Course overview
You focus on developing your knowledge and skills to apply the fundamental principles of CBT for cases of depression and anxiety disorders, including the underpinning scientific principles and research literature, assessment processes, CBT formulation and related CBT therapeutic processes and interventions.
The second year extends your learning of CBT knowledge and skills to enable you to become a competent CBT practitioner with more complex cases of depression and anxiety disorders. You learn the techniques necessary to carry out literature searches and critically to 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.
You enhance your skills as a professional practicing evidence-based health care. This module also helps your transition to postgraduate study. You develop key skills that are transferable to subsequent modules, such as literature searching and using advanced critical appraisal skills as an integral part of decision making in health and social care. You also learn how to apply the principles of change management to implement evidence in practice. We use a variety of approaches to teaching including e-learning, formal lectures, seminars and practical activities.
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
The learning and teaching strategy is to deliver the course using a range of classroom and workplace learning methods. These include skills-based workshops and weekly CBT case supervision, both group and individual.
How you are assessed
In accordance with the BABCP accreditation criteria, assessment of your CBT knowledge and skills is through a range of methods including an assessed video-taped CBT sessions and case studies.
Entry requirements
You should have a health-related degree 2:2 (or above) and be working with clients who have anxiety or depression. If you don’t have a degree, you should contact the course leader about an alternative route on to this programme. If you’re not a core professional (see the BABCP guidelines) you should contact the course leader. Throughout this programme, you must make arrangements to access suitable CBT clients from referrals made to relevant mental health services, have access to videotaping equipment and have regular CBT supervision from BABCP-accredited supervisors. You must confirm this before you are 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.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
Employability
Work placement
To enrol on this programme you must work in a clinical setting which enables you to provide cognitive behavioural therapy interventions to a range of people with depression and anxiety related problems from assessment through to completing treatment protocols.
Career opportunities
Once you pass the course, you are eligible to register for provisional accreditation with the BABCP as a cognitive behavioural therapist. Following completion of the PgDip Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, you can continue your studies and complete a 60-credit master’s level dissertation and a 20-credit Designing Research Project module. Successfully completing this 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.
When not at University, you are required to spend your clinical time developing your case load for clients who have depression or an anxiety disorder with access to a BABCP-accredited supervisor.