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A CAT‐derived one to three session intervention for repeated deliberate self‐harm: A description of the model and initial experience of trainee psychiatrists in using it
Author(s) -
Sheard Tim,
Evans Jonathan,
Cash Debbie,
Hicks Jane,
King Amanda,
Morgan Neil,
Nereli Ben,
Porter Ian,
Rees Harvey,
Sandford John,
Slinn Rebecca,
Sunder Keerthi,
Ryle Anthony
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
british journal of medical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.102
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 2044-8341
pISSN - 0007-1129
DOI - 10.1348/000711200160417
Subject(s) - session (web analytics) , psychology , intervention (counseling) , harm , psychotherapist , deliberate self harm , clinical psychology , psychiatry , social psychology , suicide prevention , poison control , medicine , medical emergency , computer science , world wide web
We describe a new Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)‐based intervention for those who repeatedly self‐harm. It is specifically designed to be deliverable by staff with no training in psychotherapy. The intervention is simply manualized into sequential tasks that are mediated by new CAT‐style standardized tools. A particular feature of this intervention is the deliberate use of feelings elicited in the therapist (‘counter‐transference’) as (a) a guide to how professional poise is being threatened or lost and (b) an indicator of the appropriate focus for this very brief therapy. The psychiatrists' reflection on their elicited feelings is mediated by a new CAT tool, the ‘Assessor's Response File’ developed in this project. Audiotape analysis suggested that following a very brief learning period, trainee psychiatrists were able to adhere to the structure of the model and arrive at an appropriate reformulation in the first session but tended to be collusive in reciprocating the patients' dysfunctional coping styles.