Cathy Sullivan-Windt

Psychologist  (Ph.D.) & Owner – Offering in-person & virtual therapy

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hi, I’m Cathy. I’m a licensed counseling psychologist with almost 20 years experience providing individual psychotherapy to adults in the Baltimore area. I have experience working with a diverse group of clients with respect to gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation and presenting concerns. I am insured and licensed in the state of Maryland.

Why I’m a therapist

I became a therapist because of my natural curiosity to understand. After traveling extensively in my young adulthood, I recognized that in large part what I was seeking was connection with people different from me. I chose psychology because I enjoy connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and beliefs, hearing their stories, tuning into their emotions, and understanding who they are and who they hope to be.

Why I love being a therapist

I love being a psychologist because I’m drawn to emotions and am passionate about using my emotional attunement to help people. The stressed-out professional, the mother of three, the 20-something looking for companionship – we all go through trying times when we need additional insight and support.

I get to help people who feel like they don’t have anyone they can trust. Some people are even uncomfortable talking to the people they do trust, about certain topics. It’s an honor to partner with clients as they grow and rediscover their passion for life. I believe in the power of therapy. Client after client have come through my office and I have watched them rediscover peace, joy, and a sense of purpose.

My specialties

I specialize in the following areas:

• Women’s counseling
• Anxiety treatment
• Sexual assault recovery – I am particularly passionate about helping survivors of sexual violence (child sexual abuse, rape or sexual assault) find healing, meaning, and move forward.
• Life transitions (“quarter life crisis”, career changes, starting a family, ‘coming out’, moving to Baltimore, changes post-divorce etc.). Generally, I enjoy working with college students and young professionals trying to find who they are and how they fit into the world around them.
• Relationship issues (difficulty saying “no” to others, making friends as an adult)

My therapeutic style

As an individual and as a therapist I aim to be transparent, collaborative, humorous, compassionate, and empowering. I understand the magnitude of trust and vulnerability that it takes to attend therapy. I believe in allowing my clients to see parts of my humanity and in creating a safe environment to help them feel like they are not alone in their struggles. I believe a caring and respectful relationship is a core aspect of the healing process. I offer support that is compassionate, direct, and powerful.

My goal is to help people feeling overwhelmed by life stressors and the idea of change to get unstuck so they can be the best version of themselves and ready to face whatever is ahead. I effectively help individuals gain an understanding about themselves in order to navigate the muddy waters of life. I guide clients in gaining insight into past and present patterns so they can grow and build new futures in which they will feel peace, clarity, joy, and hope. In therapy, my clients find a supportive space to learn and practice new tools and skills.

Education and experience

I obtained a B.A. from Boston College, an M.A. and Ed.M. in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University Teachers College and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park. As a graduate student, I conducted research on psychotherapy process (i.e., what happens in therapy) and outcome (i.e., changes that happen at the end of therapy), as well as therapist development and I have published articles on these topics. I have also taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in counseling theories and skills at the University of Maryland, College Park and Stevenson University.

Another area of focus in both my research and clinical work has been long-term intimate relationships. I am interested in the transitions and stressors that occur in such relationships — particularly the period of time around the birth of the first child. Both my thesis and doctoral dissertation research looked at new mothers and issues that arise in women’s intimate relationships during the transition to parenthood.

I completed my pre-doctoral internship at Springfield Hospital Center and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt. I also spent four years as a Staff Psychologist and Coordinator of Sexual Assault Services at the Towson University Counseling Center.

Over the past 20 years I have sought out trainings on trauma, anxiety, LGBTQ issues, self-harm, eating disorders, substance abuse and many other mental health concerns. I have received significant training in evidence-based techniques including dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment therapy.

More about me

As a business owner and Baltimore therapist, I understand the many stressors of balancing work and home life with taking care of yourself and those you love. I also understand the importance of working toward a healthy life-work balance.

In my free time I enjoy spending time in nature, biking, traveling, reading and spending time with my family and friends. No matter what I’m doing, I truly enjoy getting to know people on a deeper level. Although I have lived in lots of other cities, I have been in Baltimore MD for 15 years and my roots are firmly planted here.