ABSTRACT
The reformulation letter is a key part of Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT). The letter provides a powerful opportunity to reflect back to the client the story that has brought them to therapy and communicate a coherent, compassionate and understanding account. The style of the letter is inherently warm and genuine. It is written in a shared language using the client’s own descriptions where possible and needs to be understandable to the client throughout. Information for the reformulation letter is drawn from the early assessment sessions and includes various sources: the psychotherapy file, observations of the client’s behaviour, the client’s verbal accounts and any written information provided by the client such as or diaries. Whilst the style of the reformulation letter may differ between therapists, it is important that it covers key areas in order to convey a comprehensive understanding of the client’s difficulties and the planned focus of therapy.
