

Rob,

Yateley,

Before working with Catherine, I was struggling with my recent diagnosis of having Bipolar after a very difficult year.  Talking to somebody else who has Bipolar and has been through the ups and downs, was incredibly helpful.

Through our work together I have gained a better understanding of the way to move forward with Bipolar, learn to live with it and recognise when I need help.  Self-care is extremely important and using relaxation techniques and the tapping technique to calm the mind.

Since working with Catherine I have been completing the daily excel spreadsheet to record how I am feeling, the medication I am taking, things I am grateful for and what events have happened each day. This will help me to track my mood and recognise when things are changing. I feel more confident going forward with what is a very scary diagnosis.

ET

Hampshire, UK.

We had the pleasure to have Catherine as a guest in our courses. The learners were captivated by her amazing abilities as a speaker and we all have appreciated her warm character and strength to overcome her life challenges. Furthermore, she offered an unforgettable and very professional lecture to our students.

Thank you

Nuno Madeira

During a recent two-day First Aid for Mental Health Awareness course in Newcastle, I had the privilege to invite Catherine to speak to the delegates on the course. Catherine talked about her experience of living with Bipolar disorder which really helped to make sense of this complex condition. She also told us about how post-traumatic stress had impacted on her life and it was so interesting to hear a real account of this.  Catherine was keen to accept questions from the delegates and it was great to see the way they engaged with her. From the perspective of the delegates, I know that they appreciated being able to meet Catherine and it made the final day of the course for them. 

I would thoroughly recommend booking Catherine to talk about her mental health experiences and I will certainly be keen to work with her again.

Sue Hodges

First Aid for Mental Health Instructor

It was lovely to connect and create a video together for the Flourish YouTube channel, educating teenagers in mental illness.

I couldn’t ever have covered an illness like bipolar without your experience.  

Thank you.

weareflourish.co.uk

Jo Morton-Brown,

Emotional Health Practitioner, Flourish

“I didn’t realise that my son was struggling with bipolar so when he told me the symptoms had come back (he’s in college) probably due to the stress of higher education and pressure I couldn’t see how to help him work through thinks or how to talk to him. 

Catherine has a way of sharing and being open about her experience.  She gave me awareness – the difficult times and good times, what support I could give him.  I went from feeling helpless and hopeless to feeling “we can do this” – part of his team, helping him understand himself. Medical and emotional, spiritual – Catherine is showing how altogether you can have a happy, good life and still manage things. 

There is hope and things we can do.

D.P.

Illinois, USA

"We all need someone who understands the challenges we face sometimes in our lives. I met that person, Catherine, after a chance conversation with a close friend. Lao Tzu suggested, 'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.'

Catherine helped me to take mine in a professional, supportive and insightful way.

Her counsel has been invaluable and I highly recommend her to you."

GTH

Stafford, UK.
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Catherine Stratta

Catherine Stratta

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Catherine Stratta
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