The CAT Practitioner Training is a two year training for people with a core mental health profession. It leads to the award of the ACAT CAT Practitioner Diploma.
This training and qualification is accredited by the Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ACAT). Successful completion and accreditation confers eligibility for professional membership of ACAT.
Aims of the Course
Catalyse provides a training programme which aims to enable professionals with competence in their own field 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.
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 online 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. Meetings can be arranged at times to suit the group.
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 into a third year, depending on the individual trainee’s case mix and circumstances.
For some trainees who work in specialist settings, in order to meet the ACAT training case diversity requirement you may be required to see a minimum of two clients outside your specialist setting. This is to allow you to accumulate a broader clinical experience of CAT. Trainees are encouraged to identify clients who may be suitable for a 16 session CAT for their first training cases. Although you need to develop the skill to confidently practice 16 session CAT trainees should (where possible) also gain experience in variations of the time limit of 8 sessions and 24 sessions. The recommendation for accreditation is six 16 session cases, one 24 session case and one 8 session CAT and each case includes all three CAT tools: Reformulation Letter, SDR and Goodbye Letter.
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.
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 clinical case studies – one at the end of each year demonstrating the integration of theory into practice. The 1st year case study includes submission of a session recording and commentary. The 2nd year case study includes transcribed sections to illustrate your work. 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 held in central Manchester (Northern quarter), with the residential usually near Sheffield. Supervision groups run in various locations across the UK and we work with you to organise the most suitable arrangement. Seminar groups usually run online.
Catalyse can 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 NHS England funded places will have been put forward and approved by their manager and Regional Lead (see below the section on NHS England (NHSE) funded places)
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
- CAT experience and demonstrable application of CAT
The Catalyse website provides details about 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.
Course Team
- Dawn Bennett
- Sarah Littlejohn
- Jo Coggins
- Jenny Marshall
- Kathryn Pemberton
- Hannah Goring
- Clare Sharkey
Some of the training days will include invited speakers with specialist knowledge and experience in a specific area.
How to Apply
Catalyse Application Deadlines
The initial deadline for applications is 30th May, 2026.
Initial interview date: Friday 26th June, 2026 (online).
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 louise.barter@acat.org.uk.