CAT Skills Training || 2011-12
‘Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) Skills for working with Complex Clients in Adult
Mental Health or Forensic Settings‘ with Dawn Bennett and Karen Shannon
Leading to Accreditation by the Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ACAT)
Venue
Manchester: Warden’s Room, Ashburne Hall, Fallowfield, Manchester,
Training dates
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5th & 6th December, 2011
16th January, 2012
19th March, 2012
21st May, 2012
This course is a repeat of a successful six month long, multi-professional skills training
certificate in Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) accredited by the Association for Cognitive
Analytic Therapy (ACAT). It consists of five Theory & Skills training days combined with 35
hours of supervised clinical work, one personal development therapy session (1/2 day) and two
reflective pieces of writing on the use of CAT ideas and methods. The course aims to enable
core professionals with competence in their own mental health field to enhance their relational
and therapeutic skills by using concepts and therapeutic skills derived from CAT. The course
will be of value for psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, offender managers, therapists,
counsellors or social workers working in prison, forensic or mental health forensic settings.
Cognitive analytic therapy combines a relational approach to cognitive and behavioural
therapies with current aspects of psychodynamic thinking about personality problems and the
helping relationship. It is a therapy, which has proven popular with a wide range of
professionals responding to the complex needs of clients, thought of as ‘hard to help’. It is in
the NICE guidelines as a promising therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder. The course will
focus on the use of CAT as a versatile method of formulating effective professional practice in
adult mental health and forensic settings and will include the following areas:
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It explores the relational origins of personality difficulties and trauma. It uses collaborative
activity-based approaches to a therapeutic relationship by using personal maps,
enactments and writing.
Links between personality disorder, difficulty seeking and using help, offending behaviour
and common mental health problems will be explored.
Demonstrations by course leaders and practice by delegates will address methods for
working relationally and collaboratively with clients and in multi-professional teams;
understanding and monitoring risk; and developing therapeutic understanding with clients
in the context of everyday work.
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The course serves as a good foundation for developing some clinical skills and
developing skills in reflective practice in teams
Who is this course for?
 Participants will need a core mental health profession, have employment in adult mental
health and/or forensic settings, some familiarity with psychological approaches and
interest in and aptitude for interpersonal and relational approaches to working with issues
of risk and offending.
 Completion of all courses component and submission of written work will allow course
members Skills Certificate Accreditation by the Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy
(ACAT) in the UK.
 Participants can attend individually or as a group of colleagues. Elements of, or the entire
course can be adapted and tailor made for in house training.
What will I learn from the course?
 Learn to formulate origins, context and triggers to trauma, challenging and risky
behaviour
 A framework for understanding and working with service users and colleagues in treating
and managing psychological and relational aspects of mental health, and personality
disturbance and risky behaviours
 Develop a shared language for inter professional work based upon CAT’s approach to
cognitive relational processes
 Use CAT for planning and assessing effectiveness of a variety of interventions and risk
management.
What does the course involve?
The skills certificate takes six months to complete and involves five days of theory and skills
training, a personal development component (1/5 day), thirty five hours of telephone or small
group supervision, depending on your locality. It is assessed through two reflective pieces of
writing on your use of CAT ideas and methods. Participants will normally sign up for the whole
course.
Course Directors and Trainers
Dr Karen Shannon is a Clinical Psychologist, ACAT accredited practitioner, supervisor and
trainer working in the National Health Service (NHS); developing community forensic
psychology services, and is in independent practice. She has many years experience working
with clients who have mental health problems, personality disturbance and who also offend.
She has a longstanding commitment to working with both marginalised, and ‘hard to help’
clients with offending behaviours and has broad experience of the application of CAT in a
variety of forensic settings both as a therapy and as a framework for consultation, care planning
and systemic risk management. Her interests are working therapeutically with clients with
personality disorders and also those at risk of harm. She has published in the area of CAT and
risk assessment/management; women non-offending partners; male aggression/violence and
bipolar disorder.
Karen is committed to using CAT to enhance staff skill and confidence in the development of
relational approaches in the care and management of individuals with ‘complex’ presentations.
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She has been external examiner for other CAT course and taught CPD courses for a number of
years. She has previously co-provided ACAT accredited Forensic CAT skills course in the UK
and in-house CAT skills training and supervision for staff in a number of forensic institutions.
Dr Dawn Bennett is Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Professional Lead in Lancashire Care
NHS Foundation Trust (part-time) and ACAT accredited CAT practitioner, trainer and
supervisor. She was Course Director with ACAT North running the two year CAT Practitioner
Training (PG Dipl) from 1999-2006 and is currently Chair of this group, which runs various
training initiatives. She has been External Examiner for CAT courses and taught on other UK
courses. She has run CAT skills courses for generic mental health workers within her NHS role
and CPD workshops on using CAT as a consultancy tool. She is the ACAT liaison worker for the
ACAT link with Sheffield Hallam University, the validating body for all ACAT courses. She has a
PhD investigating therapist competence in CAT for borderline personality disorder and has
published work on this and subsequent projects.
External examiner
The moderator/examiner(s) will ensure that the training course meets the standards and
requirements set by ACAT for Skills Level training.
Venue for Training
Warden’s Room, Ashburne Hall, Fallowfield Campus, University of Manchester.
Costs
Full accredited training certificate in CAT skills in forensic and prison settings £1495.00
(5 training days, 35 hours supervision, course work marking, 3hr personal development session
and accreditation with ACAT)
Closing date
12th October 2011 (for applications)
Application form available to download from the Catalyse website
http://catalyse.uk.com/index.php/training-supervision/
or contact Frances Free on CATskills2012@gmail.com ~ Tel 07842 137745
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