Catalina Tunariu

Email: catalina@thetherapyspace.co

Do you hear it? That internal narrator or feeling you get that stops you in your tracks? It may sound something like:

• What if ___.
• I should/Should have ____.
• I can’t/I don’t deserve____.
• I can’t/I’m not good enough to____.

These are your alarm bells telling you that you’re in the danger zone. But are you really?

It seems you've reached a point where you can no longer ignore the sense that something is off, wrong, or in need of a change that feels overwhelming. Whether this moment came from a difficult life experience, a choice you're struggling with, or the encouragement of someone close to you, I understand that you're feeling scared, exhausted, and uncertain—but I’m glad you’ve taken this step.

Like many clients, you’re not broken or damaged, you’re just stuck! Stuck in patterns that were once useful or life-saving; maybe it’s time to check if they’re still serving you.

Some common ways to get stuck include:

• “If you’re going to do something, do it right”: You believe everything you do must be perfect, so you don’t make progress because you’re consumed with gathering every bit of information, analyzing all options, and double- or triple-checking if you’ve crossed your t’s and dotted your i’s. The thought of making a mistake-or worse, someone noticing it- is absolutely terrifying. You can’t imagine how you’d handle the shame or criticism that might follow, so you stick to the familiar patterns that helped you avoid mistakes in the past.
• “Better safe than sorry”: You find yourself constantly thinking about what could go wrong, and with each imagined scenario, you get trapped trying to solve it. Then you think of a new potential problem and the cycle starts again. So, the fear of these possibilities become reality leads you to hesitate or abandon your original plan.
• “I’m a loser”: You know the direction you want to go or the decision you need to make, but years of criticism have convinced you that you're not good enough. Instead of moving forward, you compare yourself to others, dwell on your past failures, and conclude that success is out of reach for you.

If any of these patterns sound familiar, I’m glad you’re here! Many of my clients struggle with these same patterns and alarm bells. So, trust that desire for change or the advice of your loved one, and let’s work through this together! I believe that we all have the strengths and resources to reach our goals and desired destinations, we sometimes just lose sight of them. That’s why I am dedicated to helping clients rediscover their strengths and hope to do the same for you.

My specialties lie in helping individuals break free from unproductive patterns of thinking and behaving but you are the expert on you, so how we achieve that is a joint effort. Each therapeutic journey is unique and there is no one-size-fits all in therapy. That’s why I take a flexible approach, focusing on what you’re looking to achieve in our sessions. Then, we’ll work together to explore what resonates with you and find ways to make meaningful progress that aligns with your goals.

We’ll start by exploring where you want to go and how your thoughts, feelings, and experiences may be holding you back. This usually helps you recognize that you did the best you could with what you had. With this unfamiliar compassion and understanding of yourself, you realize that you deserve a break from all that self-criticism. From there, we’ll build on the strategies that are already working and create new tools and patterns. This may involve facing fears, taking risks, or confronting the very things your inner alarms have been warning you about. While it may sound straightforward, this can be challenging and sometimes scary work—and it’s also the path to finally living the life you want and deserve.

Finding a therapist can be intimidating and overwhelming, so take a moment to acknowledge the courage it took to reach this point! Let me help make the next step easier. Book a free phone consultation, and let’s start building a connection!

If you think we would be a good fit, please contact me at catalina@thetherapyspace.co to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation! I look forward to meeting you.