Course overview
This course is aimed at professionals with experience of delivering mental health services, looking to pursue a career as a high intensity therapist working within an NHS Talking Therapies, for anxiety and depression service. It will appeal to psychological wellbeing practitioners, clinical or counselling psychologists, psychotherapists, nurses, occupational therapists (OT), social workers and British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) accredited counsellors.
You gain intensive skills training in accordance with BABCP guidelines for good practice.
The initial focus is developing knowledge and skills to apply the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for cases of depression and anxiety disorders. This includes the scientific principles, research literature, assessment processes, CBT formulation and related therapeutic processes and interventions.
The second part of the course extends your learning of CBT to enable you to become a competent practitioner with more complex cases of depression and anxiety. You learn techniques to carry out literature searches and critically appraise the literature.
Supporting information for applicants
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Course details
Course structure
Core modules
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anxiety Disorders
The module aims to develop critical knowledge of the theoretical and research literature with regard to CBT and the treatment of anxiety, and to develop competence in delivering CBT for people with anxiety.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Depression
You build on your fundamental skills and knowledge in relation to CBT, focusing specifically on the development of competence applying CBT for depression of varying degrees of severity and complexity.
Consolidating Knowledge and Skills for the Practice of CBT
The Fundamentals of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
We address your learning needs as a mental health practitioner employed to deliver evidence-based cognitive behavioural psychotherapy to people with the common mental health problems of depression and anxiety.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
This course is delivered using a range of classroom and workplace learning methods. This includes skills-based workshops and weekly CBT case supervision, both group and individual.
How you are assessed
In accordance with the BABCP accreditation criteria, your knowledge and skills are assessed through a range of methods, including video-taped CBT sessions, oral presentations, portfolios of evidence and case studies.
You are required to spend time in clinical practice, developing a suitable case load of clients who have depression or anxiety, with access to a BABCP-accredited supervisor.
Entry requirements
You must have a health-related degree at 2:2 (or above) and be working with suitable clients who have anxiety or depression. If you have not completed a degree, contact the course leader to explore prior level 6 learning as an alternative route on to this programme.
Experience required
You must have a core professional background (for example nursing, social work, OT, clinical or counselling psychologist, psychiatrist, BACP/CPC accredited counsellor). Or, you should have evidence of successfully completing a mental health training programme at undergraduate or postgraduate level (for example, IAPT low intensity training). You will be required to complete a KSA (knowledge, skills and attitudes) portfolio to demonstrate how you meet the requirements as indicated for BABCP accreditation standards.
You must have worked in clinical mental health for two years, with relevant experience gained during or after any professional training.
Evidence of a foundation level or sustained CPD in CBT is also required.
You should have awareness of the before applying two-year psychological professional funding rule before applying.
Additional requirements
The course requires 100% attendance. You must attend the University as per the timetable, including blocks of teaching. Most teaching will be one day per week with a minimum period of high intensity CBT clinical practice per week.
You should be able to demonstrate that your values and behaviours align with the values of the NHS Constitution.
You must make arrangements to access suitable CBT clients from referrals made to relevant mental health services, have access to video recording equipment to deliver video as well as in-person CBT, and have regular CBT supervision from BABCP accredited supervisors. This must be confirmed before being accepted on to the course.
Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credits for previous study or related work experience which can be credited towards the course you want to study. Find out more about RPL.
How to apply
Trainee high intensity IAPT posts are advertised by IAPT services on NHS jobs websites or equivalent. Keep checking these websites for posts and updates on future intakes. The interviews are conducted collaboratively between the University and the employing organisation.
This PgDip CBT course is aimed at experienced healthcare professionals working with mental health patients. If you are currently working in an IAPT service you are advised to speak to your service manager about courses available to you. If you are a healthcare professional not working in an IAPT service we recommend you refer to the IAPT website for further details.
Self-funded places are only offered if course capacity is not reached.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
Employability
Work placement
You must already work in a clinical setting which enables you to provide CBT interventions to a range of people with depression and anxiety from assessment through to completing treatment protocols. (This is an IAPT course therefore the ideal placement areas are within an IAPT service).
Career opportunities
Once the course is successfully completed and awarded, you are eligible to register for provisional accreditation with the BABCP as a cognitive behavioural therapist. You can continue your studies and complete a 60-credit master’s level dissertation and a 20-credit Designing Research Project module. Successfully completion leads to an MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This is only offered part-time and must be taken within five years of commencing the PgDip.
If you haven’t undertaken the PgDip Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at Teesside University, you must complete an additional 20-credit evidence-based practice module, before you can apply for the MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
