It’s less than a month now until Katie Ackroyd and Steve Kellett roll back into Manchester with their bespoke five-session CAT tools and experience. They are offering a follow-on day on Friday 6th September for CAT therapists using cognitive analytic consultancy in their settings and seeking space to update themselves on more recent developments in delivering this type of work.

As we know, as CAT therapists we ourselves are always ‘on the map’. This day will have a particular focus on how we may inadvertently bring our own unhelpful patterns to bear on consultancy work, and ways we can maintain awareness and responsiveness in managing this. Additionally the presenters will give space and practice opportunities for skills in managing complex presentations, both evident in individuals’ histories, and mirrored through care dyads and the complexities of stretched teams and systems. Steve and Katie have said:

We are providing a day in which people already familiar with this approach can be introduced to some new tools we developed to assist delivery. The day also serves as an introduction to those who are more planning to dip their toes in.  Feedback from previous days is that the approach of the day enables people to leave feeling that they’ve reflected and feel motivated.

They originally developed this day for an NHS Trust with a large CAT network, as a bespoke Catalyse CPD event. The CAT lead shared the following feedback:

This was a really helpful day – with space to reflect on what we bring to the dance when doing consultancy/5 session CAT work, discussion of the challenges faced (with opportunities to reflect on applications to our different service settings) and a chance for an update on key aspects of the model and techniques to manage dissociation and flashbacks. Both staff who have been doing this work for years and staff who are new to CAT consultancy reported finding the day helpful. Katie and Steve were generous in sharing new tools/questionnaires to aid the work. Many thanks.

So if you are interested in benefitting from this learning opportunity, there are still some spaces left for the September 6th event. You can book through this link – Cognitive Analytic Consultancy (CAC) ~ Mapping the Dynamics of Care .

Are you looking to learn the basics about Cognitive Analytic Therapy? Perhaps you’re tempted to explore the model to find out whether CAT and you are a good ‘fit’ for your practice going forward. Maybe you’ve already had exposure to CAT through supervision or team-based work. You may want some extra focussed practice opportunities and theoretical scaffolding to build on what you already know. Or perhaps you’ve decided that training as a CAT Practitioner is your next step, but you haven’t yet attended a two-day introduction.

Whatever your motivation, you’re welcome to attend our next two-day introductory workshop. This takes place face-to-face in Manchester on 3rd and 4th July 2024. The workshop will be led by one of our experienced trainers, Sarah Littlejohn. Through a combination of brief theoretical presentations, video material and experiential exercises, Sarah will guide you through the model, its applications, its tools and techniques. You’ll have an opportunity to become familiar with key CAT concepts such as reciprocal roles, procedures and enactments. You can practise mapping and writing in small groups or pairs.

These days also provide a chance to view scenarios from the CAT Training Films (series 1). Catalyse developed this series of films, depicting the process of a fictional therapy. The story of ‘Paul and Lisa’ is embedded throughout our Practitioner Training course.

We hope that this introduction to CAT helps you move forward in your practice. Past participants have rated previous runs very positively. You can read some of the comments and feedback on the event page, and decide whether you want to introduce yourself to CAT, while Sarah introduces CAT to you, in July.

Find out more and book a place by clicking on this link: An Introduction to CAT

We’re really pleased that David Harvey is running another day on CAT and Safety: Containing Distress to Manage Risk on 14 May 2024 in Manchester. David has adapted the original day he and Jenny Marshall facilitated in Leeds last September, so that it caters more specifically for professionals already familiar with CAT. This of course includes CAT practitioners and psychotherapists , whether qualified or in training. David also welcomes other professionals with some existing familiarity with CAT, from a wide range of settings.

Whether you’re working in mental health, forensic, social care, child protection or multiple and complex needs settings, if you want to use CAT to help consider and manage risk, this workshop may be very relevant. David brings a wealth of ideas and experience around organisational consultancy and leadership. So the day will include consideration of ways in which CAT may be used as a consultancy approach supporting teams and staff, in addition to skills for more direct work using CAT concepts.

Together with Jenny Marshall, David agreed to be interviewed for a blog prior to last year’s event. This gives more of a flavour of the thinking behind both the original and adapted day. You can read it at this link: Reflecting On Risk To Others.

Fnd out more and book on to CAT and Safety on 14 May by clicking on this link: CAT and Safety: Containing Distress to Manage Risk