What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 9am - 6pm Thursday 9am - 6pm Friday 9am - 6pm

Carmel Catanuto Psychotherapy

Home
Australia
Sydney, NSW
Carmel Catanuto Psychotherapy

Call Directions Website Contact the business

Carmel Catanuto, Psychotherapist Counsellor - Canterbury, St George area My main approach is Gestalt Therapy. What is Art Therapy?..and what can it do for you?

Gestalt is a holistic and experiential therapy that focuses on deepening your awareness by focusing on your present experience, including your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and behaviours. The therapeutic relationship is foundational to Gestalt therapy, as is through relationships with me where growth and healing occur. It is through your relationships that you define how you feel about yourself and how you want to be now and in your future. Art Therapy is a creative way of combining therapeutic theory and art processes to explore and resolve issues such as self-esteem, making better choices, and reducing the stress in your life. Art therapy helps to bring insights and understanding when there is no clarity. It will address why you are feeling and behaving in particular ways that don’t work. Art therapy is a useful tool when used in conjuction with Gestalt therapy. If you resonate with me and my approach, contact me for a free, no-obligation, 15-minute phone call. You can tell me your problems and I will let you know how I can help. Phone for an appointment on m. 0409 690 701.

03/11/2026

Have you ever wondered if healing is about more than just what you talk about in therapy.

Sometimes, healing comes simply from being truly listened to. It can happen when you
don’t feel pressured to explain yourself perfectly.

Or when silence feels comfortable
instead of awkward. And when you’re able to share your feelings without worrying about being judged.

In Gestalt therapy, the relationship between you and your therapist is an important part
of healing.

Sometimes, just being truly seen and heard can make a big difference.

“Healing happens in connection.”

Therapy isn’t just about techniques, advice, or finding solutions. It’s also about having a
relationship where you feel heard, accepted, and understood.

In Gestalt therapy, moments of real connection can help you understand yourself more
deeply.

Have you ever felt the relief that comes from being truly understood?

29/10/2026

Trust starts with Self-Awareness.

How do you build trust? Start by simply noticing.

When we’re unsure about a decision, we look outward and reach for other people’s opinions.

There’s nothing wrong with that, but we might start to doubt our own feelings and overthink the answer.

But building self-trust can start with simply being aware.

Noticing when your body feels tense.
Recognising when something doesn’t sit comfortably.

Or noticing what helps you feel grounded.
In Gestalt therapy, we look at these experiences with curiosity instead of judging them.

Because the more we understand ourselves, the more choices become available to us.

Self-awareness creates space for choice.
Self-trust doesn’t happen overnight.

We build it slowly as we learn to notice our feelings, needs, and reactions.

Paying attention to our bodies helps us notice what is going on underneath our thoughts.

Sometimes, this awareness gives us the room we need to make choices that feel right
for us.

Be patient with yourself. Small moments of awareness matter.

27/10/2026

A Simple 30-Second Body Check-In.

“When was the last time you checked in with your body?”

Let’s do a simple body check-in.

If you feel comfortable, notice your feet on the floor.

Notice how the chair supports you.
Now, focus on your breathing.
You don’t have to change anything.
Pay attention to your shoulders, stomach, and jaw.
Are you holding any tension? Do you feel warmth, pressure, or maybe a sense of ease?

There’s nothing you need to fix.
Just observe what you feel.
“Sometimes, slowing down helps us reconnect with ourselves.”

We often spend so much time thinking, planning, and doing that we lose touch with how we really feel.

A quick body check-in can help bring your attention back to the present moment.

Try this once a day, or whenever it comes to mind.

There’s no right or wrong way to notice your body.

If focusing on your body feels uncomfortable, just notice something around you instead.

Save this Reel for when you need a moment to slow down

27/10/2026

Gestalt Therapy and Present Moment Awareness.

Gestalt therapy pays attention to what is happening right now. It’s not only about the story you share.

It’s also about how you feel and what you notice as you talk.

If your shoulders relax or drop, we pay attention to that.
If your breathing changes, we pause to notice it.
If you begin to feel something, we stay open and curious.
When you become aware, you have more choices.

You might begin to notice things such as:
patterns in your thoughts or behaviors,
ways you protect yourself,
and times when you feel disconnected from yourself.

Therapy isn’t about being “fixed.” It’s about reconnecting with yourself right now.

Healing often starts with noticing what’s happening inside you at this moment.
Gestalt therapy helps you notice your thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and relationship patterns as they happen.

The present moment can be a powerful place for healing and change.

22/10/2026

Your Body Doesn’t Use Words.

“Your body doesn’t speak in words. So how do you know what it’s telling you?”

Your body communicates through sensations.
You might notice a tight stomach, shallow breathing, tense shoulders, or warmth in your
chest.

There’s something important to remember.
A tight stomach doesn’t always mean anxiety.
It could be excitement, fear, anger or even hunger.

