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.