We recently had the chance to connect with Catherine Baxter and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Catherine, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
Almost everyone is trying to get it ‘right’—and it takes a really long time to fully understand that we all get to decide what that means for each of us.
As a therapist, what’s surprised me most is how universal that feeling is. Whether someone walks into my office with anxiety, relationship struggles, or a sense of being stuck, there’s usually an underlying pressure to get life right. We’re all quietly measuring ourselves against expectations—what we think we should be doing, feeling, or achieving.
Over time, I’ve learned that the real work isn’t about finding the “right” way—it’s about realizing that you get to define what right means for your own life. When people start to let go of outside expectations and listen to what actually feels meaningful and peaceful for them, something shifts. There’s more room for self-compassion, more freedom, and often, more joy. Getting to witness that shift in my clients–watching them move from striving to self-trust–is one of the most beautiful and rewarding parts of my work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a therapist and the owner of a small, compassionate practice here in Atlanta, where I lead a team of two incredible clinicians. Together, we take a collaborative and down-to-earth approach to therapy—helping people strengthen their relationships, care for themselves, and navigate the many transitions that come with being human. Our goal is to create a space where people feel seen, supported, and encouraged to grow at their own pace.
In addition to my practice, I’ve been deeply involved in the Atlanta group therapy community. I’ve served on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Group Psychotherapy Society for the past six years and am honored to currently serve as President. I’m especially passionate about the power of groups to create connection and healing, and I facilitate a bi-weekly process group for women who experience anxiety in relationships—a space where vulnerability and insight meet real, meaningful change.
On a personal note, life outside of work is beautifully full. I remarried in October 2024, and together my husband and I are raising three energetic boys—ages 8, 10, and 12—and are excitedly expecting a baby girl in December. Like many of my clients, I’m learning daily about balance, flexibility, and grace in the midst of life’s many roles and transitions.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
The person who taught me the most about work is my mom. She was a single mother of three and worked tirelessly as an attorney to create a better life for us. Through her example, I learned the value of dedication, perseverance, and doing your work with integrity.
Even while managing so much, she was always there to help—editing school essays, early resumés, and cover letters, and later, celebrating each small success along the way. When she eventually retired, she lasted only as long as it took to complete every home project she could think of before returning to work—because staying engaged and purposeful has always been part of who she is.
While she shared her talent for writing as an attorney with her kids, I hope I can do the same in my own way–using my skills as a therapist to help my kids grow into thoughtful, grounded, and kind people.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
When I was sad or scared as a child, what helped most was not being alone. I was lucky to have people I could turn to—my brothers, my parents, my friends, and even my school counselor. Just having someone there to listen, to sit with me, or to remind me that things would be okay made such a difference.
Looking back, I realize those early experiences shaped so much of how I show up as a therapist today. I learned early on that connection doesn’t have to mean fixing or solving—it’s often just about presence. Sometimes what helps most is knowing you don’t have to hold something hard all by yourself.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I think a lot of really smart, capable people get it wrong by postponing their own happiness. They work tirelessly toward retirement, or toward some imagined point in the future when life will finally feel easier, calmer, or more enjoyable. They tell themselves, “Once this project is done… once this promotion comes through… once things settle down…” —but the truth is, the work rarely slows down on its own.
So many people end up waiting for permission to enjoy their lives, and in the process, they miss the moments that are already available to them. I want people to know they don’t have to wait for everything to be perfect to experience joy or peace. You can build small pieces of that into your life right now—today, even—and those moments matter just as much as the big milestones.
That’s something I try to help my clients discover too—that it’s possible to create a life that feels meaningful and balanced, not someday, but in the middle of everything that’s already happening.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me as someone who was present, engaged, kind, and accessible. The people I’ve loved most in my life are the ones who made me feel truly seen—who took the time to understand me and meet me where I was. My husband’s father was like that, and so was my grandmother. They both had this vibrant yet steady way of making everyone around them feel valued and understood.
That’s the kind of presence I hope to offer, too—to my family, my friends, and my clients. I want the people in my life to feel known, cared for, and never like I was too busy or distracted to notice what mattered to them. I’m still working on being less tied to technology and more rooted in real connection, but that’s the story I’d love people to tell about me—that I showed up fully for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cbaxtercounseling.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbaxtercounseling/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-baxter-3a373514/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbaxterpc/
- Yelp: https://www.facebook.com/cbaxterpc/
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/c-baxter-counseling-atlanta-ga/338481
Image Credits
Ashley White Photos, Alea Moore Photography
