MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (Children and Adolescents) (BABCP accredited) (incorporating PG Cert/PG Dip)

Start date: If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in: September 2012

Course length: Two years of full time study or three years part time.

Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus

This course focuses on your personal and professional development by:

• Increasing your theoretical understanding as it applies to children and adolescents
• Enhancing your clinical and professional skills and adapting them for children and adolescents
• Increasing your awareness to become a 'reflective practitioner' operating from a scientific evidence base
• Deepening your personal insight.

It will help you to:

• Develop your understanding of the theoretical, social, cultural and ideological contexts in which your clients perceive, confront and manage problems
• Engage in an in-depth consideration and analysis of the major trends and orientations within Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (CBP) with children and adolescents
• Adopt an informed and critical approach to the professionalisation of psychotherapy with particular reference to ethical issues
• Develop your skills in the delivery of CBP with children and adolescents and their carers
• Undertake a piece of research or project related to the theory and practice of CBP with children and adolescents.

This course is occupationally focused and helps you become a highly skilled cognitive behavioural psychotherapist with children and adolescents. You'll also have the opportunity to develop exceptional communication and networking skills. At the same time, the course informs and directs your practice through critical reflection and the interpretation of research findings.

What you’ll study
This course is made up of three stages – Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc.

You will need to come into University on Wednesdays from 9.30am until 4.30pm. During the first semester you will also need to come into University twice at the beginning of the semester between 5pm and 7.30pm for skills development workshops. From November you’ll need to arrange time for clinical practice and allow time for clinical supervision. As we have strict requirements for supervision in terms of qualification and experience we ask you to find a BABCP accredited practitioner who offers supervision before you start the course. You may have two supervisors, one for adult clients and one for child clients.

Postgraduate Certificate
You’ll study these modules:

• Fundamentals of Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (20 credits)
• Cognitive Behavioural Specialist Practice (Child and Adolescents) (20 credits)
• Cognitive Behavioural Professional Requirements (20 credits)

Postgraduate Diploma
You’ll study these modules:

• Ethics, Law and Research in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (20 credits)
• Cognitive Behavioural Advanced Practice and Professional Requirements (40 credits)

MSc
You’ll study this module:

Independent Scholarship (60 credits)
You’ll prepare a dissertation by research. This can be a literature based study or some sort of practice based study. You’ll study independently an area of child or adolescent cognitive behavioural psychotherapy of interest to you, but you’ll be supported by specialist supervisors on a regular basis. You’ll also attend University for a number of specialist workshops.

This is a specialist course.

UK/EU students

• £815 per module (you usually take 9 of these modules in total)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

How you'll learn

Some of the teaching styles that we use are small group work, role play, debate and case formulation.

How you're assessed

Study is 50% theory and 50% practice, so you’ll have the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned on a regular basis, developing your skills with children, adolescents and their carers.

The government formally recognises the need for specialist practitioners in CBP with children and adolescents. As a result you will be amongst the first to shape services delivering CBP to children. On completion of the course you can expect to gain employment in Children and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS), the NHS, Primary Care, Social Care, Youth Justice, education, the independent sector or the voluntary sector.

Alternatively you may take up a research post or go on to Doctoral level training.