A systematic review of service user ’s experience of cognitive analytic therapy (CAT)

ConclusionsCAT is helpful in supporting service users to understand their patterns and to identify useful coping skills. However, some service users can experience strong emotions in therapy and struggle to trust their therapist. Greater attention to working within the service users ’ zone of proximal development (ZPD) and engendering hope during the reformulation stage may attenuate some of these risks. Recommendations are made for future research directions.Practitioner points CAT therapy enables users to develop insight to their reciprocal roles and patterns and helpful coping skills. The service user ’s ZPD should be worked with when delivering CAT to manage risk of distress and reciprocal role enactments and enhance the working alliance. CAT therapists should explore ways to engender hope by attending to any helpful reciprocal roles, patterns, and exits.
Source: Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Special issue paper Source Type: research