MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy*

This course is for people already working in a healthcare setting (in areas including psychiatry, clinical and forensic psychology, occupational therapy, social work, nursing, general medical practitioners) who are interested in delivering CBT in clinical settings.

It will provide sufficient theoretical and skills training and can develop your career as a therapist and the service you provide. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the model of psychotherapy most tested by research trials for a range of mental and even physical disorders, ranging from depression, anxiety and phobias to eating disorders, schizophrenia and chronic pain. Healthcare professionals are increasingly required to demonstrate a flexible, multidisciplinary approach to make the best use of skills and resources. The NHS actively promotes provision of evidence-based management. CBT is the evidence-based psychotherapy par excellence. It can be effective as a stand-alone treatment and can also be used in conjunction with other medical or psychological treatments. The model is versatile and creative and its techniques can be used selectively in general medical, psychological and nursing practice, as well as informing whole courses of integrated treatment.

This course will help you refine your CBT skills, empower you to use the model in a range of clinical situations, and focus on the development of a respectful and pro-active relationship with patients. The therapeutic alliance is central to the delivery of CBT and the course will teach you to forge a positive collaborative relationship with patients as a means of improving and maintaining the patient’s mental health. The course is delivered by staff of NHS Lothian and Greater Glasgow.

EXIT AWARDS: MSc (180 credits)/PgDip (120 credits)/ PgCert (60 credits)
Delivery: Royal Infirmery, Edinburgh andGartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow

Single Modules: It is not possible to study single modules

Duration: Part-time: 1 year (PgCert), 2 years (PgDip), additional 12-18 months required for MSc.
Start date: PgDip - September 2012/PgCert September 2013PgCert - September 2013

Application deadline: May 2013
Teaching, learning and assessment: The teaching and learning methods used will encourage participative and independent learning and you will attend a clinical placement one day per week. Assessment methods will include essays, audio recordings of therapy sessions, case studies and supervisor assessments.
Teaching hours and attendance: You will attend lectures one day per fortnight from September to June and in the weeks between lectures will see patients and receive supervision. If you go on to follow the Masters route, you will also attend a clinical placement one day per week. You will be required to carry out a significant amount of independent work each week (see NHS website for more details).
Links with industry/professional bodies: On completion, you can apply to be accredited by the BABCP (British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies) in due course.