Cognitive Analytic Therapy

What is Cognitive Analytic Therapy?

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) is a time-limited, integrative therapy that combines elements of cognitive therapy and psychoanalysis. CAT focuses on identifying recurring patterns of thought, behavior, and relationships that may be contributing to a client's emotional distress.

Who Can Benefit from Cognitive Analytic Therapy?

Individuals who feel stuck in repetitive cycles of negative behaviors, unhealthy relationships, or self-sabotaging actions can benefit from CAT. The therapy is often used to treat anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and relationship problems.

The Process of Cognitive Analytic Therapy

  • Therapist and client work together to map out problematic patterns
  • Focus on understanding the origin of these patterns, often in childhood
  • Develop new strategies for breaking these patterns and creating healthier habits

CAT is a collaborative therapy, encouraging clients to take an active role in understanding and changing their patterns.

Therapists in Brighton & Hove

Browse our verified therapists — many work across a range of approaches and may be able to help.

Imogen Salt Brighton

Imogen Salt

Humanistic Psychotherapist

I offer one-to-one humanistic counselling, for adults and young people within the Brighton & Hove area. I prioritise face-to-face therapy, but offer online where needed. I am experienced, thoughtful, intuitive and warm.

NCPSAccredited
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Thaddeus Hickman Brighton

Thaddeus Hickman

Psychotherapist

I’m an experienced, integrative psychotherapist, registered with both UKCP and BACP. I work with clients to support their immediate struggles, while also helping them understand and identify underlying and often unseen issues - a process which often leads to positive and lasting change.

BACPRegisteredUKCPRegistered
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Gabrielle Lake Mitchell Brighton

Gabrielle Lake Mitchell

Integrative Counsellor

Thinking about starting counselling and looking for a counsellor, can feel daunting. So I warmly welcome you to my profile and hope that you get in touch to see if I am the right counsellor for you. There are many reasons why people seek counselling. Perhaps you are feeling lonely or disconnected from the people around you? Perhaps you would like to talk to someone about making changes in your life? Maybe you are feeling stuck, anxious or depressed, and would like a little extra support to help you through a difficult time? Perhaps you can't quite put your finger on what is wrong, and would like somewhere to express yourself and make sense of your thoughts and feelings?Whatever brings you to counselling, I will endeavour to offer you a confidential and safe space, where you can talk and explore all of your thoughts and feelings, and express them freely without judgement or opinion. Counselling can be useful in helping you to gain insight and a fresh perspective. It can help you to gain understanding about yourself and others, or help to make sense of a problematic situation. It can help you move towards acceptance, emotional freedom and healthy psychological growth.

BACPRegistered
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Lizzie Gilbert Brighton

Lizzie Gilbert

Counsellor

I’m Lizzie, a BACP Accredited therapist with 12 years experience helping people through difficult times in their lives. My approach is empathic, present and connecting. You will find a safe, non judgemental, compassionate space where you can talk freely about what you’re going through. I will listen with empathy and understanding and together we can make sense of things, finding ways forward in your life.

BACPAccredited
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Alan Sparkes Hove

Alan Sparkes

Psychotherapist & Counsellor

An integrative psychotherapist with 20 years’ experience, working with shame and relational trauma, and with people who’ve had therapy before but found it didn’t reach the root of things.I often work with men who've spent years holding it together, and with women living with the effects of early or relational trauma. What brings people is usually anxiety or depression, but underneath there's something that has been there a long time: a harsh inner voice, a sense of never being quite good enough, relationship patterns that keep repeating, or simply not knowing why you feel the way you do.I don't do psychic amputation. You can't cut off the parts of yourself you don't like, or that cause you pain, without running into more problems. Therapy can help those parts be understood and integrated, so you can live more fully.I'm not a therapist who just nods and asks how that makes you feel. I'll tell you what I notice, and when it helps, I'll gently challenge you, always with care. I also work with couples, helping each partner understand what keeps happening between them.I am a UKCP-registered psychotherapist. I built and ran a multi-room therapy practice in Hove, lead peer groups for practitioners, founded Brighton Counselling Directory, and also counsel with the Terrence Higgins Trust in Brighton. Qualified therapists are welcome as clients.

BACPRegisteredUKCPAccredited
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Tessa Williams Brighton

Tessa Williams

Integrative Counsellor

I’m a warm, thoughtful and genuine therapist, working with individual adults in person in Brighton & Hove and online.I see therapy as something we build together, with the relationship between us at the heart of the work. I aim to offer a space where you can feel accepted as you are, while also supporting you to consider different perspectives when that may be helpful.My way of working is flexible and shaped around you. We might explore emotions, relationships and recurring patterns, pay attention to how experiences are felt in your body, or use more creative ways of working where that feels useful.I offer an affirming and inclusive space, including for LGBTQ+, neurodivergent and disabled identities and experiences.

BACPRegistered
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Counsellors who offer this type of therapy

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Discover valuable information on common mental health issues, and how counseling can help.

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Abuse and Trauma

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Child and Youth Concerns

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