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Postgraduate Taught

PGDip Psychological Therapies Practice (Severe Mental Health Problems: CBT for Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder or Personality Disorder)

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code
Duration 2 years part time
Entry year 2023 (January start)
Campus Streatham Campus
Discipline Psychology
Contact
Typical offer

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At least two years of post-qualification experience with psychosis and/or bipolar disorder or personality disorder, plus some knowledge of CBT

Contextual offers

Overview

  • Suited to people working in secondary care and pursuing a career as a Cognitive Behaviour Therapist offering NICE-recommended treatment to people experiencing psychosis, bipolar disorder or those with a diagnosis of personality disorder.
  • Training developed in response to the UK government initiative to achieve access to NICE-recommended care packages for individuals experiencing these problems.
  • