Forthcoming CPD Event
CAT in the Perinatal Period
A series of two 3-hour online workshops led by Sarah Douglass, ACAT-accredited CAT Practitioner and Supervisor, and Clinical Psychologist
Date: 9th and 16th September 2025
Time: Both 4 pm to 7 pm Melbourne Time
Online: via Zoom
Fee: £130 – online payments only
Overview of the workshop series
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 UK 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.
These workshops provide an opportunity to develop an understanding of working in the perinatal period from a UK perspective. Sarah will facilitate collaborative exploration and adaptation of theory and practice with participants who bring an ANZACAT perspective. The overall aim of the day is to improve participants’ confidence and skills in working in this field through a CAT lens. There will be 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
These workshops provide 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 will then be applied through a CAT lens to enhance understanding of the specific use of CAT in the perinatal field.
The workshops will provide space to consider the unique challenges of working perinatally and adaptations to practice to support this work. They will aid reflection on the wider applications of CAT such as embracing intergenerational themes, and ways of involving infants and partners. The workshop lead and participants will use mapping to reflect also on the challenges for staff working perinatally.
Participants will gain an enhanced understanding of the importance and challenges of the perinatal period through a CAT lens. Additionally those attending will develop understanding and confidence in applying a CAT model to the perinatal context.
The day will include a range of presentations by Sarah plus action based learning. Activities will include role play, large and small group discussion, and mapping practice.
Who are they for?
These online events are relevant for:
- CAT practitioners and CAT psychotherapists
- trainee CAT practitioners
- other qualified therapists
The workshops will be of particular interest to those working therapeutically in the perinatal field. However prior experience in this clinical area is 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 is not required. However some familiarity with the model will make the day more useful to participants.
Please note these workshops are intended primarily for colleagues in Australia and New Zealand. If space permits, nearer the time of the event, they may be opened to colleagues elsewhere.
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. The focus of her input is 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 can attend these workshops
Online events
These events will be hosted using the Zoom platform. We will provide links and presentation handout pdfs to booked participants nearer the time.
Booking
Please book direct online using the link below.
Terms and Conditions
The workshops are offered as a linked pair. Please note that the full fee is payable even if you are unable to attend both. We are unable to issue refunds in the event of partial attendance.
Before proceeding to book and pay for this event, please ensure you read and understand our terms and conditions.
