ArticlePsychology and psychotherapy2026
Exploring relational and emotional experiences of the LGBTQ+ community through a cognitive analytic therapy lens.
Article in Psychology and psychotherapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCognitive analytic therapy (CAT) offers a relational framework for understanding psychological difficulties, emphasising how early relational and socio-cultural experiences are internalised and shape the self through a repertoire of reciprocal roles (RRs).
aimsThis qualitative study seeks to explore the relational experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals using CAT theory, focusing on identity development (self-self relationships), self-other relationships, and self-society relationships.
methodsInterpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) guided interviews with 11 participants. CAT theory was applied as an additional framework to provide a clinically applicable understanding of these themes.
resultsSix group experiential themes (GETs) were identified: Coming Out: Discovering and Sharing Who I Am; Is it Wrong to be LGBTQ +? Questions and Beliefs about Being 'Normal'; Different Parts of Me; Feeling Safe in Relation to Others; Feeling Unworthy and Unlovable; and Being Authentically Me. Illustrations of themes were created. A CAT map was developed from the themes, outlining RRs, reciprocal role procedures (RRPs), and self-states. The findings highlight the influence of early caregiving relationships, the coming out process, and societal experiences on participants' self-development.
conclusionThe CAT map captures the distinct RRs and procedures that the LGBTQ+ community may experience, emphasising the critical role of the self-society relationship in identity formation. It underscores the importance of the 'healthy island' concept and illustrates how healing RRPs can promote a more integrated and connected sense of self. This framework may help clinicians support LGBTQ+ individuals facing mental health challenges related to their relational experiences and sense of self.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.