CAT and psychosis

Abstract

Abstract There is a growing evidence base for the use of interpersonal approaches when working with unusual experiences and extreme states of mind (often labelled as psychosis). Psychosis experiences can be understood as meaningful communications of human distress, often in response to trauma and adversity. This chapter collaboratively considers, alongside a lived experience perspective, how the cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) model understands psychosis and how it can be applied to facilitate relational change. Specific considerations are given to how CAT tools, including the reformulation letter and map, can be used to develop a trauma-informed understanding of psychosis experiences. There is acknowledgement of the increasing evidence highlighting the impact of the therapeutic relationship on outcome when working with clients who experience psychosis and the chapter details how the therapeutic relationship can be understood and navigated using a CAT framework. A review of the current research on CAT and psychosis is given and areas for further research are highlighted.