Reccommend
Stella Compton UKCP Reg.
Private Clinics in North and Central South London.
Cognitive Analytic Therapy
The way our lives unfold depends on many factors and the way that we respond to life’s challenges affects how we grow. Life’s journey can be unpredictable and inevitably there are all sorts of obstacles and situations along the way. Things may not always happen as we had hoped or intended. Realising our inner potential can sometimes be difficult. We might not always understand why things don’t seem to be going our way. Recognition of how we can influence a situation or develop a relationship is half way towards finding an effective solution.
Cognitive Analytic Therapy, known as CAT, is a pragmatic time-limited psychotherapy that can help to resolve issues quickly and effectively. CAT has a growing evidence base, which is continually developing.
Cognitive analytic therapy can help with a wide range of problems:
- anxiety, panic attacks, depression;
- bereavement counselling;
- relationship advice and development;
- a personal trauma or life change;
- eating disorders;
- gay and lesbian relationships;
- adolescent developmental and behavioural issues;
- a loss of meaning in life;
- lack of confidence and self-esteem;
- social, general or performance anxieties;
- sexual orientation issues;
- addiction therapy;
- couples and group therapy;
There are no guaranteed outcomes in psychotherapy. Talking about problems to a professional who you can trust, who cares and who is trained to listen is proven to have a beneficial effect. Dialogue in therapy should lead to greater insight, new learning and new perspectives on life. This can open up possibilities and choice, leading to appropriate changes in thinking, feeling and actions that you decide whether or not to make. It takes patience, commitment and regular attendance to get the most out of psychological help.
The CAT model of psychotherapy has developed over twenty-five years at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospitals. The central concept is that the therapist and client collaborate over the aims of the therapy and that this process involves positive and active engagement from both the therapist and the patient. In this way CAT can offer solutions in a short amount of time: from as little as eight once weekly sessions to sixteen or twenty-four sessions.
Before starting therapy most people choose to have an initial consultation session without any obligation to continue. This is an opportunity to ask questions, to share any concerns and to receive a full explanation.
The needs of the client are paramount. If you choose CAT a pre- agreed time limit for the duration of therapy is collaboratively agreed. If you choose the gentler pace of longer-term psychodynamic approach you may be thinking about a longer term investment of money but with the increased stability of knowing that your therapy is ongoing. For both a once weekly commitment, at a mutually agreed time and place (with the exception of planned holidays), is required. It is normal to give at least two weeks notice when deciding to finish therapy.
Everyone is different and as the closure of the mutually agreed number of therapy sessions approaches we will consider your ongoing individual needs and preferred options. Some people decide to have some top-up sessions on a less regular basis, while others don’t feel the need to come back, but it is usual to have a follow up session two to three months later.
You might like to consider an integrated form of cognitive analytic therapy and music therapy: (CAMT). This approach provides a holistic therapeutic experience, which makes space for musical self-expression. This can help to balance emotions with thoughts and logic.
