Section I: Introduction to CBT Programmes


Introduction

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for many mental health presentations, and recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).  The University of Southampton offers a range of CBT courses designed to help you develop your skills from beginner to advanced level practice, and provide a pathway to becoming an accredited therapist with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).  We offer both full-time (over one year) and part-time (usually over two years) options.

The PG Certificate requires successful completion of modules totalling 60 CATS (30 ECTS).  The PG Diplomas require successful completion of modules totalling a minimum of 120 CATS (60 ECTS).  Individual modules normally carry 15-20 CATS (7.5-10 ECTS).

The PG Diploma in CBT for Anxiety and Depression (IAPT) complies with the IAPT national curriculum, with all modules core to the programme.  The Diploma is accredited by BABCP at Level II – students who successfully complete the course evidence clinical competence (as assessed by the CTS-R), and are eligible for accreditation as a practitioner with BABCP.  This Diploma is completed over one year.

The PG Diploma in CBT (Level 1) is for students with some CBT experience who wish to train to competence in a particular clinical area – anxiety and depression, psychosis or personality presentations.  The Diploma is accredited by BABCP at Level I – students who successfully complete the course evidence clinical competence (as assessed by the CTS-R), and most of the minimum training requirements for accreditation as a practitioner with BABCP.  This Diploma is usually completed over two years.

The PG Certificate in CBT (Advanced Level Practice) is for students who are competent CBT therapists (as assessed by the CTS-R), who wish to specialise in another clinical area – for example psychosis or personality presentations.

Admission Requirements

Our PG courses are primarily aimed at qualified mental health professionals who wish to develop their CBT skills.  Many of our students go on to achieve practitioner accreditation with the BABCP (see www.babcp.com for further information on accreditation).

Entrants to the PG programmes are normally required to have:

  1. Qualified in a mental health profession as recognised by the BABCP (e.g., clinical psychology, psychiatry, occupational therapy, community psychiatric nursing, social work) and have at least two years post-qualification experience.
  2. Obtained a good undergraduate degree (first or upper second) or equivalent in a discipline relevant to mental health (e.g., psychology, neuroscience).

 

We will consider people without a core profession on an individual basis, where there is evidence of clinical and academic equivalence.  For the PG Diploma (IAPT), students are required to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSA) equivalent to a core profession.  The KSA portfolio is assessed by a programme team member prior to acceptance on the Diploma.  For our PG Diploma (Advanced), students without a core profession are recommended to familiarise themselves with the KSA requirements which will be needed to apply for BABCP practitioner accreditation (see www.babcp.com for further information on KSA).

All students on our Diploma programmes, and all students without a BABCP recognised core profession, are required to become members of the BABCP on registration.

Our PG programmes usually involve ongoing supervised clinical work with appropriate cases.  It is essential that students have access to appropriate cases and linked clinical supervision in their work environment throughout their training.

Programme Team

Overall director of CBT programmes:

Katherine Newman-Taylor: knt@soton.ac.uk

Programme and module leads:

Samantha Gibson: s.gibson@soton.ac.uk

Pete Lawrence: p.j.lawrence@soton.ac.uk

Tess Maguire: t.l.maguire@soton.ac.uk

Richard Mutimer: r.t.mutimer@soton.ac.uk

Programme Administrators:

Susan Lines and Andrew Cox: cbtadmin@soton.ac.uk

External Examiners:

Dr Suzanne Byrne, Kings College London

Dr Sean Harper, South of Scotland PG Training Programme in CBT

Programme Team Roles

CBT training requires a considerable commitment., and the CBT team seek to support you throughout your training.  Most members of the team are part-time and will reply to queries when available.  We will communicate with you via University email – it is essential that you check your University email account daily during training.

  • Module leads will help with any queries related to the content of teaching or assessment for specific modules.
  • Programme leads can help with queries about your programme of study and progression from admission to completion of the award.
  • University clinical supervisors can address queries about your closely supervised cases.  It is important to note that university clinical supervisors do not take clinical responsibility of cases supervised – responsibility remains with the clinical supervisor (or other person taking this responsibility) in your clinical setting.  If you hold a professional qualification (e.g. clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, nurse, occupational therapist or social worker), you hold professional responsibility for clinical work.
  • Your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) is allocated at the start of your training, and is available throughout your time with us.  You will meet regularly with your PAT to review your progress, and may seek guidance on training issues as well as anything that affects your well-being, attendance, and academic and clinical development.  We encourage you to contact your PAT if and when difficulties arise that impact on your training.  In exceptional circumstances it may be possible to change your PAT through discussion with the programme or director of CBT programmes.
  • Our CBT administrators are available to help with administrative and practical issues linked to your training.  The CBT administrative team members work part-time and are available at dedicated times shown on their office door.

British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)

The BABCP is the national accrediting body for CBT practitioners, supervisors and trainers.  All students on our Diploma programmes, and all students without a BABCP recognised core profession, are required to become members of the BABCP on registration (see www.babcp.com for further information on membership).  Please familiarise with the BABCP Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.

The BABCP specifies the minimum training standards required to become a therapist accredited by the BABCP (see http://babcp.com/Accreditation/Minimum-Training-Standards.aspx for details of academic and clinical requirements).  Accreditation is an individual process and is not guaranteed on successful completion of the programme.

Comments are closed.