Individual & Couples Counseling
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What to Expect:
Therapy at Growing Well Counseling
If you're looking for a general therapist, I may not be the right fit—and that's okay.
Growing Well Counseling is a highly specialized practice focused exclusively on reproductive mental health. Rather than trying to treat everything, I've intentionally built my practice around the life transitions I know best.
I work with individuals and couples navigating:
Preparing for pregnancy and parenthood
Fertility and infertility
Pregnancy options and reproductive decision-making
Pregnancy, infant, and reproductive loss
Birth trauma
Perinatal anxiety, depression, OCD, and trauma
Identity changes in parenthood
Returning to work after a baby
Relationships, intimacy, and sexual wellness
Work-life integration and caregiver burnout
The emotional complexities of growing a family
If these experiences resonate with why you're seeking therapy, there's a good chance we'll be a great fit.
Getting Started
Our work begins with an initial evaluation to understand your story, your goals, and what support would be most helpful.
Once we've scheduled your first appointment, you'll receive intake paperwork, informed consent documents, and appointment information electronically through Sessions Health, my secure HIPAA-compliant client portal. The portal also provides telehealth links, appointment reminders, billing, insurance claims, and secure messaging.
Please complete all paperwork at least 24 hours before your first appointment so I have time to thoughtfully review your information before we meet.
If we're meeting virtually, you'll simply click your secure telehealth link at the time of your appointment, and I'll meet you there.
If we're meeting in person, you're invited to settle in and make yourself comfortable when you arrive. You're welcome to feed your baby, bring your coffee, wear leggings, cry, laugh, or simply take a deep breath. This is a space where you don't have to have it all together.
Sessions are approximately 55 minutes long. At the end of our first meeting, we'll decide together on a treatment plan and a schedule that best supports your goals, adjusting along the way as your needs evolve.
Attendance & Cancellations
Life happens—I understand that. If you need to cancel or reschedule, I ask that you provide at least 24 hours' notice whenever possible.
Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice, or missed without notice, are subject to a $75 late cancellation/no-show fee. Insurance companies do not reimburse missed appointments, which is why this fee applies.
If you or your child becomes ill, telehealth is often an excellent alternative, and I'm happy to switch your appointment when clinically appropriate.
If you're running late, I'll do my best to make the most of our remaining time. Sessions still end at their scheduled time out of respect for other clients. If I haven't heard from you, I'll reach out a few minutes after your appointment begins. After approximately 15 minutes without contact, the appointment will be considered a no-show.
Repeated missed appointments or prolonged periods without contact may result in discharge from care so that appointment times remain available for clients who are actively engaged in treatment.
If I ever need to cancel your appointment, I'll make every effort to reschedule you as soon as possible and prioritize finding another time that works for you.
Communication Between Sessions
If you need to reach me between appointments, you're welcome to leave a voicemail or send a non-urgent text regarding scheduling or appointment logistics. I make every effort to return calls within one business day.
Please note that text messaging should not be used for clinical conversations or emergencies, as I do not continuously monitor my phone.
If you're experiencing a mental health emergency or believe you're at immediate risk of harming yourself or someone else, please call 911, go to your nearest emergency department, or contact 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Questions or Concerns
Therapy works best when there's open and honest communication. If something isn't feeling helpful, I hope you'll tell me. Your feedback is welcome, and together we'll decide whether adjustments to our work would be beneficial.
You always have the right to ask questions about therapy, my approach, or my training and experience. You also have the right to end therapy at any time.
Likewise, if I believe your needs would be better served by another provider or level of care, I'll discuss that openly with you and help connect you with appropriate resources whenever possible.
My goal is to provide compassionate, ethical, evidence-informed care in a space where every client is treated with dignity, respect, and without discrimination.
Current Clients:
To reschedule an appointment, email or text me directly:
Catharine McDonald, LPC: Hello@Growingwellcounseling.com or (860) 837-0204
For billing & financial questions, contact our Practice Manager:
Amie Lugo billing@growingwellcounseling.com or (860) 222-2042
Complete a Release of Information Here if you want me to communicate with other providers, or if I have requested collaboration with someone on your healthcare team.