Advice and support for clergy and their families

Catrin Thorp, the Bishop’s Advisor for Pastoral Care of the Clergy and their Families, is available to speak in absolute confidence with any member of clergy, their partner, and with any child living in the clergy household over the age of 16.

Catrin is a Jungian Analytical Psychotherapist and all meetings take place in her private consulting room in Kings Heath. Catrin does offer not therapy or counselling herself in her role as Bishop’s Advisor but she uses her training and wealth of experience to support and advise. Conversations with Catrin are never shared with the Bishop unless Catrin has been given explicit permission to do so.

Initial conversations might include themes such as feeling depressed or anxious, childhood trauma, relationship difficulties, bereavement, work stress, coping with a diagnosis/illness, issues around sexuality and identity, and managing transitional life events. However, it’s also important to recognise that not everyone has a specific reason for seeking support; it may ‘simply’ be in response to a feeling that all is not well.

One potential outcome of speaking with Catrin is a referral for counselling. Up to twelve sessions are offered and the cost of these are met by the Bishop – the only requirement from a client is to contribute an affordable sum of money towards the cost of each session.

All of the counsellors, psychotherapists and couples’ counsellors who are contracted by the diocese to work with members of clergy and their families are very well qualified and experienced, they are all registered with an appropriate professional body (such as BACP, BPC and UKCP), are insured and supervised, and have an openness to including the religious/spiritual beliefs of clients within the context of the psychological work undertaken.

You can contact Catrin as follows:

Cartrin Thorp
The Bishop’s Advisor for Pastoral Care of the Clergy and their Families
Click here to email

Catrin stresses that she is open to having conversations with anyone who wishes to talk about something in a confidential setting, whether that leads to a counselling referral or not.