International CAT News Update July 2009

At the Third International Conference at the University of Bath in England this July we formally launched the International Cognitive Analytic Therapy Association.   Here are some of the details of the back ground to this and how the international association will work and who is involved.

Since its early days of development in London CAT has attracted international interest.   It is well established in Finland, Australia, Spain and Ireland.   It was at our first international conference in Joensu in Finland as guests of FinCAT in 2003 when we ended with a large group meeting at where we resolved to establish an international association. 

The idea of internationalism and CAT was firmly kept alive at the second international conference in Maynooth in Ireland.  The third international conference in England provided a great opportunity to celebrate the development of CAT internationally and confirm our shared standards and values.   It is there that we had had the inaugural meeting of the International Cognitive Analytic Therapy Association (ICATA) and introduced it to the Conference.  The variety of CAT practice in the UK, Finland, Ireland, Greece, Spain and Australia and New Zealand was described.

According to its constitution (http://www.acat.me.uk/international_cat.php)  the aims of the International Association are:

(I)                To establish and develop Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) as an approach to understanding and relieving psychological distress in the many contexts of human suffering, disturbance and disadvantage around the world with particular reference to mental health.

(II)             To promote, research and extend the practice, application, training, regulation and development of Cognitive Analytic Therapy as a method of psychological therapy and psychotherapy in the countries of the world.

(III)          To promote the highest standards of clinical and ethical CAT practice.

(IV)          To promote the training, support and accreditation, of Therapists, Supervisors and Trainers in CAT.

(V)             To promote the establishment of national (or where appropriate combinations of nations closely linked by geography or shared interests) associations for cognitive analytic therapy working to democratic, transparent and collaborative principles

In this context we want to keep close to the founding ideas of CAT to work in an open, pragmatic dialogue around the world giving respect to both client and therapist in the challenging task of working at therapeutic change or delivering psychologically and socially informed mental health interventions. 

ACAT UK has kindly agreed to host pages for the International  Association on its website. On these pages there will be details of developments in CAT around the world, developments in training, requests for help, supervision and training and a forum for discussion of issues relating to international training. 

Interest in CAT is developing in Chile, New Zealand, Bulgaria and Italy.  Enquiries to develop CAT come from all parts of the world including the USA, Denmark, South Africa, Canada, Sri Lanka, India and Poland.  If you know of people interested and there is no activity in their country let us know by emailing internationalcat@acat.me.uk or Stevegpotter@gmail.com .  You may want to arrange an introductory course by one of our established trainers or attend such a two day course in London. 

Send us news of how CAT is developing in your country.  Let us know who is involved and how is CAT seen?  What formal and informal developments have there been?  What are the opportunities, challenges and difficulties?   Those of us who have been involved in CAT for some years are particular keen to see it develop as an open model in collaboration with best practice in mental health work in ways that make effective psychotherapy and psychologically skilled help available to the people with the greatest need.  

What are the opportunities ahead?

We think the following are possible in the forthcoming year or two:

• Telephone conference: seminars, supervision, lectures, case discussions and master classes (we will pilot one or two and see how well they work)
• ICATA website (web pages on the ACAT website initially with gratitude to ACAT UK)
• International CAT Journal (we will be looking for links to set up an editorial board)