Cathie O'Rourke, AASW

Cathie O'Rourke is a social worker with a long track record supporting families and foster parents, bringing both breadth and depth to child and family counselling. Her background includes more than 20 years working in social work roles and 14 years focused specifically on child and family counselling, and she also holds a degree in Behavioural Science (Psychology), which supports a grounded understanding of behaviour and emotional wellbeing.

She practices from a stance of respect, empathy, and active listening, offering practical, tailored strategies designed to strengthen relationships and build emotional resilience. Cathie works with people across the life span, including children and adolescents, and addresses concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, family conflict, divorce and separation, grief and loss, parenting challenges, motivation, and self-esteem.

Cathie has additional clinical focus on adoption and foster care, attachment issues, blended family dynamics, communication difficulties, family of origin matters, guilt and shame, isolation and loneliness, money and financial concerns, Seasonal Affective Disorder, self-harm, self-love, and issues facing young adults. Her approach recognises that each person and family is unique, and she adapts strategies to fit individual values and goals. As a holder of the AASW credential - indicating membership in the Australian Association of Social Workers - Cathie blends practical guidance with professional social work experience to support lasting change.