Advanced Intensive Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Course Structure

The course is of one year duration and teaching takes place on Fridays. Each day includes clinical supervision and workshops. Some days will end with a paper discussion. The course starts with a two-day training event and there will be a two-day workshop in the third semester.

Syllabus

There are 4 modules:

• Basic theoretical concepts and skills including conveying the CBT rationale, agreeing therapy goals, session structuring, setting homework tasks, using guided discovery, case conceptualisation, assessment and client selection, measurement in therapy, activity scheduling, identifying and challenging negative automatic thoughts, assumptions and core beliefs; role of behavioural experiments, research issues and process issues in CBT
• Evidence-based applications to common mental health problems including depression, panic disorder, social phobia, PTSD, OCD, health anxiety, GAD, somatisation, eating disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome
• Advances and developments in CBT including meta-cognitive approaches and mindfulness, application of acceptance based principles; applications to personality disorder, chronic depression, and psychosis.
• Using CBT supervision

The emphasis will be on the development of trainees as competent clinicians who are well informed of the central theoretical issues in the CBT

Assessment

Candidates are required to submit:

• Essays.

Trainees are required to submit one essay each term from a predetermined list of topics. In terms one and two the essays are 3000 words and will cover topics relevant to that terms teaching. In the final term trainees will select a topic of their choice relevant to CBT theory and practice and submit a 10,000 word dissertation.

• Case reports

Trainees will write up two case reports, one during the second term and one during the final term. Case reports are 3000 words

• Audio or video-taped treatment sessions

Trainees will present 6 tapes of mid-treatment CBT treatment sessions, two in each term. Two of these will be selected for formal assessment, one in term two and one in term 3.

• Supervision of clinical work

Trainees are required to present recordings of their clinical work at each supervision session. They will receive ratings and comments on two tapes each term. Tapes are marked using the Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale.