Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) is an integrative form of psychotherapy that combines ideas from both cognitive and psychoanalytic approaches. Developed by Dr. Anthony Ryle in the 1980s, CAT focuses on understanding how patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating to others—often developed in early life—can contribute to current emotional difficulties or unhelpful behaviors. The therapy aims to help individuals recognize these repeating patterns, known as “procedures” or “traps,” and develop more effective ways of coping and relating. CAT is time-limited, typically lasting between 16 and 24 sessions, making it a structured yet deeply reflective form of therapy.

A key feature of CAT is collaboration between therapist and client. Together, they work to map out the client’s relational patterns through tools like the “reformulation letter” and “diagrammatic reformulation,” which visually and verbally outline how certain thoughts and behaviors maintain distress. Through this process, clients gain insight into how past experiences influence their present difficulties and learn strategies to break unhelpful cycles. CAT has been shown to be effective in treating a range of psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, personality difficulties, and relationship problems.

If you’re struggling with recurring patterns in your relationships or emotional life and want to better understand and change them, consider booking an appointment with a CAT-trained therapist today. This collaborative approach can help you make sense of your past and build healthier, more fulfilling ways of thinking and relating.