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Catalyse CAT Practitioner Training 2024-26
1st October 2024 to 31st July 2026

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Aims of the Course

Catalyse provides a training programme which aims to enable professionals with competence in their own field to to develop skills to practise CAT as a one-to-one therapy. It is open to trainees with a core profession and relevant experience. It allows you to practise CAT within your core profession.

Applications are invited from candidates funded by their employer or self funded and from candidates approved by their NHS Trust for an NHS England funded place (scroll to end for details of NHSE applications).   

Course Components

This is a two year training comprising a combination of

• workshops or training days
• seminars
• peer group work
• personal learning
• supervision
• clinical practice, and
• personal therapy

Experiential work focuses on personal exploration and the development of CAT skills and their clinical application. Trainees must complete a minimum of eight supervised cases and pass all written work required by the course.

Training days

The training days reflect ‘CAT Knowledge in Use’ and consist of a combination of preliminary reading, presentations, small and large group work, skills exercises and case discussions as appropriate. They cover theoretical input relating to CAT principles and concepts. Training days provide opportunity to reflect on and practice with CAT tools, activities and skills. Early in the course trainees are introduced to the main features of the CAT model, which are built on throughout the two years.  The content of the teaching programme in Year 1 follows the structure of a CAT therapy.  Year 2 deepens knowledge and skills and covers a range of applications of CAT. There is a specific focus on work with more complex cases.

Theoretical components

The training addresses theories which have informed the development of CAT. It also covers issues common to all psychotherapies within the CAT context. For example there is emphasis on CAT perspectives on transference & counter transference; therapeutic alliance; and the process of change. The training reflects the social/political context and psychotherapy research.

Timing of training days

There are ten days spread throughout each of the two years. These start with two days in both October and November. A further four single days take place from January through to May.  Each year ends with a two day residential in June.  Single days are Fridays, and two day blocks are Thursdays and Fridays.

Seminar groups

Trainees meet in seminar groups of between three and six participants. Meetings last for an hour and a half, eight times a year (or equivalent).  Each group will have some input from a seminar group leader. However, the aim is to encourage trainees to take an active approach to their learning needs and to identify gaps in knowledge which their own activity can meet.  The course trainers will provide the reading material and guidelines to assist study etc and will approve arrangements.

Clinical Practice

Trainees are in weekly supervision with an accredited CAT supervisor. They usually carry two CAT training cases at a time, and must complete a minimum of eight supervised cases. Supervision is usually in groups of three trainees for 1.5 hours with a minimum of 40 sessions each year. Trainees are expected to attend regularly, and to remain in supervision until the completion of all clinical work. This will normally take a minimum of two years but may extend up to a further six-months, depending on the individual trainee’s case mix and circumstances.

Trainees who work in specialist settings (e.g. forensic, eating disorders) need to gain experience of doing CAT in adult mental health, by seeing at least two cases. Trainees develop the skill to practise 16 session CAT. They should also gain experience in variations of the time limit, to 8 session and 24 sessions.  Of the eight cases required, six of these should be of 16 or more sessions. Each completed case should include all three CAT Tools: Reformulation Letter, SDR and Goodbye Letter.

Click here for more information on supervised clinical practice as part of CAT training.

Personal Development

Trainees are required to have an experience of personal therapy during their practitioner training. This involves a standard 16 session CAT conducted by an accredited CAT therapist.

Click here for further information on personal development and personal therapy as part of CAT training.

Assessment

Trainees are expected to attend a minimum of 85% of each element of the taught course. Clinical appraisals take place every six months, four over the two year taught course. Written work includes:

• Two case studies – one by the end of each year. The Catalyse course requires the inclusion of a session recording with accompanying analysis and reflection. Together these comprise of the Year 1 case study. Trainees need to arrange consent and data security to submit the recording, but the course provides guidance on this.
• Two essays – one midway through each year. The Year 1 essay is on the process of reformulation. The Year 2 essay addresses the application of CAT concepts in your clinical work

Venue

Training days are in Manchester, with the residential usually near Sheffield. Supervision groups run in various locations across the UK.  Seminar groups run online. 

Catalyse provide a list of CAT training therapists. Trainees may have to be prepared to travel for therapy, unless the therapist offers online therapy.

Requirements for Training

Applicants are expected to demonstrate they are academically capable of undertaking postgraduate study and have personal qualities that make them suitable for the profession of psychotherapy. This includes having sufficient emotional competence to deal with the psychological aspects of the work. We offer the following criteria as a general guide:

Essential criteria:

• Core professional training in the caring professions i.e. psychiatry, nursing, clinical and counselling psychology, social work, counselling, and occupational or art therapy
• At least one and normally two years of post qualification experience in a core profession depending upon experience
• Introductory level experience/training in psychotherapy
• Appropriate access to clients
• Attendance at a 2-day introductory CAT workshop or equivalent, for example, teaching that covers CAT as a therapy during your professional training
• Those applying for the NHSE pathway will be working with people who meet criteria for a diagnosis of EUPD

Desirable criteria

• Personal therapy experience
• Work experience in a mental health setting. Where the trainee has no such experience, they may be required to undertake a suitable placement

Click here to read more about our entry criteria for CAT Practitioner trainings. This includes information for candidates who may not strictly meet the entry criteria but are interested to explore CAT training.

