Past CPD Event
CAT in the Perinatal Period
A one day workshop led by Sarah Douglass, ACAT-accredited CAT Practitioner and Supervisor, and Clinical Psychologist
Date: Friday 20th June 2025
Time: 10.00am to 4:30pm
Venue: St Thomas’ Centre
Fees: ACAT member :: £130.00
non-ACAT member :: £145.00
Lunch and refreshments were included in the fee. [You or your employer could request to be invoiced. This incurred an additional £20 fee.]
Overview of workshop:
Over the last decade, psychological therapy and other psychologically-informed interventions have been a growing part of perinatal mental health services. The mental health needs of mothers (and to a degree, fathers) in the months across pregnancy, birth and early infancy are increasingly recognised and supported by NHS services. Cognitive analytic therapy is well suited to this area given its relational nature and the way on which internalised patterns from parents’ own early experience may have a powerful impact on their experience of the perinatal period.
This day provided an opportunity to develop an understanding of working in the perinatal period and improve confidence and skills in working in this field through a CAT lens. There was plenty of opportunity to share and reflect on experience, learn from each other and apply understanding through practical exercises.
All attendees will receive an attendance certificate following the event, for their CPD records.
Aims and learning outcomes:
This workshop provided an accessible overview of the field of perinatal mental health, for the benefit of of any attendees not currently working in the field. This understanding was then applied through a CAT lens to enhance understanding of the specific use of CAT in the perinatal field.
The workshop considered the unique challenges of working perinatally and adaptations to practice to support this work. We also reflected on the wider applications of CAT such as involving infants and partners. We used mapping to reflect on the challenges for staff working perinatally.
Participants gained an enhanced understanding of the importance and challenges of the perinatal period through a CAT lens. Additionally those attending developed understanding and confidence in applying a CAT model to the perinatal context.
The day included a range of presentations by Sarah plus action based learning through role play, large and small group discussion, and mapping practice.
Who was it for?
This event was relevant for:
- CAT practitioners and CAT psychotherapists
- trainee CAT practitioners
- other qualified therapists
The day was of particular interest to those working therapeutically in the perinatal field. However prior experience in this clinical area was not essential. The issues pertaining to the perinatal period may be relevant for many specialisms and clinical presentations. Even if a client or family is not currently in a perinatal period, what we all carry from early infancy, parenting experiences, and transgenerational influences may resonate across the lifespan.
Likewise, prior experience of using CAT was not required, however some familiarity with the model would have made the day more useful to participants.
Facilitator
Dr Sarah Douglass is an experienced clinical psychologist, CAT practitioner and supervisor. Sarah has spent most of her career working in adult mental health. For the last eight years she has specialised in perinatal mental health. In her first specialist role she was the lead psychologist in the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Team in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in South Wales. Her current role in Cardiff involves developing the first maternity psychology service in Wales, with a focus on staff support and baby loss. Sarah also teaches on the Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology-Adult lifespan MSc at Cardiff University. The South Wales CAT Practitioner Training programme benefits from her input as a marker and teaching facilitator. Here with the Catalyse CAT Practitioner Training programme, Sarah supervises perinatal practitioner trainees. In 2024 her chapter on ‘CAT in the Perinatal Period’ was published in the Oxford Handbook for Cognitive Analytic Therapy.
Group Size
A maximum of thirty participants could attend this course.
Venue
St Thomas Centre Ardwick Green North, Manchester, M12 6FZ
Booking
If you required invoicing, there was an additional charge of £20.00. (Please note that for invoiced applications, if payment is not received within 60 days of the invoice date, the delegate is liable for payment of this fee.)
Terms and Conditions
Please ensure you read and understand our terms and conditions.
