Catherine Richardson, Geek Therapist
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Registered General Health Psychologist in Spain - M-36968, Colegio Oficial de la Psicologia de Madrid
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MSc in General Health Psychology
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BSc in Psychology
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Geek Therapy Certified
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Instructor with Mental Health First Aid England
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World Health Organization diploma in Mental Health Law and Human Rights
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Speaker at TAGGS 2025: "Fandom & Values in Coaching & Therapy"
About me
English-speaking General Health Psychologist in Spain, geek therapy practitioner and creator of Geek Mental Wellbeing.
I believe support works best when you do not have to translate yourself before the real conversation can begin. My role is to offer a calm, structured space where you can understand what is happening, make room for the parts of you that have been judged or overlooked, and build changes that fit your actual life.
A psychologist, an expat and a fellow geek
I moved from the UK to Madrid more than a decade ago, so I know that living abroad can be both exciting and disorienting. Even when life looks successful from the outside, you can still feel between cultures, uncertain about who you are becoming or exhausted by having to explain yourself.
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I also know what it is like to love interests that other people may dismiss as childish, intense or unconventional. Games, stories, fandoms and creative worlds can be sources of meaning, community and language. In our work, those interests are welcome. We can use them when they help you express something - and leave them aside when they do not.
Person-first, and body-inclusive
I see the person, not just the symptom. Part of that is working from a weight-inclusive, anti-diet perspective grounded in body autonomy — something I understand from lived experience as well as training. Your body is a part of who you are, not a problem to be solved before you’re allowed to feel okay. (This is an affirming stance, not diet or weight advice; specialist eating-disorder care sits outside my service and I’ll always signpost it where it’s needed.)​
An inclusive, geek-friendly, ACT-based approach
My style is collaborative, warm and practical. I draw on evidence-informed approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and counselling. That might involve noticing the patterns that keep a spiral going, understanding what your nervous system is responding to, clarifying the values you want to move towards, and experimenting with strategies that fit how your brain works.
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I will not ask you to become a more convenient version of yourself. The aim is not to erase neurodivergence, identity, sensitivity or passion. It is to reduce unnecessary suffering, strengthen choice and help you build a life that feels more sustainable and more yours.
Who I often work with
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English-speaking adults living in Spain
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Autistic, ADHD and otherwise neurodivergent adults
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LGBTQIA+ and kink-positive clients
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Gamers, creatives and people with strong fandom interests
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Tech workers and analytical adults experiencing anxiety or burnout
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People navigating relationships, relocation, identity shifts and major life transitions