The acceptability of cognitive analytic guided self-help in an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service

Background: An Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service in England has implemented cognitive analytic therapy guided self-help (CAT-GSH) alongside cognitive behavioural guided self-help (CBT-GSH) in order to support enhanced patient choice. This study sought to explore the acceptability to psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWPs) of delivering CAT-GSH. Method: This study used a qualitative design with semi-structured interviews and associated thematic analysis (TA). A sample of n=12 PWPs experienced in delivering CAT-GSH were interviewed. Results: Five over-arching themes (containing 12 subthemes) were identified and conceptually mapped: (a) the past-present focus (made up of working with clients' pasts and the different type of change work), (b) expanding the treatment offer (from the perspective of PWPs and clients), (c) the time and resources required to effectively deliver CAT-GSH (to enable safe and effective delivery for clients and personal/professional development for PWPs), (d) understanding CAT-GSH (made up of confidence, learning new therapeutic language/concepts and appreciating the difference with CBT-GSH) and (e) joint exploration (made up of therapeutic/supervisory relationships and enhanced collaboration). Conclusion: CAT-GSH appears an acceptable (but challenging) approach for PWPs to deliver in IAPT services. Services should prioritise training and supervision for PWPs to ensure good governance of delivery.