We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Catherine DeMonte, LMFT a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Catherine , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
My mother was pregnant with me before the days of ultrasounds. Or, I should say, my mother was pregnant with me and my twin sister before the days of ultrasound. She and her doctor therefore had no idea of us, that two were coming. SUPRISE! We were born prematurely and tiny. My sister happened to come out before me, and for a while it was thought she was the only one. She was getting cleaned up by a nurse and the doctor was satisfied with a delivery done well and now completed. But as my mom lay on the table, the nurse, feeling and looking at mother, and my mother too, feeling “something,” the nurse said, “Doctor, I think there is another one.” My mom takes a lot of satisfaction when telling this story that the Doctor didn’t believe her. Yet there I was – waiting my turn, wanting to make my arrival to the planet. It was 9 minutes between the two deliveries which is a long time. The doctor was arguing with the nurse about it. My sister and I were left in the hospital for I don’t know how many days or weeks because we were so small. My parents went home without us. My little announcement card from the hospital names me, “#2 DeMonte Girl.” My parents had not arrived to the hospital with two names picked out. I was told the surprise birth story my whole life, well into adulthood, as well as how difficult having twins was. How much work. How expensive. How terribly exhausting. We were not breastfed like our older sister was “because there were two of you.” Nor did we get experiences she did like summer camp for the same reason. Being an unexpected and lifelong guest made me feel I needed to “earn my keep.” I was the only one of the three of us sisters who started babysitting in junior high and I worked in high school. I bought the incidentals I needed instead of asking for or expecting them. I paid for college (B.A and later Masters), as well as my wedding when I was 23. My feeling I was a burden vs. a pleasant surprise created a resiliency in me as well as deep empathy for others. I believe it has created a Can-Do mentality as well as mental and emotional flexibility.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As part of my Psychotherapy practice, I created 8-session Abundance Circle groups with 7 powerful ancient and modern attraction tools. The groups are awesome! The participants of these intentionally kept small groups grow very close and remain good friends long after their round is over. And many manifest what they joined the Circle for in the first place, before their round is even over! People join because they are tired of not sharing their life with their beloved and want to call in that committed relationship. Or they are partnered but finances have always been tight and they can’t shift their money story and always feel “broke,” despite working very hard. Whatever it is, they have gone on for far too long without something that is big and meaningful to them and it is painfully heartbreaking to do so. It creates friction, anxiety and sadness and nothing they are trying has been able to change circumstances. They can be for anything, but these tools are for whatever it is that someone has desired desperately to have, be or do, but it has not shown up (“YET”).
My deepest desire is seeing my clients receive what has felt elusive for so long!
I also do 1:1 Manifesting Coaching where I share the same seven Law of Attraction tools with an individual client.
I have a new group beginning on May 8, 2024 as well as offering them throughout the year. Start dates are posted on my website.
My book, “Beep! Beep! Get Out of My Way! Seven Tools for Powerful Creation & Living Your Unstoppable Life” has won numerous awards and is based on the tools and shares stories of successful manifesting from these Abundance Circles. It will soon be translated into Russian.
I also absolutely love being a psychotherapist and have known I wanted to do this since my senior year in high school.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Loving people deeply.
2. Desiring to be of Service.
3. Desiring to see a change in consciousness in people, and hence for the planet.
These are three qualities I possess that have been impactful for me in my life, and hence for people I come in contact with.
We are in a time of upheaval, disconnection and discord. Wanting to see people heal and therefore become kinder, less triggered, more connected, accepting and empathic to others can create a difference on the planet. Image a world where people have more sense of connection and compassion to others. Providing spiritual and psychological tools that can guide people to this end so that they can live happier, more productive and peaceful lives is something I strive to do in my work and in my life.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
WOW, what great questions you provided!! So lovely, and so thought provoking!
I have a small and loyal following. And I adore them! But it IS relatively small. I would love to collaborate with others and do workshops, retreats, etc. I would love to travel again now that it is safe to do so, and I’d love to do workshops providing the Abundance Circle tools or similar topics, all over. I like the idea of Women Empowerment and have collaborated with others on various facets of this in workshops. Combining email lists and things like this can be a wonderful way to get a nice as well as larger group of incredible people together.
I am interested in pairing with Creatives, Holistic Psychotherapists, Healing Work, and participating in Women’s retreats & workshops, I may be reached by email at catherinedemonte@gmail.com, or by phone at (818) 880-6559. My website is www.catherinedemonte.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.catherinedemonte.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinedemonte/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-demonte-lmft-42168527a/
Image Credits
ValerieNicolePhotography (Me in white & red blouse photo, and me at O’Melveny sitting photos)
B&W photo of me laughing: ccampeasphoto
