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What is ACAT?

• ACAT is the Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy. It is a registered charity, number 1141793.
• ACAT is a national association of members for the development of Cognitive Analytic Therapy. It has a membership of around 1000 individual members.
• ACAT’s aims are as follows:

Educating health professionals and promoting proper standards and good practice in  cognitive analytic therapy

Increasing awareness and understanding of cognitive analytic therapy amongst health professionals, service providers and the public

• Through its aims, ACAT contributes to the development, maintenance and auditing of all CAT training courses and accredits CAT trainees.
• ACAT facilitates research and the continuing professional development of all its members
• ACAT is the guardian of standards within CAT, embodied in its Codes of Ethics and Practice and Complaints Procedures.
• ACAT is a member of the International Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ICATA).
• ACAT is a member of the Humanistic and Integrative College (HIPC) of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

ACAT and its work as a charity

The Government views charities differently from other organisations – the principal aim being to enable charities to direct as much of the monies they raise or earn towards their chosen causes as set out in the objects clauses of the organisation.

The implications of CAT's aims (or 'objects') as outlined above include the following:

• Tax:                  Exemption from the payment of tax on most income and gains.
• Reliefs:            The right to apply for relief of up to 80% of business rates
• Donations:      Eligibility to receive donations under the Gift Aid or Give As You Earn schemes where the government increases the value of the donation by a fixed percentage.
• Fundraising:   It can be easier for a charity to raise funds from grant-making trusts and organisations. Additionally, members of the public feel more confident about giving money to a registered charity rather than a commercial organisation.
• Profile:             Being a registered charity can raise an organisation’s profile and status both with the public and also within its profession. 

The Trustees will be thinking around development and strategy within charitable status.  It is also hoped that we will now be more successful in targeting sources of research funding.

The Charity Commission – notes from their website
“Charities are organisations that benefit the public in a way the law agrees is charitable. Most charities with an annual income of over £5,000 have to register with the Charity Commission. Although charities with an income of £5,000 or less (and some others) don't have to register with us, they still need to abide by charity law and almost all are regulated by us.

“Charities exist to create a better society. The range and scope of their work and the variety of people they help is amazing. Whether working locally, nationally or internationally they have a remarkable history of driving social change. There are some 180,000 charities in England and Wales registered with the Charity Commission, and perhaps another 80,000 that do not have to register (because they are very small, or because they are ‘exempt’ or ‘excepted’. Charities meet all kinds of needs that would otherwise go unmet. One thing they have in common is that they all depend on their trustees.

“Charity trustees are the people who form the governing body or ‘board’ of a charity. They may be called trustees, directors, board members, governors or committee members, but they are the people with ultimate responsibility for directing the business of the charity. Most trustees are volunteers, and receive no payment (except out-of-pocket expenses).”

ACAT welcomes members of the public, health professionals, ACAT accredited professionals, and anyone interested in finding out more about CAT. We hope the Association, through this website and membership opportunities, will inform and inspire and, for those new to Cognitive Analytic Therapy, encourage further interest and, perhaps, even training.

Cognitive Analytic Therapy is an active and collaborative method of therapy and in this same spirit every member of ACAT is welcomed and encouraged to become actively involved in any aspect of the organisation.

Our Next 15 Events

8th May 2025
CAT and Reflective Practice: Skills for Facilitation - offered by Catalyse

17th May 2025
EDI Race and Culture CPD workshop - offered by CAT Cumbria

22nd May 2025
ACAT: The embodiment of reciprocal roles as a reflective

23rd May 2025
29th ACAT National Conference

23rd May 2025
Annual General Meeting

23rd May 2025
ACAT National Conference 2025

20th June 2025
CAT in the Perinatal Period - offered by Catalyse

8th July 2025
ACAT: Two Day Introduction to CAT - Online

9th September 2025
ACAT: Two Day Introduction to CAT - Online

18th September 2025
Restoring Regenerating and Rewilding residential - offered by the WildCAT SIG

1st October 2025
Inter-Regional Residential ACAT Psychotherapy Training in Cognitive Analytic Therapy

9th October 2025
Catalyse CAT Practitioner Training 2025-27

11th October 2025
Developing the CAT model CPD workshop - offered by CAT Cumbria

11th November 2025
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12th January 2026
Newcastle & NHSE (North East) CAT Practitioner Training 2026-2027