Parenting Through Puberty: Mentorship for Staying Close When Everything’s Changing

I'll help you unpack the burdens you are carrying.

As a Certified CatholicPsych Mentor, I accompany parents through the often-overlooked emotional and relational challenges of the puberty years—when old rhythms stop working, conversations get harder, and connection can feel just out of reach. In this season, many parents quietly wonder if they’re losing their child, or if the bond they worked so hard to build will survive the changes ahead. Mentorship offers another way: not a program or checklist, but an ongoing relationship of presence and support. Each day, you have space to bring the moments that weigh on you most—and receive guidance that helps you pause, see more clearly, and choose your next step with intention. Over time, this simple rhythm builds something profound: steadiness for you, and trust and closeness that can carry your child through one of the most defining seasons of their life.

“Preserve the warmth of the family, because the warmth of the whole world cannot make up for it.” St. Charbel Makhlouf

For 25 years, I’ve served in both public and Catholic schools—as a teacher and in leadership—walking with students, families, and colleagues through seasons of growth, loss, and transition. I’ve stood beside parents processing a new diagnosis, supported colleagues in moments of uncertainty, and encouraged students discovering their unique strengths and struggles. Again and again, I’ve seen that people don’t need quick fixes or perfect answers. They need someone willing to sit with them in the uncertainty, help them notice what matters, and walk with them toward steadiness and hope. That is the presence I now bring into mentorship—meeting parents where they are, in the real tensions of the puberty years, and helping them stay grounded and connected when it matters most.

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Cathie Swanson, CM

Cathie Swanson, CM

the world needs a catholic standard of mental health

“Everyone, in fact, especially those who have heeded the divine call to follow Christ closely, needs to be accompanied personally by a guide reliable in doctrine and expert in the things of God”

~Pope Benedict XVI

what we do here...

service

Integrated Mentorship

We know how God made you, why you're stuck, and how to get you unstuck

The mentorship model I provide allows me to walk with you in full view of your whole humanity- your body, mind, and SPIRIT. We are trained by the CatholicPsych Model to understand you through the lens of Faith, Reason, and Science. This is the ONLY way to really know you, and how to help you.

A Daily Model

Accompaniment modeled after Christ should meet you in the context of your daily life, just like He does.

We help you understand and experience the work of God in your life. And even if you struggle with, or don't even believe in God, we can help you to experience how Goodness, Truth, and Beauty are pursuing you in the context of your lived life. You don't have to compartmentalize your "self-care" away from the rest of your life - I'll be with you every day, to walk with you as you are making your way through whatever real challenges are presented to you.

service

service

Covering all the bases

If you're having a human experience, I can help you

Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, or other typical mental health related issues, are looking for support and clarity in vocation-related struggles or discernment, are simply feeling burned out where you're at in life, or want to go deeper and reach further along your path to holiness and happiness, the Catholic model I practice from will help you.

Hear from others...

Just a small sample of experiences from my clients

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What are your qualifications? 

I’m a Certified Mentor through the CatholicPsych Institute’s CPMAP program, trained in Catholic anthropology, integrated psychology, and spiritual accompaniment. My formation is also shaped by decades of professional experience in education, including teaching, leadership, and special education. I’ve supported families during vocational discernment, worked with students on the autism spectrum, and navigated cultural transitions myself—both through studying abroad and working in diverse communities. These experiences deepen my ability to meet parents with empathy and respect, while drawing on training that integrates the spiritual, emotional, and relational dimensions of the human person. While I’m not a licensed therapist, I offer mentorship that is rooted in truth, guided by faith, and grounded in reverence for each person’s unique story and dignity.

What exactly is Mentorship?

Mentorship (technically called Integrated Daily Dialogic Mentorship, or IDDM) is neither traditional counseling nor spiritual direction, but occupies a unique space in between those two fields. Mentorship is daily accompaniment, looking at you and your story as an integrated whole, examined at your pace, with the goal of finding happiness and holiness in your life.