CAT in Greece
Contacts
History and development
CAT has a long history in Greece. The first Greek CAT therapists received their training at Guy's Hospital in London, under the guidance of Tony Ryle and his team, during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Upon their return to Greece, they independently founded two training centers: one in Thessaloniki, in the north, and another in Patras, in the south. From these centers emerged two distinct, vibrant CAT groups that flourished over time.
The Thessaloniki group, running in the public sector with university backing, conducted numerous research projects, resulting in a significant number of scientific publications that contributed to the substantiation of the effectiveness of CAT across various psychological conditions. In 2009, the Patras group, running enthusiastically in the private sector, became one of the founding members of ICATA. The two groups united in 2012 to form the Greek Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy (HellasCAT), which hosted the 6th International CAT conference in Patras in 2015. As of 2024, HellasCAT boasts over two hundred registered members and is still expanding.
Training
The primary training for CAT in Greece, which is regulated and supervised by HellasCAT, is consistent with the Practitioner Level training in the UK. It includes two years of theoretical instruction, and the completion of eight CAT cases under supervision. Training is delivered by centers that have been accredited by HellasCAT and adhere to the rules and requirements for CAT training established by HellasCAT. At present, there are centers in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, and Ioannina providing training to more than fifty candidates every year.
Furthermore, HellasCAT supports the ongoing organization of various CPD events, and it hosts a national CAT conference biennially.
Who is who
Chair: Iannis Vlachos
Vice chair: Eleni Georgiadou
Secretary: Maria Kyritsi
Contact
Email: hellascat2012@gmail.com
Website: www.hellascat.gr
Official Website
ICATA Member Association:
Greek Association of Cognitive Analytic Therapy
(Πανελλήνια Εταιρεία Γνωστικής Αναλυτικής Ψυχοθεραπείας)