Instead of quickly trying to explain what you feel, try being curious about it.

Get curious and ask yourself. What’s happening around me, or what was happening just
before I noticed this sensation?

Sometimes, curiosity helps us learn more than overthinking.

Not every uncomfortable sensation means something is wrong.

Our bodies send signals in many ways, and the same feeling can mean different things
depending on what’s happening.

Somatic awareness isn’t about analysing every feeling you have.

It’s about noticing what’s going on with curiosity instead of judgment.

Your body is sharing information with you. Give yourself time to understand it.

20/10/2026

When You Say Yes, But Your Body Says No.

“Have you ever said YES when every part of you wanted to say NO?”

“Have you ever agreed to something and immediately felt uncomfortable?

Maybe your stomach felt tight, your shoulders got tense, or you noticed a heaviness in your chest.

Sometimes our bodies react before we even know what we’re feeling.

If this happens again, try pausing and getting curious about it.

Ask yourself,
‘What am I noticing in my body right now?’

Taking a moment to notice can help you figure out what you truly need.

Do you listen to your body?

You’re in a social situation, and you’ve said yes when you want to say no. Does that sound
familiar?

At the time,, you focused on the other person; picked up on their needs, and not your own, so
you wouldn’t disappoint them.

Raising somatic awareness is a practice, and it’s worth it, to slow down and notice your own
experience before responding.

You get to know yourself better and support your own growth in awareness.

15/10/2026

When you notice anxiety, try changing just one sentence.

Instead of saying:
“I am anxious,”

try saying:
“Something in me feels anxious.”

This gentle change comes from Inner Relationship Focusing, a method taught by Ann
Weiser Cornell.

It’s a reminder that anxiety is just one part of your experience, not your whole identity.

You might then ask:
“What does this anxious part want me to know?”
You don’t have to force an answer. Stay curious and give yourself time.

Sometimes your body just needs to feel heard before things become clearer.

Remember, you are more than any feeling you’re having right now.

Focusing is a gentle way to listen to your body’s felt sense, which is that vague, overall feeling you might have about something.

When you say “something in me feels…,” it can help you step back from the emotion.

With that bit of space, it often gets easier to respond with kindness and curiosity.

If strong emotions or sensations ever feel too much, a therapist can help you explore them in a safe way.

15/10/2026

Therapy is more than just talking.

It is not only about talking through your problems.
Sometimes your body shows what you feel before you can put it into words.

Maybe your heart starts to race.
Your shoulders might tense up.
Or you might feel a heaviness in your chest.

Your body can hold on to experiences, even when it is hard to talk about them.

Creative therapy can use different approaches, such as
art,
movement,
body awareness,
and imagination
to help you express what is going on inside.

You do not need to be creative or good at art. Healing comes from the process itself,
not from the finished product.

Sometimes, awareness starts when you stop trying to explain everything and begin to notice what your body is holding. Creative therapy can help you connect with emotions, patterns, and experiences that are hard to put into words.

Healing is not just about your thoughts. It also involves your feelings, your relationships, and your body.

13/10/2026

Your body senses a boundary before your mind does.

Imagine someone invites you to an event.
You hear yourself say yes, but then your throat tightens, your stomach drops, and your
voice falters.

One part of you might want to make them happy, but another part needs rest or some
time alone.

Before you automatically say yes, take a moment to notice how you feel.

You could say:
“Let me think about it and get back to you.”

Paying attention to your body can help you notice your limits and share what feels right for you.

Taking a pause gives you space to answer honestly. Sometimes we try to please others so quickly that we agree before checking what we
really want.

Your body might give you early signs, like feeling tense, holding your breath, pulling back, or just feeling uncomfortable.

These feelings might not give you an answer right away, but they can remind you to pause, think, and choose more thoughtfully.

08/10/2026

Try this gentle body check-in.

Pause for a moment and feel your feet resting on the floor.

Notice the chair supporting you.

Without changing your breathing, simply notice its natural rhythm.

Now gently scan your body.

What do you notice? Sensations like tightness, warmth, flutter or relaxation.

Describe the sensation without a label such as anxious;

“My chest is tight.”
“There’s a flutter in my .”

Sometimes naming sensations and staying with them lets them be there without changing them, and what may naturally happen is that, once you acknowledge the sensation, it changes.

You allow and validate yourself.

What is asking for your attention?

A body check-in is not about making yourself relax. It is a chance to slow down and notice what is already there.

You might notice tension, ease, discomfort, or nothing at all. Every response is welcome.
If turning inward feels overwhelming, stop the exercise and reconnect with your surroundings.

Address

Suite 2, 1A Torwood Street, Sans Souci
Sydney, NSW
2219

Opening Hours

Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm

Telephone

+61409690701

Website

https://carmelcatanuto-psychotherapy.com.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Carmel Catanuto Psychotherapy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.