For example, Catalyse will consider applicants such as High Intensity IAPT therapists who meet entry criteria for the one-year CAT Foundation course but who can demonstrate a level of experience in delivering psychological therapies such that they wish to be considered for the Practitioner course.

Catalyse will consider applications from CAT Foundation course graduates. They can apply with their foundation year credit to complete year 2. This enables Foundation graduates to gain the additional training, clinical experience and assessments necessary for accreditation as an ACAT accredited CAT Therapist /Practitioner.

For details of how to apply as a Foundation course graduate to complete Year 2 alongside our Practitioner Course trainees, please click here.  More information about CAT Foundation Training is available on ACAT’s pages – please visit this link to view.

Catalyse Costs

• Initial application fee £25  ::  If called for interview £60
• Academic Training: £2,600 per year (including ACAT registration fee of £87 per year).
• Supervision usually costs approx £1600 for the year.  Alternatively, trainees may be able to get supervision within their workplace. Some may be able to negotiate free placements in exchange for seeing clients within the supervisor’s work setting (normally NHS).
• Personal Therapy (approx) £1020/£1360 – please see course prospectus for info.
• Optional additions:  Books: four course texts, and the ACAT Annual conference.

Total:  £9,825 approx

NHS England (NHSE) funded places

Catalyse, along with three other CAT training centres covering the English regions, have been approved to deliver the NHS England (NHSE) national curriculum CAT Practitioner training. NHS staff in the North West and Midlands approved by their Trust CPPO and/or NHSE Workforce, Training & Education regional lead can apply to the Catalyse course. Training for the North East, South East & South West of England is provided by different course centres.

The NHSE funding route provides fully funded training places for those supported by their Trust and who meet the above entry criteria and who work with the client group as described below. This training is to support the expansion of psychological therapies for severe mental health problems in adult community services. It is funded by NHSE specifically for clinicians working with adults (including older people) in community services with people with complex relational problems and adverse childhood experience, who would be likely to meet criteria for a diagnosis of ‘Borderline’ or ‘Emotionally Unstable’ Personality Disorder. The number of NHSE places available for 2024 intake will be clarified after central funding is agreed, from April 2024 onwards. Updates about this funding route are available at the page on NHSE-funded applications. If you are interested in this route please liaise after this date with your CPPO and/ or contact your NHSE Workforce, Training & Education regional lead (previously HEE).

The training content and structure is broadly similar for NHSE or non-NHSE trainees. However, there are some additional components for the NHSE training route which is described in the NHSE CAT Practitioner summary download which is available at the end of this web page.

Applicants through the NHSE funded route must have their CPPO approval and/or approval of the NHSE Workforce, Training & Education regional lead. Contact details for each regional lead are given below.

Regional Leads:-

North West – Kay Helliwell – email: kay.helliwell2@nhs.net

Midlands – email: england.wte.midlandsmhlda@nhs.net

Catalyse Teaching Team

Principal trainers:

• Dawn Bennett
• Sarah Littlejohn
• Jo Coggins
• Jenny Marshall
• Kathryn Pemberton

Some of the training days will include invited speakers with specialist knowledge and experience in a specific area.

How to Apply

Entry to the Catalyse two year course is through application, interview and attendance at a CAT introductory workshop (two days) or equivalent.  Applicants are invited to submit an application form,  and CV with 2 referees.  They should provide details of source of referrals,  assessment arrangements and venue for seeing clients.  In addition, applicants should write a personal supporting statement of around 750 words giving an indication of:

• your current therapeutic approach
• what you hope to gain from training in CAT
• why it is important for psychotherapists to develop an understanding of their own emotional life
• plus one case summary of around 500 words

Additionally, those applying for the NHSE funded pathway should additionally address what CAT will bring to their work with clients with complex early trauma.

Shortlisted applicants will then be invited for an interview.

Please visit Catalyse website for further details on making an application.  https://catalyse.uk.com/training/practitioner-training/2024-2026-practitioner-training/

Application Deadlines

The initial deadline for applications is Friday 31st May, 2024 and the principal interview date is Friday 28th June, 2024 (online).

For initial information, please visit https://catalyse.uk.com/training/practitioner-training/2024-2026-practitioner-training/

About Catalyse

Catalyse (formerly CAT North) has run a successful CAT Practitioner Training programme in the North of England since 1992. It is a not-for-profit organisation which also offers a range of other services. These include:

• other training programmes, including bespoke trainings for teams and organisations
• training films to help develop and scaffold skills in cognitive analytic therapy
• continuing professional development events
• personal reformulation for personal and professional development
• research, evaluation and other consultancy

The Catalyse Practitioner Training in cognitive analytic therapy is one of the regional trainings accredited by the Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ACAT). You can find out more about ACAT accredited trainings at this link. Alternatively, you can contact ACAT by email via admin@acat.me.uk.

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