CBT for Personality Difficulties Pathway - Postgraduate Diploma in CBT

The main aims of the programme are as follows.

In the first year:

To provide high quality training in the basic skills relevant to cognitive and behavioural therapies for trainees aiming to work with clients with disorders of depression and anxiety. It aims to do this by presenting the relevant theoretical bases of the therapies alongside research evidence of their effectiveness. It endeavours to enable trainees to develop an understanding of the links between research in the relevant areas of psychological science and practical applications of these therapies.

To provide practical support, guidance and supervision in the practice of therapies delivered to clients with disorders of depression and anxiety, and to help programme participants to develop the clinical skills necessary for working with their client group.

To ensure that all graduates of the programme meet recognised minimum clinical competence in working using CBT with clients with disorders of depression and anxiety.

 

In the second year:

To equip participants with the knowledge necessary to go on to develop skills in the application of cognitive behavioural theory and therapy to a broader range of clinical presentations.

To provide high quality training in the application of CBT to personality based difficulties.

To enable trainees to develop competencies consistent with the competencies framework for psychological interventions with people with ‘personality disorder’ developed by Roth & Pilling (2013)   Psychological Interventions with People with Personality Disorder | UCL Psychology and Language Sciences - UCL – University College London and in particular the CBT specific competencies CBT for PD web version May 2015.pdf (ucl.ac.uk)

 

Applicants for this programme will predominantly be current staff within Secondary Care Mental Health Services, who have the support of their Manager/Clinical Lead, and for whom funding is available from NHSE.

They will be predominantly qualified members of the main mental health professions (Clinical Psychologists, Psychiatric Nurses, Psychiatrists, Mental Health Social Workers, Occupational Therapists in Mental Health, Accredited Counsellors). Please consult the following link for a list of all health, Mental health and social care professions currently accepted by BABCP as a recognised core profession, which will be accepted as entry criteria: Core Professions (babcp.com)

Applicants without one of these recognised core professions will be considered for eligibility via the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA) framework based on that developed by the BABCP. The KSA requirements for this training programme will be sent out to applicants.  An example of KSA requirements can be found on the BABCP website Knowledge Skills and Attitudes (babcp.com)

Applicants will generally be graduates, although non-graduate applications can be accepted if they demonstrate equivalence to level 6 academic standards.

The training component is in the form of lectures, workshops and supervision of clinical practice. Attendance is weekly, on one day per week, over each of the two academic years.

 

Course days will be comprised of weekly supervision in the morning and skills workshops in the afternoon.  These workshops will include those delivered by local, regional and national leaders in the field of CBT / personality disorder.

The PG Diploma programme starts in November.

If you are interested in this programme, you will need to talk to your service manager, who should be aware of the allocation of funding for places available in your service and be able to facilitate access to application forms.

Via PTTC application form: Subject to local service support and approval.

Via NHS jobs application form: Some trainee therapist posts for this programme will be available via NHS jobs in some service areas across the Northwest. These posts are usually advertised in June and July for an Autumn start. We suggest you monitor NHS jobs during this period. Speak to your Psychology Lead / service manager for details as to availability of this option in your area.   The Training Centre does not have any involvement with the advertising of these posts.