Career Info | Cognitive Behavioural Studies and Skills (not a license for practice), Advanced University Diploma

Course Description:

Course code: UB9BA Level: 6

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is designed to help people who may be experiencing a range of mental health difficulties, causing extreme distress in their emotions and behaviour. This Advanced University Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Studies and Skills is a perfect entry level course to help you learn more about CBT.

It could be your first step toward becoming an accredited psychotherapist; this qualification alone will not give you a licence to practice but may help you decide if this is a career you wish to pursue. Alternatively as a mental health nurse, social worker or occupational therapist, you can bring an additional dimension to your role, benefiting both you and your patients.

It will allow you entry on to our British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) accredited MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy which will allow you to become a highly skilled cognitive behavioural therapist.

An ideal introduction to CBT

A diverse range of people take this course, which makes for more interesting class discussions and debates. Students are typically from mental health, nursing, social work or occupational therapy backgrounds, from all over the world. You will need a related qualification, but you might be an aspiring therapist or counsellor, or already have years of experience in such a role. If you want to work towards becoming an accredited cognitive behavioural therapist, this online Advanced University Diploma will count as one of the four years of training required.

An online course, but there's plenty of opportunities to practice

You may be surprised to learn that CBT can be studied online. But through our use of specially designed, interactive teaching methods you’ll participate in virtual classrooms and online discussion forums where you can discuss and debate relevant topics with fellow online students. So in many ways it’s a ‘safe’, less daunting environment in which to learn.

Studying online gives you the flexibility to study at the most convenient time and place for you. Course modules still operate within a fixed trimester but you can choose to study during the day, in the evenings or at the weekend rather than having to attend fixed lectures.

You will need to complete the following modules.

Modules:

Stage 1

Applied Cognitive Behavioural Theory
- Code:6CL502
- Info:
  This module explores the various theoretical explanations of cognitive behavioural therapy. You will examine various disorders including Panic, Anxiety, Phobias and Depression.
  On successful completion of this module you wil be able to critically analyse the contribution cognitive behavioural theory has made to our understanding of human problems.
  Topics covered may include include:
  - Cognitive and behavioural explanations of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the associated theory base
  - Cognitive and behavioural explanations of Depression and the associated theory base
  - Cognitive and behavioural explanations of Anxiety
  - Cognitive and behavioural explanations of Phobias.
- Credits:20
- Stage:Stage 1
- Core:Core module
Assessment in Cognitive Behavioural Practice
- Code:6CL500
- Info:
  The skills of conducting an assessment is one of the key skills that contribute to successful outcomes in cognitive behavioural therapy. This module introduces the student to the nature of assessment within cognitive behavioural practice, the difference between ideographic and nomothetic assessment, the use of measurements and the nature of the relationship within cognitive behavioural practice. You'll have the opportunity to observe and critique examples of assessments.
  On successful completion of this module, you will be able to critically analyse the use of relational and interviewing skills in cognitive behavioural practice.
  Topics covered may include:
  - The nature of the relationship in cognitive behavioural practice
  - Interviewing skills
  - Nomothetic and ideographic models of assessment, their uses and abuses
  - Types of measurement, including observational and self report
  - Uses of cognitive behavioural assessment.
- Credits:20
- Stage:Stage 1
- Core:Core module
Issues and Debates on Diagnostics and Medication in Mental Health
- Code:6CL501
- Info:
  Practitioners such as nurses, counsellor’s and psychotherapists need to be able to communicate with psychiatrists, other members of mental health teams and medical staff in primary care and other medical settings. In addition practitioners are often required to give opinions in a legal context. Furthermore the psychological literature uses diagnostic classification as the basis for empirical research.
  It is therefore imperative that practitioners are able to make use of diagnostic classifications in order to communicate accurately and use the literature to inform practice. Practitioners will also regularly come into contact with clients who are taking or may require a joint medication and psychological psychotherapeutic approach. It is therefore important that a working knowledge of prescribed medications and psychopharmacology (the study of drug-induced changes in mood, sensation, thinking, and behaviour) is acquired.
  On successful completion of this module, you will be able to critically analyse:
  - the use of ICD 10 and DSM 4 (diagnotic classifications) in order to identify a range of psychological and emotional disorders
  - the modes of action and interactions of commonlyused medications for psychopathology
  - the aetiology and treatment of specific psychopathologies.
  Topics covered can include:
  - Diagnostic classification (ICD and DSM)
  - Diagnostic reliability and validity
  - Strengths and limitations of diagnostic classification
  - Psychiatric medications, i.e. antidepressants, anti-psychotics (standard and atypical), tranquillisers, hypnotics, beta-blockers
  - Common medications used in chronic physical health problems eg diabetes, cardiac conditions, cancer
  - Drug interactions and side effects.
- Credits:20
- Stage:Stage 1
- Core:Core module

Entry Requirements:

You will need:

a University Diploma in Counselling or an equivalent qualification
the ability to work independently
to complete an online application form with suitable references.

If English is not your first language you will need an English language qualification. For this course you will need at least one of the following:

IELTS 6.0
TOEFL 550 (paper based) 213 (computer based) or 80 (internet based)
Pearson Test of Academic English: 51
Cambridge Advanced Certificate: Pass
London Tests of English: we accept level 4 for undergraduate courses
International GCE O Level English Language: Grade C
International GCSE English/English as a Second Language: Grade C

Course Fees:

Per Module Modules Total Start
UK/EU £620 3 £1,860* Sept/Jan/May
Overseas £660 3 £1,980* Sept/Jan/May

*Prices correct for 2013/2014. Subject to annual increase in September 2014.

Flexible payment plans available

Choose from three options:

Pay only for the modules you are studying
Pay your full course fees upfront, receive a 5% discount and avoid annual increases
Pay for all modules studied in the year and receive a 5% discount (September enrolment only)

Find out more

Funding options for undergraduate UK students

Depending on where you are from in the UK, you may be eligible for a part time student loan towards the cost of your undergraduate degree. Find out more about the options available to you.

Career Information:

Becoming an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

In order to become an accredited cognitive behavioural psychotherapist with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), you'll need to complete four years of training. This Advanced Diploma course is the first step and accounts for one year of that training.

To complete the final three years of training, you can undertake our MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy – many of our students who have chosen to stay on to do this find it helps them become highly skilled cognitive behavioural psychotherapists.

As a mental health nurse or practicing counsellor, this course can provide you with additional skills to enhance your current job, as well as CPD credits.

What some of our online learning students have said about this course:

"This course provided me with a very good introduction to the world of cognitive behavioural psychotherapy, and it has helped me to reassess my career options and where I want to take my life."
John Aitken, who studied this course and has now progressed onto our MSc Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the course. It provided a sound introduction to the world of Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy and confirmed my desire to become an accredited CB Therapist.”
Farishta Jalal, Graduate

	Per Module	Modules	Total	Start
UK/EU	£620	3	£1,860*	Sept/Jan/May
Overseas	£660	3	£1,980*	Sept/Jan/May

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