Cognitive analytic therapy

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) is safe and 'user friendly', being widely applicable within a variety of settings, and across a range of disorders and difficulties such as depression, anxiety, personal and relationship problems. If the primary problem is alcohol or drug dependency, then treatment by a specialist team would be indicated before starting the therapy.

How does it work?

CAT focuses on discovering how problems have evolved and how personal procedures used to cope with them may be ineffective or may make matters worse. Problems are understood in the light of personal histories and life experiences and the focus is on recognising how these coping procedures originated and how they can be adapted and improved.

The therapist will work intensely with you to construct diagrams and written outlines, which will help the client to recognise, challenge and revise old patterns that do not work well. Agreed insights are noted in documents, which become tools for use within and outside the therapy sessions.

In this way, it is anticipated that the client will begin to manage his/her life more successfully and continue to make changes after therapy ends.

Length of Therapy

Cognitive Analytic Therapy for Personality Disorders is 24 sessions and then a series of follow up appointments over a 6 month period.

Ending Therapy

In the last 3 or 4 sessions you and your therapist will work towards a good ending. The client will be given a chance to talk through the feelings and thoughts about ending the therapy, and will be able to consolidate the key themes that they have shared with the therapist over the previous sessions. The client and the therapist will then exchange a "Good-bye" letter, which allows both of a chance to close the therapy process. Change is seldom complete by the end of therapy but the client is left with the tools to continue working.