PGDip Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Study Mode: Part Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Two Years
- Start Date: September 2023
You can also study this course:
Please note: This course is subject to reaccreditation status with the BABCP.
This programme leads to eligibility to apply for accreditation as a cognitive behavioural therapist.
Through workshops, research projects, specialist modules and hands-on learning, you’ll gain the key knowledge and understanding you need to start your career. We will also teach you the necessary skills to support others.
On successful completion, you can also then progress on to our MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy if you wish to do so.
Application guide
For information on how you can boost your career-prospects and apply for our postgraduate courses, follow our application guide.
Postgraduate Open Days
Join us for a Postgraduate Open Day where you can discuss your options and chosen course with our course leaders.
Why study this subject?
Actively promoted by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), CBT is an evidence-based therapy recommended to treat a range of mental health problems. The techniques can be applied in general medical, nursing and psychological practice. So, whether your goal is to become a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist or you want to apply the techniques in a broader context, this course gives you the skills and practical training you need to be confident in theory and practice.
Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
We value our partnerships within the local community, including the West London NHS Trust, one of the largest mental health providers in the UK. The Trust is responsible for well-known institutions such as Broadmoor and other clinics treating more specific illnesses, like personality disorders.
BNU offers flexible study spread over one or two years, allowing you to study alongside employment and fit things around your lifestyle. Whether you're training to build skills to apply in your current role or looking to change your career path, this course ensures you can immediately apply Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques in a professional setting.
Our PGDip in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is Level 2. The award meets the national minimum training standards for CBT and confers eligibility for accreditation as a CBT therapist. If you leave at the end of year one, or complete an equivalent to the first year of the programme, you will be awarded a PGCert in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
What will I study?
This course demonstrates how CBT can be used effectively to tackle a diverse range of mental health disorders, from depression and panic attacks to workplace stress and anger management. You will analyse how individuals think, in order to encourage positive behavioural change.
By the time you finish the course you'll have the ability to put theory into practice. You'll begin by learning how to treat mild depression and anxiety and progress towards the treatment of more complex cases.
How will I be taught and assessed?
As well as being supported by your tutors, who are experts in their field, you'll also benefit from specialised workshops delivered by guest speakers to help bolster your understanding and contribute to your learning. Their expertise and real-world experience will emphasise how your qualification will benefit the improved mental health of others.
As well as lectures and workshops, you'll be taught through supervised practice, practical use of our psychology laboratory, you'll contribute to group presentations and have individual tutorials. You'll also have access to our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) throughout the course where you'll be able to access online resources and participate in group forum discussions with your peers.
We encourage all of our students to spend time on personal therapy/self-reflection which is often a requirement of some placement providers to ensure any personal issues do not interfere with client work. As a practitioner, this is a helpful practice to develop and maintain throughout your professional career.
What facilities can I use?
Our library is packed with all the information you need for your assessments and there’s plenty of room to knuckle down for some quiet study.
Whilst studying with us you will also use our BucksAnywhere web service, which provides access to many of the software applications you use for learning and studying. BucksAnywhere can be used from your own device or from a University owned PC or laptop, from any location.
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will include a relevant degree, for example psychology, or the equivalent from an allied field.
You must also have at least two year's post-graduation work experience working with vulnerable adults and/or those with mental health problems.
It is a pre-requisite of the course that applicants have access to a clinical population to enable them to implement their CBT training into practice.
Applicants wishing to apply for full time or part time:
- Have a good undergraduate degree – 1st, 2:1; 2:2 (we advise this be in a Psychology / Mental health related area - Psychology, psychological therapy (such as counselling or CBT), Mental Health Nurse at degree level etc).
- (a) Have completed training in an eligible core mental health profession, as featured on the BABCP eligible professions list.
OR
- (b) Meet BABCP KSA portfolio requirements (If the applicant does not belong to a core profession, recognised by the BABCP).
- The applicant may be eligible for the condensed portfolio requirements (BABCP guidance)
- If the applicant does not have a recognised core profession or meet the requirements for a condensed portfolio, they will have to complete a full portfolio
- The portfolios will need to have been reviewed by the KSA course selector, prior to admission.
- The student will need to have completed 1 year accountable practice in a mental health setting, following the attainment of skills and competencies required for the KSA portfolio or following core professional training. The one-year accountable practice would have been completed prior to commencing the course (this can be the year leading up to the course).
- Clinical supervision will need to be in place prior to acceptance on the course – Clinical supervisors will need to provide assurance letters that they are contracted or have agreed to provide clinical supervision and they are BABCP accredited therapists or posses additional accreditation in CBT clinical supervision (e.g. BABCP accredited supervisor).
- Clinical placement agreements need to be in place prior to commencing the course. Assurance letters from placements will need to be in place, prior to starting the course. Clinical skills training commences immediately and cases need to be focussed on common mental health problems – anxiety, trauma and depression. Psychological trauma training is in year 2 for part time students or half way through the course for full time students – we do not recommend working with trauma at the start of the course.
Applicants wishing to apply for the full time route only:
- For full time applicants, the student will need to have a firm clinical placement in place already with access to at least 5+ cases. This can be a placement in which the applicant is familiar with and they may already work or volunteer. This needs to be in place prior to commencement on the course. Work based assurance letters will be required as evidence this is the case, detailing the number of cases the student will have access to and the problems will be single episode common mental health problems. Cases that present with complex symptoms are not advised.
- The full time route would ideally suit organisations wishing to second their staff for training or self funding students who already work in a psychological therapy setting, with access to people seeking help for common mental health problems (e.g. an IAPT service or self employment as a therapist trained in a different therapeutic modality).
- All other students would need to apply for the part time route.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
Year 1 Modules
CBT Theory and Practice: Foundation
CBT Skills: Foundation
CBT Skills: Advanced
Reflective Practice
Year 2 Modules
Research and Integrated Practice
CBT Theory and Practice: Advanced
Advanced Reflective Practice
Applications of CBT
What are the tuition fees
Home
Home, Academic Year 2023 - 2024
£5,100 per year
What are my career prospects?
Graduates are eligible to become accredited as a cognitive behavioural therapist. This is a recognised qualification sought by employers in the NHS, Education, Business and Charitable sectors.
