Hi, I’m Dr. Catherine T. Revak, DSW, LCSW—but please, call me Cate. My path to becoming a therapist wasn’t a traditional one, and I’m grateful for where it led me. I served in the United States Air Force and spent 15 years in the financial services industry. While those roles may seem far removed from social work, they taught me how to build genuine connections, navigate difficult conversations, and show up for people when it matters most. Eventually, I felt called to make a change. I returned to school as an adult undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, where I studied Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. That time helped me reflect on my own experiences and deepened my understanding of how we relate to ourselves and others. I stayed at Penn for both my master’s and doctoral work, focusing on veterans’ mental health, grief, loss, and bereavement. My time at the Michael C. Crescenz VA and Hospice Care taught me the power of a quiet presence and how healing often begins in the smallest, most human moments. I focus on creating a space where you feel safe, seen, and supported. I draw from psychodynamic, narrative, and trauma-informed approaches, but at the heart of my work is a belief in the power of relationship. Whether you’re navigating loss, transition, or uncertainty, I’m here to walk alongside you as you find your way toward clarity, connection, and healing.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, I’ll start by introducing myself and explaining how I can support you through your grief. We’ll gently explore your experience, including what you’ve been feeling and what this loss has been like for you. Together, we’ll identify what you may want or need from therapy, set meaningful goals, and talk through helpful information about the grieving process. From there, we’ll begin shaping a plan that feels supportive and manageable for you. We’ll end the session by reviewing what we’ve discussed and making sure you feel grounded and supported before you leave.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My life and professional experiences shape the way I support clients in grief therapy. Having served in the military, I understand resilience, trauma, and the challenges that come with profound life experiences. My work in the financial services industry honed my ability to navigate complex systems with clarity, and my experience in hospice gave me direct insight into loss, end-of-life care, and the deep emotions grief can bring. These experiences allow me to provide a compassionate, understanding space where you can feel heard, supported, and guided as you navigate your own journey through loss and healing.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I help those who are navigating a significant loss — the death of a loved one, a miscarriage, abortion, divorce, estrangement, or a major life transition. I find that clients often feel overwhelmed, isolated, or stuck, and unsure how to move forward. What they’re really looking for is a safe, compassionate space where they can be seen and supported without pressure to "move on." Clients want help making sense of their experience, learning how to carry it, and finding meaning again. They're not seeking to forget, but to honor what they’ve lost while building a life that still feels worth living. My work is deeply influenced by my time as a hospice social worker. Now, I support people through all types of loss—death, divorce, miscarriage, rejection—across every stage of life. Grief is deeply personal, confusing and often misunderstood. I offer a space for healing, where loss can be acknowledged, integrated, and carried with compassion.
Compassion Focused
Compassion-Focused Therapy supports people in grief by easing self-criticism and fostering a kinder, more supportive inner voice. Grounding and soothing practices help make intense emotions more manageable and create a sense of emotional safety. This approach encourages gentle acceptance and connection, allowing grief to be carried with greater resilience and self-compassion.
Grief Therapy
Grief therapy offers a steady, supportive space to explore the full range of emotions that accompany loss. It helps you make sense of what’s changed, adjust to life after loss, and find meaningful ways to stay connected to what or whom you’ve lost. Over time, this work can support healing with greater clarity, resilience, and emotional steadiness.
Humanistic
A humanistic approach supports grief by centering your lived experience and honoring your individual pace of healing. It offers a nonjudgmental, empathic space where you can feel fully heard as you make sense of loss. By emphasizing personal meaning and inner strengths, it supports reconnection with hope, identity, and growth over time.