Course Fee: $855 (Canadian currency)
This diploma course in CBT will equip you with the knowledge, techniques and skills required for using CBT in your work with your clients.
Specifically, this course will discuss the following: identifying, challenging and changing clients’ faulty thoughts and beliefs; understanding common cognitive errors; the role of rules in faulty, maladaptive thinking; the role of homework in CBT; the ABC model; how to use CBT constructs and tools such as a DRDT, the Downward Arrow Technique, the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, Socratic Questioning and Guided Discovery, and the use of self-monitoring and graded task performance. In addition, we will show how CBT is used to help clients set and achieve important goals, and to work on their personal development. Also, we will show how it is used with relationship concerns, anxiety, depression, anger, stress and addiction, and how gains made by clients can be maintained over time.
SYLLABUS
Part 1
Module 1: Introduction to CBT
Topics Studied
• The basic premises of CBT
• Differentiating between thoughts and beliefs
• How automatic thoughts develop
• Tracking our automatic thoughts
• Common cognitive errors
• Schemata, or core beliefs
• Playing by the rules
• Introducing the ABC model
• Correcting thought distortions
• Distancing and decentring
• CBT’s triadic structure
• Brushing up skills: Confronting prejudice
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• List common cognitive errors.
• Describe the ABC model.
• Distinguish between automatic thoughts and core beliefs.
Part 1 Module 2: Cognitive Techniques and Skills
Topics Studied
• CBT and the counselling relationship
• Key counselling microskills
• Understanding and applying cognitive techniques
• The Daily Record of Dysfunctional Thoughts (DRDT)
• The Downward Arrow Technique
• The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale
• Socratic questioning and guided discovery
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Identify the key counselling microskills.
• Explain how to use a DRDT.
• Apply the Downward Arrow Technique.
Part 1 Module 3: Behavioural Techniques and Skills
Topics Studied
• Understanding and applying active listening skills
• Teaching clients problem-solving skills
• The therapeutic use of behavioural tasks
• The value of self-monitoring
• The use of homework assignments
• Reviewing homework: Blocks and failures
• Graded Task Performance
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Outline the steps involved in self-monitoring.
• Explain the purpose of homework assignments.
• Describe Graded Task Performance.
Part 1 Module 4: CBT and Relationships
Topics Studied
• A cognitive perspective on relationships
• Mind reading in relationships
• Misreading the signals
• The role of expectations in relationships
• Symbolism in relationships
• The negative effects of prejudicial thinking
• Changing our perspective
• Brushing up on skills: Effective listening
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Discuss mind reading in relationships.
• Describe how we “misread the signals”.
• Explain the role of symbols in relationships.
Part 1 Module 5: CBT and Depression
Topics Studied
• Depression and loss
• Cognitive responses to loss
• The depressive chain reaction
• Working towards cognitive reorganisation
• Applying CBT techniques and strategies in your work with depressed clients
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Outline the relationship between depression and loss.
• List common cognitive responses to loss.
• Describe the depressive chain reaction.
Part 1 Module 6: CBT, Anxiety and Hostility
Topics Studied
• The symptoms of anxiety
• Phobias
• Psychosocial fears
• Generalised anxiety disorder
• The problem of egocentric thinking
• The hostility sequence
• Self-esteem, self-image and CBT
• Self-esteem, anger and hostility
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Explain the relationship between thinking and psychosocial fears.
• Describe the hostility sequence.
• Outline the relationship between self-esteem, anger and hostility.
Part 2 Module 1: Emotions and CBT
Topics Studied
• Exploring the relationship between thoughts and feelings
• Separating thoughts from emotions
• Reviewing cognitive distortions
• Addressing emotions
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Discuss the relationship between thoughts and feelings.
• Use coping statements to counteract wrong thinking.
• Describe the relationship between conditioning and emotions.
Part 2 Module 2: Applying Additional CBT Techniques
Topics Studied
• Goal setting in CBT
• Using imagery and visualization
• What is mindfulness?
• Some of the key benefits of mindfulness
• Some helpful mindfulness exercises
• The difference between mindfulness and meditation
• Some helpful meditation exercises
• The difference between meditation and relaxation
• Finding ways to relax and unwind
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Outline the value of goal-setting in CBT.
• Suggest how to use imagery and visualization in CBT.
• Discuss the benefits of teaching mindfulness in CBT.
Part 2 Module 3: CBT and Personal Growth
Topics Studied
• Listening to our self-talk
• Categorizing negative narrations
• Developing a healthy self-esteem
• Building shame resilience
• The importance of self-compassion
• Self-compassion exercises
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• List the four common negative narrations.
• Outline how CBT can be used to help clients develop healthy self-esteem.
• Discuss the value of self-compassion.
Part 2 Module 4: CBT and Stress
Topics Studied
• Understanding stress
• The biology of stress
• Seven major sources of stress
• Stress, control and choice
• Identifying when you’re feeling stressed
• Uncovering the meaning attached to stressful thoughts
• Road blocks to confronting and managing stress
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• List seven major sources of stress.
• Comment on the link between locus of control and feelings of stress.
• Discuss road blocks to confronting and managing stress.
Part 2 Module 5: CBT and Addictions
Topics Studied
• Signs indicating we’re addicted
• Why use CBT to treat an addiction?
• What happens at a CBT session
• The 5 Ws (or a functional analysis) of an addiction
• Understanding the cycle of addiction
• Triggers (conditioned cues)
• Understanding cravings or urges
• Formulating an Action Plan
• Targeting the client’s cognitive distortions
• The daily record of dysfunctional thoughts (DRDT)
• Additional CBT strategies and tools
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• List the five Ws of addiction.
• Outline how CBT can be used to effectively deal with triggers.
• Discuss the benefits of formulating an Action Plan.
Part 2 Module 6: Achieving Lasting Gains with CBT
Topics Studied
• What if I feel that I’m not making progress?
• Working on maintaining clients’ gains
• Being aware of personal triggers
• Planning a self-therapy session
• The counsellor’s personal moral qualities
• Providing a good standard of practice and care
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Outline how to work on maintaining clients’ gains
• Discuss the need to develop an awareness of the client’s personal triggers.
• Suggest how to plan a self-therapy session.
Suggested textbook for the course (to be purchased by the student)
Trower, P., Jones, J., & Dryden, W. (2015). Cognitive behavioural counselling in action. (3rd Ed.). SAGE: London.