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The Dutch Register of Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT-NL) was founded in January 2024. With support from CAT trainers at ANZACAT and ACAT, CAT training in the Netherlands began in 2016 in Amersfoort. This initiative emerged from a shared ambition among professionals—including clinical psychologists, family therapists, and psychiatrists—working in early intervention for personality problems to adopt a more relational approach using the CAT model as a common language in multidisciplinary treatment.

Following an initial training by Louise McCutcheon (ANZACAT), Dutch clinical psychologists Christel Hessels and Anneke Gielen (both CAT practitioners and supervisors) established training at CAT Skills and CAT Practitioner levels. Over time, the program expanded to include other professionals outside the original team. In 2022, Renske Haalboom (mental health psychologist, CAT practitioner, and supervisor) joined as a trainer, bringing new energy and creativity to the program.

Ongoing Training and International Collaboration

To maintain strong international connections, an annual two-day workshop is provided by international CAT trainers and is open to all previously trained CAT professionals in the Netherlands. Past workshops have been led by Louise McCutcheon, Steve Potter, Katri Kanninen, and Caroline Dower, with personal reformulations offered by ACAT CAT therapists.

Since 2016, both CAT Practitioners and CAT Skills professionals have been trained in the Netherlands. The training initially focused on early intervention, but it is now open to Dutch-speaking therapists from various backgrounds and patient populations.

Future Goals

Looking ahead, CAT-NL aims to:

• Expand CAT training to professionals from diverse therapeutic backgrounds.

• Develop more Dutch-language training materials.

• Strengthen connections with Dutch psychotherapy associations.

• Establish a structured registration and re-registration process (every 5 years) for Dutch CAT practitioners.

More Information

For further details, visit the Dutch CAT-NL website:
www.ggzcentraal.nl/CAT-NL

For inquiries, contact us via email:
CAT-NL@ggzcentraal.nl

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