CAT is built on the idea that many of our difficulties arise from ways of relating to ourselves and others that we learned early in life. These patterns — sometimes called ‘procedural sequences’ — can become stuck, even when they no longer serve us. Therapy helps you to:
- Recognise repeating patterns in how you think, feel, and relate to others
- Understand how earlier experiences — particularly in childhood — shaped these patterns
- Develop new, more flexible ways of responding to yourself and others
- Use the therapeutic relationship itself as a space to notice and change these patterns
CAT uses several distinctive tools to help you make sense of your experience:
- Reformulation letter — early in therapy, your therapist writes you a letter summarising their understanding of your difficulties and their origins
- Sequential diagrammatic reformulation (SDR) — a diagram, created together, that maps out your key patterns and how they connect
- Goodbye letter — at the end of therapy, both you and your therapist write a letter reflecting on the journey and what has changed
CAT is particularly suited to people whose difficulties have roots in early relationships and experiences. It is used effectively for:
- Depression and anxiety
- Difficulties in relationships
- Low self-esteem and self-criticism
- Trauma and complex PTSD
- Personality difficulties
- Eating difficulties
- Medically unexplained symptoms
CAT suits people who are curious about themselves and willing to reflect on patterns in their life and relationships. Because it draws on the past as well as the present, it can be particularly valuable if you feel that earlier experiences have shaped difficulties you are still carrying today. Your therapist will discuss with you whether CAT is the most appropriate approach for your needs.
