Stand Alone Module

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Community Mental Health Practitioners

30 Credits

Attendance:: One study day on alternate weeks over the duration of one semester
Venue:: Uxbridge Campus

Key Contact:: Carmel Joyce
Tel:: 01494 522 141
Email:: carmel.joyce@bucks.ac.uk

Is this course suitable for me?

This stand alone module builds on community workers existing mental health therapeutic skills. An increasing number of professionals working in the field of mental health require knowledge and expertise in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This therapy has a continually evolving evidence base with emphasis on therapy outcomes and universally applicable treatment methods. It has therefore been supported by a significant number of policy documents over an extended period of time. The National Service Framework (DoH, 1999); The Sainsbury Centre (2001) and the Chief Nursing Officers Review (DoH, 2006) all these documents recognise it as a skill to be developed by capable mental health practitioners.

Overview

The module will provide the opportunity for students to explore:

Its effectiveness in a wide range of mental health conditions which include severe and enduring and also more general difficulties.
The cognitive-behavioural therapy assessment model
The Five Areas cognitive-behavioural therapy model with mental health patients
To identifying and challenge unhelpful thinking
To address altered emotions (moods and feelings); physical feelings and symptoms; life situations; relationships and practical problems
To help towards overcoming reduced activity and avoidance

Content

Within the module the aim is to enable the student to be made familiar with both the cognitive and behavioural elements of CBT. By showing the student how to develop skills to enable them to identify cognitions (thoughts, attributions and beliefs) which can either enhance or interfere with effective behavioural coping; how thoughts are filtered and processed by the individual, if the person is prone to distorted thinking how this can impact on them emotionally and affect coping responses.

It is expected that the mental health worker within a clinical setting will acquire the skills of being able to explain the model to the service user, to be able to work with the person to challenge and replace distorted thoughts and unhelpful or detrimental behaviour.

The behaviour dimension for CBT will be to supp ort the mental health workers to develop skills in promoting behaviour associated with good mental health and physical health such as stress management and relaxation, exercise pacing, and adaptive social behaviour such as assertiveness training. The module by its very nature contains a theoretical and applied dimension.

What will I learn?

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

Understand how beliefs develop and their relationship to their psychological distress and disorder
Understand the theoretical concepts underpinning CBT
Identify the therapeutic use of CBT
Demonstrate an understanding of cognitive approaches used in CBT especially the principles of Socratic questioning
Demonstrate and understanding of behavioural approaches used in CBT
Understanding of the role of engagement, assessment, formulation and relapse prevention in CBT
Emphasise the importance of supervision within the delivery of CBT

The 30 credits gained from this module can also be used towards a ‘Top Up’ Degree by enrolling on the BA (Hons) Practice Development (Award). In order to complete this degree you can transfer these credits via APL.

Teaching and learning

This will vary from didactic to facilitative approaches; the methods adopted will range from lectures, seminar discussions, videos, role-play exercises and joint project working and seminar presentations. Visiting speakers may be invited according to need and expertise. You will also be encouraged to adopt responsibility for your own learning. There can also be dialogue via email and phone as mutually agreed. The use of the internet will also be encouraged as a central feature of current information sources as well as the use of Blackboard.

Entry requirements

We’ll be looking for a minimum of 12 months’ post-registration experience within a relevant area of practice.

For Level 6 (3) study you’ll need 120 credits at Level 5 (2) or equivalent if you wish to top up to degree level alternatively you will be able to undertake the course as a ‘stand alone module’.
The support of your manager will be essential.

How to make an application

We hope to have a fully on-line application system shortly, but in the meantime, to apply for a course, please download and print these forms, completing them fully and posting back to the address below.

Mike Thomson

Student Recruitment Officer

Bucks New University

106 Oxford Road

Uxbridge

UB8 1NA

If you are unable to view the forms, please click here to download a free version of adobe reader.

Alternatively, if you call us on 01494 603 171 or email ask@bucks.ac.uk we can post you a hard copy application pack.

Students funded by the NHS or other employer

If the cost of your course is being funded by your employer, please contact your education lead or manager for guidance as to how they would prefer you to make an application.