Dr Jenny Paton.
Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)
Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) is a therapy which uncovers the underlying reasons behind difficulties and symptoms which occur time and time again in your life. Patterns of difficult relationships, or ways of behaving and feeling about yourself, are explored in detail with particular emphasis on adverse events, trauma and early relationships that underlie these experiences (as often these patterns are developed early in life).
The therapy is an insight therapy, rather than a skills or strategies therapy like CBT or ACT. This means it is focussed on discovering the root of your difficulties and describing the mental health blueprint that shapes your relationships with others and with yourself. Understanding your mental health blueprint can help you to revise repeated, unhelpful patterns within relationships with others and with yourself.
CAT typically lasts from 8 – 24 sessions with the average being around 12 – 16. It is indicated when issues have not responded to skills based therapies like CBT or where you feel ‘stuck’ in a history of experiencing the same difficulties or symptoms time and time again, despite your best efforts, and this gets in the way of you living the life that you want to lead. There is usually a sense from clients that they wish to understand what the root of their issue is rather than working on just the symptoms.
I am an accredited and registered CAT practitioner with the Association of Cognitive Analytic Therapists (ACAT). Read more about me in the 'about' section.
To find my profile on the ACAT website click here:
https://www.acat.me.uk/private_practice.php?private_practice_listing_id=102
To find out more about CAT read here:
https://www.acat.me.uk/page/about+cat