Cathy Jeroudi: Sophrologist Trusted by Business, Medical and Artistic Communities - Forbes France Feature

Translated from the original article published by Forbes France published this Autumn 2024.

Leaders from around the world turn to Cathy Jeroudi for discreet, expert guidance in emotional agility, helping them excel both in their careers and personal lives.

The Turning Point: A Journey of Resilience

Sometimes, personal and professional pressures reach a tipping point, straining our relationships and our own well-being. What do you do when stress, anxiety, or frustration start to interfere with decision-making or handling life’s surprises? This is where Cathy Jeroudi steps in. From her office in Dubai, she works with clients in person and online, providing tools to address these very challenges.

As a Certified Sophrologist specializing in emotional agility, Cathy helps professionals protect themselves from the mental and physical strain of constant pressure. Even those with the highest levels of commitment sometimes find their well-being and performance compromised by stressful situations. Learning to release tension and refocus on priorities is key to responding effectively to life’s demands.

Cathy knows this firsthand. At the height of her corporate career, while managing a multi-billion-dollar client portfolio, she faced an unexpected personal crisis. Married with three children, Cathy had built a successful life and career across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. But when her family faced a year of intense pediatric medical care, everything changed.

Though she had strong support, Cathy’s time spent in hospitals opened her eyes to the loneliness felt by patients and the stress families endure. “Part of me will always stay with those in those hospital units” she says. This experience led her to explore various support methods, and she found sophrology. It was a turning point. Cathy left her corporate role and, after extensive training, became a certified sophrologist.

Emotional Agility: a Core Skill in a High-Pressure World

After several years of practice, Cathy opened her own practice in Dubai, quickly becoming a trusted advisor to a wide range of clients. Initially working with families and children, she soon began receiving inquiries from senior executives. Many of these leaders are adept at handling intense pressure and responsibility. But even they can reach a point where the cumulative effects of stress take a toll on their health, work performance, and relationships. This can manifest as physical tension, lack of focus, anxious thoughts, irritability, sleep disturbances, or panic attacks.

“There are many ways to help ease this burden, and sophrology is one of them,” Cathy explains. “It’s a practice you can incorporate into your daily routine - a progressive mental and physical training that helps regulate emotional states in real-time. On a broader scale, sophrology improves how present you are, both to yourself and others.”

In France, over 10 million people have already practiced sophrology, and it’s gaining attention internationally. A lawyer in Manhattan and Harvard student, shares his experience: “Working with Cathy and learning this method was one of the best decisions I made for my mental and physical health. Her techniques help you approach stress from a new perspective. It shifts your mindset and gives you the tools to tackle personal challenges.”

Practical Strategies for Real-Time Stress Relief

Cathy has spent years honing and applying sophrology techniques in her own life, practicing daily. “Teaching methods I’ve personally used helps me show clients exactly when and how to integrate them into their own routines. These techniques aren’t always interchangeable - it’s important to understand the sequence to use them effectively.” For certain specific issues, Cathy collaborates with other sophrologists to ensure her clients get the best possible support.

With a bold and creative approach, Cathy customizes sessions to meet her clients’ unique needs, often leading them down unexpected paths. “During sessions, I encourage clients to step outside their usual patterns and explore new ways of experiencing their emotions. The focus is then on ensuring they use these techniques by themselves, whether they’re in the middle of a high-stakes meeting or a challenging family discussion.”

Today, Cathy’s clients come from all corners of the professional world - business leaders, doctors, artists, and public figures, from New York to Tokyo - seeking her guidance in complete confidentiality. And Cathy remains dedicated to her first passion: supporting children’s hospitals in the UAE and working with organizations that help those battling illness. Her mission is to guide people toward a higher quality of life.

As Dr. Caroline Leaf puts it: “Your purpose is not the thing you do. It is the thing that happens in others when you do what you do.”