Category Archives: CAT Practitioner Training

Applications to the 2024 CAT Practitioner Training are now open

6th February 2024CAT Practitioner Training, FeaturedCAT Practitioner Trainingrhona

Do you wish to apply to train with us as a Cognitive Analytic Therapy Practitioner in 2024? Then be aware that the course is now open to applications. The deadline this year falls on Friday 31st May, and interviews will be held on Friday 28th June. All the details you’ll need are available on the course page or in the downloads included there. You’ll find the page at this link: 2024 ~ 2026 Practitioner Training.

In addition to welcoming applications from those applying through the usual funding routes, 2024 is our second year as an approved provider delivering the NHS England (NHSE) national curriculum CAT Practitioner training. Those not seeking NHSE funding can apply at any time between now and the end of May.

If you are interested in applying through the NHS England (NHSE) funding route, you’ll need to observe a number of requirements and time points in the process

You will meet the usual entry criteria for the course.
You will have a role in community services with adults (including older adults) with complex relational problems and adverse childhood experience. Typically your client group will be likely to meet criteria for a diagnosis of ‘Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder.’
Your NHS employer will be situated in the North West or Midlands areas.
Your application must be supported by your employing NHS Trust’s Chief Psychological Professions Officer (CPPO) and/or have approval of your NHSE Workforce, Training & Education regional lead.
Please note that central NHSE funding decisions will not be made until April 2024. We therefore cannot tell you as yet how many NHSE funded places are available for the 2024 intake. However we will post updates as soon as we can at the dedicated page for NHSE-funded applications. If you are interested in this route therefore please liaise after this date with your CPPO and/ or contact your NHSE Workforce, Training & Education regional lead.

We hope that the information we’ve provided through our pages and downloads answers all your queries at this early stage. As a small and busy organisation, our administrative team may not be able to respond to additional enquiries.

Finally you may be curious about the image we’ve used to on this blog and the course page. It represents a selection of comments shared by trainees from our 2021 intake on their last day of course teaching. The final two-day residential included reflection on ending the taught part of the course. You can see the whole wordcloud image below (with thanks all who gave permission for their feedback to be used to help promote the training.)

We look forward to receiving your applications by the end of May.

Coming soon – CAT Practitioner Training for 2024 Intake

5th February 2024CAT Practitioner TrainingCAT Practitioner Trainingrhona

We’ll be adding details about the next intake for our CAT Practitioner Training, commencing October 2024, to the site very soon. Everything you need to know will be there, including the process for people hoping to apply through the NHS England (NHSE) funding route. If you want to receive an email alert about this, then contact us so that we can add you to our mailing list for this and other Catalyse news and events.

CAT Practitioner Training 2023 – Recruitment Update

15th July 2023CAT Practitioner TrainingCAT Practitioner Training, Cognitive Analytic Therapyrhona

Sarah Littlejohn and the recruitment team extend a big thankyou to everyone who expressed interest in this year’s intake for our CAT Practitioner training course. We had a very high number of applicants this year and they have been of an extremely high standard.

We’ve now sent offers out, and have a reserve list, for the October 2023 intake. Unfortunately, we’ve not been able to offer a place to all those who were suitable.

Likewise, unfortunately this year we have not been able to offer an interview to all of those who applied. We expect it’s unlikely that there will be spare places remaining. However if we find that there are, then we may approach those not yet interviewed to ask if they’d still like to be considered.

Our current plan is to continue to run the course annually. So if you’ve been disappointed this year, we’d be pleased to welcome your application for the October 2024 cohort. For those candidates seeking NHS England funding for their training, this will be available next year too. Further good news is that we understand there will be a greater number of places available through NHSE in 2024. Details will be released in good time for the next cohort.

Still time to book: Gaining Ground 30 June 23

24th June 2023CAT Practitioner Training, CPDCAT Practitioner Training, CPDrhona

In case you’ve missed this opportunity, there’s still time to book in for this mini-conference style CPD day which has been led by trainee/graduating CAT practitioners from our 2021 intake. It’s a packed programme of offers, including several from clinicians in a liminal period as they complete the final parts of their their training and head towards qualification.

Several have stepped forward to present on work produced for year two written assignments. In these they weave CAT theory with contemporary clinical practice. The day includes live presentations plus posters. Topics include neurodivergence, race, physical health, masculinity, CAMHS services and integration of CAT with EMDR. In addition, there will be a feature on the new series of training films on Working With Challenging Situations in Cognitive Analytic Therapy. We’ll be sharing and seeking feedback on a new tool in development for scaffolding conversations about the Social Self.

We’re also really pleased that ACAT’s Vice Chair for Supervisor Training, Yvonne Stevens, is attending the day in person. Yvonne aims to engage and inform on this important next step which supports the development of CAT going forward. Stephen Kellett is also attending to tell us about latest research developments and opportunities.

So it’s not just a day of looking back over achievements to date, but also an opportunity to look ahead to the future, beyond qualifying as a CAT Practitioner. So far we have a mix of trainees and more seasoned clinicians attending, and all are welcome. We’d love to see a whole range of attendees, from the CAT curious through to senior clinicians and service leads. In short, anyone who wants to learn about, support and celebrate CAT training in the north.

Thanks to everyone’s generosity with their time, we are running the day at cost. We hope this makes it affordable and accessible. There is a reduced fee of £40 for practitioner trainees from any course, and just £50 for others.

You can see full details of the programme and options for booking at the event page at this link.

Finally, acknowledgements and gratitude. We wanted to thank artist Brenda Mallon who offered her beautiful artwork as part of the event promotion. Its suggestion of geological forms, perhaps even crystals and gems, forming a basis for building and “gaining ground”, helped us arrive at a title for the day. We’d also like to thank all contributors who are listed on the programme below, for their enthusiasm and generosity. Thanks go also to Jo Qurashi, who has helped to co-ordinate contributions throughout.

Gaining Ground Programme Download