ABSTRACT
Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) has increasingly been used as a consultancy model when working indirectly with complex clients or systems. Jellema makes a distinction between ‘doing CAT’ and ‘using CAT’. ‘Doing CAT’ describes direct therapeutic work with clients, via traditional individual or group therapy. In such cases, clients may have long and complex histories, chaotic presentations and high-risk behaviours. This can evoke strong countertransference emotions in those working with them, such as feelings of anxiety, powerlessness, inadequacy and frustration. In a situation such as this, it can be difficult for the team to get to know the client, within the chaotic presentation and high emotions elicited. CAT reformulation can be helpful in providing a clear account of the client and their history and also to explain their repeated unhelpful behaviours in terms of RRPs and survival strategies. Once the map is developed, it can be shared with the team and used to facilitate recognition and develop team exits.
