What is Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)?
Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) is a type of talking therapy that mainly focuses on relationship patterns and their effect on our lives. It is based on the idea that our early life experiences shape and influence the way that we relate to other people and how we treat ourselves. As children, we adapt to the environment we live in but this may lead to us developing unhelpful and repeating patterns of behaviour that cause problems in our adult lives. For example, we may find it difficult to be assertive or open with other people, or we may find ourselves struggling with perfectionism or the effects of a harsh inner critic.
CAT involves working with your therapist to explore and understand the problems you are experiencing in your life, and how they relate to unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. After the first session, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire which will help you reflect on and identify the patterns that are causing difficulties for you at present. In the early stage of therapy, your therapist will explore with you how these patterns developed and you will then work together to develop diagrams or ‘maps’ that summarise the impact of these patterns on your everyday life. Your therapist will then help you identify goals for change, and the remainder of therapy will involve practising techniques and strategies to help you work towards these goals.
CAT is a time-limited form of psychotherapy, typically lasting between 16 and 24 sessions. You and your therapist will exchange a “goodbye letter” at the end of therapy, which will reflect on the therapy experience and look to the future. It will usually be helpful to have a follow-up session around 2-3 months after the end of therapy to review how you have been getting on.
What sort of problems can cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) help with?
CAT can help with a wide range of emotional and mental health difficulties, including depression and anxiety; relationship problems; difficulties with managing strong emotions; and difficulties in how you relate to yourself, such as perfectionism, self-criticism and low self-esteem.