PYMFIT: Introduction to CBT

Module code: PYMFIT

Module provider: Psychology; School of Psych and Clin Lang Sci

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Paul Jenkins, email: p.jenkins@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): This module is only available to MSc Theory and Practice in Clinical Psychology with Clinical Placement, or MSc Theory and Practice in Clinical Psychology with Research Placement students. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module will provide students with an introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), including an overview of the importance of evidence-based psychological interventions based oncurrent theoretical understanding of common psychiatric disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression).The module will also cover contemporaryevidence relevant to both the models of psychological disorder and the efficacy of associated treatments.Students will be guided through key stages of CBT, including assessment, formulation, and endings.The module will also introduce therapeutic tools for treating common psychological disorders and discuss their practical application. 

Some aims of the module include: 

• Developing a systematic understanding of the role of evidence-based psychological treatments in the provision of psychological services; 
• To have an awareness of current problems and/or new insights at the forefront of current knowledge in the fields of CBT and evidence-based practiceand discuss the role of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the provision of psychological therapy; 
• Providing students with an introduction to evidence-based psychological treatment and highlight the particular importance of CBT in the treatment of common psychiatric disorders; 
• To develop a conceptual understanding of CBT, including a historical and conceptual overview of CBT and an understanding of CBT theory; 
• To introduce key therapeutic skills and strategies used in CBT. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Understand the interface between research, clinical practice, and the policies endorsed by the National Health Service (NHS); 
2. Critically evaluate psychological therapies, principally CBT, in terms of their level of evidence for treating common psychiatric disorders; 
3. Produce CBT-informed formulations based on simulated presenting problems; and 
4. Describe core CBT skills, such as thought records and behavioural experiments 

Module content

The module will be taught across one semester, with topics covered from a list such as: 

• The fundamentals of evidence-based psychological treatments, with a particular focus on CBT; 
• Assessment and formulation in CBT; 
• Setting goals, agendas, and agreeing homework; 
• Core CBT techniques (e.g., behavioural experiments, reviewing thought records); and 
• Use of self-reflection and supervision. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures / seminars; small group work; audio and video recording; role-play exercises and group discussion; online discussion boards via Blackboard Learn; examples leading to production of a cognitive behavioural formulation for a ‘patient’; practice of CBT skills in students’ own lives. 

Several introductory textbooks (on CBT) may be of use. 

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

The course will include role-play exercises and discussion, as well as written assignments to support learning and subsequent summative assessment. 

Reassessment

Additional costs