Cognitive Analytic Therapy
What is cognitive analytic therapy?
Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) is an integrative, time-limited model, that is collaborative and flexible and has a strong and central focus on the relational nature of human development and psychopathology.
CAT has a transdiagnostic approach, so it can be used to treat a wide range of difficulties, both psychosocial and mental health, including: depression and anxiety; self-harm; experiences of trauma; substance use; relationship difficulties; personality disorder; eating disorders; and psychosis.
In individual cognitive analytic therapy, the client and the therapist work together to make sense of the patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving and interacting that are contributing to as well as maintaining difficulties. The collaborative process of developing a relational formulation of the client’s difficulties, provides a shared language and guides the rest of the work together, as unhelpful patterns of relating are revised and more effective patterns learned.
The CAT model can also be used as a relational framework to assist clinicians and teams to work more effectively with clients with complex needs, regardless of whether or not they are being offered individual therapy. Clients with complex needs are often experienced by clinicians as challenging to work with, and despite their best intensions, unhelpful patterns of interacting can inadvertently make things worse. Relational reflective practice assists teams to understand the origins of their client’s difficulties, to recognise the relational patterns that might be unhelpfully playing out with individuals, or with parts of the client’s system, and to develop more helpful ways to respond to them.
Short workshop
Relational formulation - is a short, two-day training in a relational reflective practice model based on cognitive analytic therapy, that is aimed at individual clinicians or teams, that develops tools that can assist them to work collaboratively with clients and their systems more effectively.
Orygen's CAT practitioner course
Orygen’s two-year CAT practitioner training course is designed for mental health clinicians working across a range of public and private mental health settings. The course follows the guidelines set by the Australian and New Zealand Association of Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ANZACAT) for the training of CAT practitioners and is aimed at teaching the CAT Competencies developed by the International Cognitive Analytic Therapy Association (ICATA).
By the completion of the course, trainees will have developed the competencies required to be accredited as a CAT practitioner by ANZACAT. The training is delivered by staff with experience in the Helping Young People Early (HYPE) program that has been using CAT in early intervention for young people with personality disorder since 1999.
Please email [email protected] for further information.
Workshops and training
presenters
Dr Louise McCutcheon
Course Director
Dr Louise McCutcheon is a clinical psychologist and an accredited Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) practitioner, supervisor and trainer. She is an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the Orygen Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne. She coordinates the Helping Young People Early (HYPE) Service Development team and is the Principal Psychology Educator at Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS).
Louise jointly founded the award-winning HYPE program in 1999, an early intervention program for personality disorder in young people at the PYMHWS (formerly Orygen Specialist Program). She has extensive clinical experience working with young people with complex and severe mental health difficulties and their families. In 2003, she established the HYPE service development and training program, which works with mental health services both nationally and internationally to implement early intervention for personality disorder initiatives. Within this program, she developed the first CAT training program in Australia.
Louise was the founding chair of ANZACAT in 2010 and is the current chair of the clinical standards and training committee of ANZACAT as well as a member of the executive committee. Louise has served on the executive committee of ICATA in various roles since 2009 and is currently vice-chair.
DR SIOBHAN RYAN
year one COURSE COORDINATOR
Dr Siobhan Ryan is a clinical psychologist and an accredited Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) practitioner and supervisor. She has over 15 years experience working in tertiary mental health services supporting young people experiencing complex mental health difficulties and their families. In addition to having worked with the HYPE clinic, she has worked with the Monash Health’s Early in Life Mental Health Service, the Royal Children’s Hospital Intensive Mobile Youth Outreach Service, and the Bayside Health’s Alfred Care Group’s Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, where she is the current Principal Psychologist. Siobhan has also worked with adults with the Spectrum Statewide Personality Disorder and Complex Trauma Service and in private practice.
Siobhan coordinates the year one CAT practitioner training program and provides training and consultation on relational approaches to mental health clinicians and teams working with young people with complex needs.
JENNIFER O’BRIEN
year two COURSE COORDINATOR
Jennifer O’Brien is an Occupational Therapist, educator, and accredited Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) supervisor and trainer. With over 20 years of experience across public and private mental health sectors, Jennifer brings a rich blend of clinical expertise, leadership, and a deep commitment to youth mental health and wellbeing. Along with CAT Jennifer has training in Creative and Experiential Art therapy and is a trauma-informed yoga teacher. Her therapeutic work draws from this training, where she uses a relational approach to support young people with complex mental health needs.
Jennifer holds an academic and teaching position at Australian Catholic University, where she is actively involved in research and education focused on improving outcomes for First Nations Peoples and individuals experiencing eating disorders. Her work is grounded in principles of inclusion, social justice, and co-design, aiming to create meaningful and equitable change through collaborative and culturally responsive research practices.
Jennifer coordinates the year two CAT practitioner training program and provides training and consultation on relational approaches to mental health clinicians and teams working with young people with complex needs. Jennifer also serves on the ANZACAT website and training committee and has held roles in the ANZACAT executive committee.