PYMIN1-Introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Evidence-Based Psychological Treatment

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Modules excluded: APEL
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Email: katherine.simons@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module will provide students with an introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) through 8 half-day teaching sessions. This module will introduce students to the essential need to develop psychological interventions that are based on: (1) Current theoretical understanding of common psychological disorders (e.g., anxiety and depressive disorders) and (2) Empirical evidence relevant to both the models of psychological disorder and the efficacy of associated treatments. The module will also introduce key therapeutic tools for treating common psychological disorders and discuss their practical utility.

Aims:

1. To develop students’ understanding of the role evidence-based psychological treatments play in the provision of psychological services


2. To develop students’ understanding of the role of both the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme


3. To provide students with an introduction to evidence-based psychological treatment and highlight the particular importance of CBT in the treatment of common psychological disorders.


4. To provide students with an historical and conceptual overview of CBT


5. To train students to understand CBT theory and key therapeutic skills and strategies used in CBT

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Understand the interface between research and clinical practice

• Critically evaluate therapies in terms of their level of evidence for treating common psychological disorders and the resultant clinical guidelines produced by NICE.

• Devise personalised CBT formulations and use thought records and behavioural experiments appropriately and effectively.

Additional outcomes:

Students will learn to use thought records effectively to identify their own personal difficulties and design ways to overcome these.

Outline content:

A block of Four days of face to face teaching will cover:

• The fundamentals of evidence-based psychological treatments and CBT


• Assessment and formulation in CBT


• The course of therapy Part 1 (e.g. agenda setting, goals, homework)


• The course of therapy – Part 2 (e.g. cognitive techniques, behavioural techniques, relapse prevention)

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures/small group work, video recording, role-play exercises and discussion, 'homework assignments' to produce a cognitive behavioural formulation for a client; to keep personal thought records and to design and implement behavioural experiments.

Contact hours:

Four teaching days in total = 23 hours

Summative assessment- Examinations:

The assessment comprises short open-ended essay style questions to assess the student's ability to comprehend, critique and implement fundamental CBT premises and interventions. Students will have 90 minutes to complete the exam

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:
Role-play exercises and discussion; written assignments.

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:

The assessment will be marked on a pass/fail basis with a 50% pass mark.

A minimum of 80% attendance is required.

Reassessment arrangements:

Students who do not obtain the required pass mark in the summative assessed work will be given the opportunity to resubmit, on one further occasion, any individual assessment that has been failed. The re-sit grade cannot exceed 50%. If a student does not complete the required attendance, they are expected to catch up on missed teaching hours by watching a recording of the session and submitting a 1500-word reflective piece on the topic.  If attendance falls below 80% for any module it will not be possible to make up the missed teaching in the current year.  Arrangements can be made for students to attend missed teaching in the following year in order to pass the module but this would delay completion of the Diploma.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 29 June 2020