Experience
DR CATE HOWELL MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND WELLBEING (or Dr Cate’s MHE&W), provides education (workshops and training), speaking, writing, coaching & supervision.
With over 30 years of training and experience in the health area, and a passion for mental health and wellbeing, the aim is to share knowledge and practical tools with professionals, organisations, the community and individuals.
Please join me at the various face-to-face or online workshops and training, or feel free to contact me with requests related for tailored education, training or coaching.
You might also like to look at the various blogs and books, or join the public facebook page/group (Dr Cate Howell) for positive thoughts and ideas.
Dr Cate’s Background
I have been around for a few years, and studied and worked for many of them!
- Having begun my career as an Occupational Therapist, I then went back to medical studies and became a general practitioner (GP). Training in various forms of psychotherapy followed.
- I worked in community and University medical practices and as a Defence GP, usually with a mental health focus.
- My studies involved a number of tertiary courses including a Bachelor in Applied Science (Occupational Therapy), a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, a Masters in Health Service Management and a Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine).
- I also have a Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis, and trained in Couple Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Interpersonal Therapy and Life Coaching. I am also a Mental Health First Aid Instructor.
- There have been a number of roles in undergraduate and post-graduate education, and I am still actively involved in these areas.
- I have been involved in academic and research work during my career, and maintain an involvement in various projects. My research findings have been published in academic journals.
- I have been fortunate enough to receive a number of awards including the Graham Wicks Prize during Hypnotherapy training, a Conspicuous Service Medal (RAAF 1992) and a year 2000 Churchill Fellowship. And in 2012 I was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to medicine particularly mental health, and professional organisations.
Media
- Interview on Fresh FM – 4th June 2021
- The Space from Nova Entertainment – 28th April 2021
- Use your nervous energy – 5th February 2021
- Running to the core podcast – 26th Sept 2023https://thepregnancycentre.libsyn.com/episode-54-the-flourishing-woman-a-mental-health-and-wellbeing-guide-with-dr-cate-howell
- Nine to Noon on Radio NZ – 3rd Oct 2023 https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018909494/why-women-put-themselves-last-and-why-they-shouldn-t
- An article on ‘The Flourishing Woman’ – 3rd Oct 2023 https://www.festival.nz/article/interview-dr-cate-howell/
Education
Dr Cate’s MHE&W provides education on mental health and wellbeing for students, graduates, organisations and the community, and aims to provide clear and accessible information, through engaging, interactive and enjoyable sessions.
I wear a number of education hats, including being an external Medical Education Consultant to Australian Medical Placements Health Education and Training (AMPHEaT) and AOGP Serving Health Professionals; and various academic roles with Torrens University and Tabor College. Over the years I have had the opportunity to give talks on various mental health and wellbeing topics across Australia, in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan.
View Workshops
Online Programs
- The first, on coping with COVID-19 in terms of managing the associated stress and anxiety, was launched during 2020.
- A new program on finding peace and calm in challenging times is also available.
- Several online programs for GPs wanting ‘Mental Health Skills Training’ and ‘Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training’ are currently being developed.
Coaching
Many people can benefit from coaching, including health professionals or those involved in business, organisations or the community. The aims of coaching range from helping the person to find their direction or purpose in life to achieve particular goals. It often involves ways to improve mental health and wellbeing, and may be about having a sense of ‘living your best life’.
My coaching style is supportive and practical, and I also bring experience as a therapist to this work. Many of the different types of therapy (for example, Cognitive Behaviour therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) have been adapted to coaching. Incorporating these approaches gives depth to the coaching.
Find out more
Books
The author of six published books now, and with more on the way, this is one of the ways I spread the word on mental health and wellbeing more widely, and also satisfy my passion for writing!
The latest book on men’s mental health, ‘The Changing Man: A mental health guide’, was published in November 2020.
Previous books include a counselling text called ‘Listening, Learning, Caring and Counselling’, written as a guide for health professionals and counsellors on caring for their clients; and books covering topics such as Depression, Stress and Anxiety, and Intuition.
You might like to check out the e-books. Several are available for free on the website, and a larger one called ‘Emotional Eating: Learn to be free A guide to living well and soothing yourself in ways other than food’, is also available. It answers common questions about emotional eating, and provides many practical tools to assist in overcoming it.
View Products