University of Sussex
School of Psychology
Postgraduate Diploma / MSc
in Psychological Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Complex Difficulties Pathway
Course details for 2013 entry
Course overview
Do you want to train as a Psychological Therapist, using
the most effective therapeutic methods to help people
overcome and manage mental health difficulties?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a form of psychological
therapy that has been well researched and has a track
record of effectiveness for many types of psychological
problem. It is recognised as a treatment of choice for
mental health difficulties ranging from anxiety and
depression to psychosis (National Institute for Health and
Clinical Excellence; NICE).
The Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Therapy
offers a flexible, modular professional training that will
fulfil all of the requirements for successful graduates to
apply for professional accreditation as a Cognitive
Behavioural Psychotherapist with the British Association
of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).
An additional Masters Research component may be
completed after the PG Diploma. The Masters will equip
graduates to undertake practice-based research of
relevance to CBT. Students may currently register for a
whole pathway, and some modules can also be attended
as Continuing Professional Development for qualified
therapists.
The Course is offered in partnership between the
University of Sussex School of Psychology and Sussex
Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, bringing together a
top rated academic institution with world class research
profile in applied Psychology and an NHS Trust which is
a Teaching Trust of Brighton and Sussex Medical
School.
The Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for
Complex Difficulties Pathway
This pathway is designed to serve the needs of mental
health practitioners wanting to train as cognitive
behavioural therapists who will work primarily with more
severe, enduring and complex presentations of mental
health problems, in either outpatient or inpatient services.
The completion of this pathway ensures that fundamental
CBT competencies are gained, before moving on to
more complex presentations of depression, anxiety,
psychosis and personality disorder.
Careers
This Postgraduate Diploma / MSc Pathway is for you if
you have a recognised core professional training in
mental health, such as Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry,
Mental Health Nursing, Mental Health Social Work.
Occupational Therapy, Counselling (BACP accredited),
and want to achieve the requirements for accreditation
as a cognitive behavioural therapist.
Graduates of this course will be equipped to work as
CBT therapists in the NHS and other mental health
services serving the needs of people with complex
mental health problems.
Course aims
This course is a high quality practitioner training, focused
on the development of competencies to practice CBT
University of Sussex
School of Psychology
Postgraduate Diploma / MSc
in Psychological Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Complex Difficulties Pathway
Course details for 2013 entry
effectively. It emphasises both the empirical basis and
the reflective practice of Psychological Therapy.
Students will receive expert supervision of practice and
be assessed for CBT competence against nationally
recognised norms.
Course Structure
Term
Autumn
(Oct-Dec)
Taught component
Assessment
Module 1: Fundamentals of CBT
(12 Days attendance)
Reflective Report of
self-practice with CBT
methods (2000)
Assessment and engagement
Therapeutic alliance
Formulation
Socratic dialogue
Use of structure and practice
assignments
Evidence Base
Self-practice
Spring
(Jan-Apr)
Summer
(May-Sept)
Module 2: CBT for Anxiety
(Complex presentations)
(6 days attendance)
Panic Disorder/Agoraphobia
Social Anxiety
GAD
OCD
PTSD
Module 3: CBT for Depression
(Complex Presentations)
(5 days attendance)
Behavioural Activation; Cognitive
Therapy for Depression
Module 4: CBT for Psychosis
(6 days attendance)
Engagement
Working with families and carers
Coping strategy enhancement
Interventions for delusions and voices
CBT for Bipolar Disorder
Module 5: CBT for Personality
Disorder
(6 days attendance)
Engagement; Interpersonal
Processes
Cognitive and Behavioural change
methods
Emotional regulation
Autumn
(Oct – Jan)
No taught component
Clinical practice
Component
Evidence-base essay
(2000)
Objective Structured
Clinical Examination
(OSCE)
Anxiety Case Report
(2000 words)
Formative Audio
Recording of Therapy
Depression Case
Report (2000 words)
Module 6: Clinical
Practice
200 Hours of
Assessment and
Treatment using CBT in
your work base
Formative Audio
Recording of Therapy
70 hours of Clinical
Supervision (35
provided by the
Course)
Psychosis Case
Report (2000 words)
48 hours of attendance
for skills practice,
spread across the year
Summative Audio
Recording of Therapy
Personality Disorder
Case Report (2000
words)
Summative Audio
Recording of Therapy
Clinical Practice
Portfolio
University of Sussex
School of Psychology
Postgraduate Diploma / MSc
in Psychological Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Complex Difficulties Pathway
Course details for 2013 entry
Full-time and part-time
The Postgraduate Diploma course commences in
October 2012 and lasts 16 months for standard students.
Teaching occurs from October – August, followed by a
period of remote supervision whilst students complete
their portfolio, until the end of the course. There is also
an extended route, over 28 months for part-time
students. For part-time students the taught components
are divided between the two years of study, with Modules
1-3 completed in Year 1 and modules 4-5 in Year 2.
Module 6 (The practice component) is spread across
both years for part time students. Part time students are
not required to attend University between April 2013 and
March 2014, however supervision may be arranged on
an individual basis over this time
Distance learning options
This Course is designed to allow relatively convenient
completion regardless of your geographical base, with
teaching delivered in blocks of three days during which
you may choose to stay overnight in Brighton and Hove.
Supervision can be arranged face-to-face, by phone or
Skype taking account of your preference and location.
Entry requirements
Core Professional Qualification in Mental Health
Applicants should have a core professional qualification
in a mental health field. The full list of recognised core
professions can be found at:
http://www.babcp.com/Accreditation/Core_Professions.a
spx
Mental health professionals without one of the
recognised core professional trainings may apply for
entry to the Course by producing a “Knowledge, Skills
and Attitudes” portfolio demonstrating equivalent levels
of knowledge and experience. Guidance can be found at
http://www.babcp.com/Accreditation/Practitioner/Knowled
ge-Skills-and-Attitudes-Approach.aspx
Experience of Delivering Psychological Therapy
Previous experience of psychological interventions
delivery, whilst desirable, is not essential for entry. Some
existing awareness and knowledge of CBT will be
expected.
A mental health practitioner who has undertaken
significant training and supervised experience in CBT
may apply for exemption from the Fundamentals Module
and enter at Module 2 or undertake other assessed
modules on a flexible basis.
Attendance at individual modules for CPD requires
existing accreditation as a Psychological Therapist or
Applied Psychologist.
Academic Qualification
Applicants should possess a UK Bachelors degree in any
subject at 2:1 or above (or equivalent), OR be able to
demonstrate a recognised professional training in a
mental health field and ability to study at postgraduate
level (through production of a portfolio of written work –
details on application).
English Language
Applicants from outside the UK and EEA may be asked
to achieve a threshold score on an English language test
(details on application).
Further information
Further information about postgraduate study in the
School of Psychology can be found at:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/psychology/pgstudy
For module specific enquiries please contact the Course
Director: Lydia Turner
E: lt214@sussex.ac.uk
Further Reading
Beck, J. (1995). Cognitive Therapy: Basics and Beyond.
Guildford Press.
Beck, J. (2005). Cognitive Therapy for Challenging
Problems. Guildford Press.
Westbrook, D. Kennerley, H. and Kirk, J. (2007). An
Introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Skills and
Applications. Sage.