Meet Catherine Vasilopoulos, LCMHC

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hello, I’m Catherine Vasilopoulos. I’ve been working at Middle Path Counseling for the past 2-3 years. I hail from community mental health as a therapist and case manager for levels of need ranging from extremely to minimally impaired. I was born and raised in the upper midwest, with southern parents to boot, had imaginary friends as a kid, enjoyed playing in the snow and there sure was a lot of it where I lived! I learned how to entertain myself, talk on cassette tapes, play musical concerts for my “audience” using instruments I designed myself, like a shoe box with rubber bands, who hasn’t made a guitar like this at some point in their life? I’ve always taken the fun of childhood with me as an adult and have never really grown up, in my opinion! These days you can find me practicing the quiet life, slow living, enjoying the small things, running water, comfort, a grocery store nearby, I do like to occasionally play smooth jazz or bluegrass banjo music; sit with my birds; and make art out of refuse.

Why did you become a therapist?

I became interested early on in life as my father was a psychiatrist, I liked to read his books on the weekends, I also partook in my own therapy growing up as I did have some struggles, I appreciated the very unique space therapy provides, a place to challenge oneself, listen to the words coming out, try to make sense of the logic and meaning, explore and put words to emotions, it’s hard to find a space like this elsewhere, but honesty what drew me in to enrollment into my masters program was the picture on the program brochure, a picture of this very space, two people sitting together, the camera aimed toward whom was probably the practicing therapist, looking thoughtful and caring as they listened, their face drew me in as I wanted to have this face as well.

What do you consider your specialties?

Any level of depression or mood dysregulation / cycling, borderline personality disorder, anger, low self esteem, disruption to moving forward in life, perhaps it’s a life phase or stage that is hard to accept, adapting to loss, grief, or feeling unable to proceed in some way. I see all genders ages 16+ at this time.

What is it like to sit in your office with you? Tell us a bit about your approach to therapy.

Back in the day when I had a physical office clients have told me it feels comforting to be there, I enjoyed finding unique art pieces at thrift stores that encouraged tranquility, had several rock lamps on, I even had battery operated candles for those dark evenings we know so well in NH. Nowadays my office is via Telehealth, but don’t worry, I still have the rock lamps on! My approach is person centered / Rogerian and rather eclectic drawing from different theories and evidence based practices. Lately I’m partaking leisurely in a lengthy grief training and have some books of interest related to psychodynamics that I like to read here and there at a local coffee shop.

What is your favorite part about being a therapist?

I love spending time with people and have a natural curiosity about their take on life, what makes them them, what works and does not work in their opinion, and I’m pleased to have developed a base of skills and knowledge to get involved in a discussion about wellness, which may include improvement in areas, or perhaps harm reduction, sometimes people don’t even know where to begin, may not know what in particular is bothering them, and I enjoy the careful interview process that I must provide in order to glean what is important. I may have skills and knowledge yet we share the space as fellow human beings and I do not regard myself as separate, I have had my own struggles, still do at times, and I have sought therapy for myself as well, no shame in this, I appreciate affording any anti stigma in sessions as our culture is still working to embrace and accept mental health as a very necessary part of achieving overall wellness.

If you are interested in booking an appointment with Catherine you can click here or go to the "Book an Appointment" tab on the website!