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 each chapter of my life has shaped how I show up for clients today. I served in the United States Air Force and spent many years in the financial services industry, experiences that taught me how to navigate complexity, hold difficult conversations, and remain present during times of stress and uncertainty. I later returned to school at the University of Pennsylvania, where I studied Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, and completed both my master’s and doctoral degrees in social work. My clinical training focused on veterans’ mental health, grief, loss, and bereavement. My time working at the VA and in hospice care deeply influenced my approach to therapy, reinforcing the importance of compassion, attunement, and the healing power of being truly witnessed. In therapy, I strive to create 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 the therapeutic relationship itself. Whether you are navigating grief, transition, or uncertainty, I walk alongside you as you find meaning, connection, and a way forward that honors your experience.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Our first session is gentle, grounded, and focused on understanding your experience. I’ll introduce myself, explain how I approach grief therapy, and invite you to share what this loss has been like for you. We’ll explore what you’ve been feeling, what support you’re hoping for, and what feels most important right now. Together, we’ll begin identifying goals and talking through helpful information about the grieving process, always at a pace that feels manageable. Before the session ends, we’ll review what we discussed and make sure you feel supported and grounded as you leave.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My work is shaped by both lived and professional experience. Having served in the military, I understand resilience, trauma, and the lasting impact of profound life events. My background in finance strengthened my ability to bring clarity and steadiness to complex situations, while my hospice work gave me deep insight into loss, end-of-life care, and the emotional weight grief carries. These experiences allow me to offer a compassionate, steady presence where you don’t have to explain or minimize your pain. I support clients with warmth, honesty, and deep respect as they navigate loss and begin integrating it into their lives.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I work with individuals navigating significant loss, including the death of a loved one, miscarriage, abortion, divorce, estrangement, or major life transitions. Many clients feel overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure how to move forward, and they’re often seeking a space where there is no pressure to “move on.” My clients aren’t trying to forget what they’ve lost—they’re looking to understand it, carry it, and find meaning again. I support people across the lifespan as they honor their grief and build a life that still feels connected, purposeful, and worth living.
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.