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PGDip Cognitive Behaviour Therapy High Intensity

Our Cognitive Behaviour Therapy High Intensity Postgraduate Diploma from University of Birmingham provides a significant component of the current requirements for accreditation as a cognitive behavioural therapist by the BABCP. You will gain the knowledge and clinical skills to operate effectively as a psychological therapist.

Quick Facts

  
Full-Time Duration: 1 year
Starting in: September
Tuition Fee: TBA
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom

This High Intensity Diploma is joint funded by Health Education England and local NHS Commissioners and is designed to provide a postgraduate training for Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) High Intensity Cognitive Behaviour Therapists.

The Diploma from University of Birmingham aims to teach students to achieve the level of knowledge and clinical skills to operate effectively as psychological therapists, using evidence-based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy methods routinely in their work.

Following the success of the IAPT initiative in primary care mental health services, work is in progress to maintain existing IAPT services and to extend into other services whose users could benefit from psychological therapies. This may include a range of mental health services, addictions services, and physical health care services. For trainees to be successful, they will attend university two days per week and three days per week clinical placement, with supervision. Placements are most successful within an IAPT service, and funding is available only to those on placement within specified IAPT or IAPT-commissioned services.

Courses include:

  • Principles and Practice of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anxiety Disorders
  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Depression

“The transition from undergrad to postgrad can be a big step up in terms of workload and what is expected of you, but there is so much support available to you as a postgrad student, from academic writing support (if you’ve been out of education for a few years or just want a bit of extra help) to mental health and wellbeing services. The careers support is fantastic – the uni puts on employer fairs throughout the year and you have access to one on one support from the Careers Network team, who can help you develop your skills ready for your next step!”

Emma Sutton // PhD Psychology

Careers

The course provides students with all the experience they need to meet the requirements to become accredited as Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists with the BABCP. As such, employment prospects are very good, since BABCP accreditation is a highly sought after standard among psychotherapists both within the NHS and in other services. Over 95% of students enter employment immediately upon successful completion of the programme, with the vast majority of these taking up posts within the NHS or third sector organisations. A smaller number sign up for locum posts with employment agencies or set up in private practice.

Requirements

The courses are designed to meet the criteria for accreditation with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist. Thus, to be eligible to enter training, individuals must hold a relevant core profession or be able to demonstrate the equivalent knowledge, skills and attitudes. Please see the accreditation section of the BABCP website for further details.

Applicants must be qualified in one of a list of BABCP determined core professions:

  • Arts Therapists – HCPC Registered
  • Counselling – Accredited with the BACP, IACP, COSCA, or FDAP (NCAC)
  • Medicine – Psychiatrist or General Practitioner, MBChB or MBBS, and usually PG training with membership of MRCGP, MRCP or MRCPsych
  • Occupational Therapy – BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy, MSc Occupational Therapy, or Dip C.O.T and HCPC Registered

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