Plans for a second research conference hosted jointly between ourselves and ACAT have now come to fruition.  ACAT is leading on the organisation of this second event – The Research Journey From Start To Finish: Motivating-to-Motivated – which takes place in London on 1 March 2019.  Again this conference aims to bring together people interested in hearing about and developing the evidence base for cognitive analytic therapy.

You’ll be welcome to attend whether you want to gain an update on current and future research in CAT, make connections and develop your research networks, or get support in developing your own research ideas.  Those with roles supporting the research activity of others are also most welcome to attend.  This could be a useful day to attend if you are a research tutor or supervisor on a core professional training.  Similarly if you have responsibility for supporting psychotherapy research activity within a  mental health or learning disabilities trust, you may make helpful connections.

The theme of a research journey was present throughout last year’s conference.  People shared stories of projects at different points along the way and reflected on what had helped or hindered them complete different stages. Alison Jenaway’s guest blog about the 2018 conference tells you more about that day.

When thinking about an image to help promote the 2019 event, we liked the metaphor of migrating geese.  Apparently they fly together to help reduce air-drag and conserve energy.  Different flock members move in and out of the front position depending on who has energy and resources to lead.   Of course following is as important as leading in this context.  We share a direction and learn from each other.  As peers we can reciprocally motivate with helpful “honking” in order to keep up a pace.

Of course none of this precludes solo flyers who want to take their own direction.  After all, would CAT ever have developed without a bit of independent thinking?

We’re not content, of course, with merely developing a metaphor or an understanding of relational processes in research.  As with the CAT model, some action is expected and encouraged.  To support concrete action getting “off the ground”, this year ACAT is offering three free places for people planning a project on CAT.

To be considered for one of these places, you’re invited to share a maximum 2000 word outline of a realistic project you can take forward, complete and publish. This should include:

• Your main research question
• Why it is important
• The method you are planning to use to answer it
• Any previous work or publications that you would be building on
• The next steps you intend to take to get the project off the ground

The deadline for submissions is 10 January 2019.  If you’re successful we may be able to match you with a mentor from within the CAT community or related networks.  We will of course welcome you back to present at a future CAT research conference.

Whether or not you wish to apply for a free place, you can get some inspiration from the list of presentations lined up for the day, offered by Stephen Taylor, Barney Dunn, Steve Kellett, Steve Jefferis, Liza Messing and Samantha Hartley.   Topics include integrative models for nurse supervision, learning from research into other therapies, making use of data on CAT in IAPT, qualitative research into mapping, group interventions, and coproduction with young people around brief therapy for self harm.

You can also follow the hashtag #CATres19, and add to it with any queries and comments. Please also feel free to share any links or resources you think may be useful in the run up to the conference.

We look forward to seeing you there.

For more details and to book your place at the conference – The Research Journey From Start To Finish: Motivating-to-Motivated – visit ACAT’s event page at this link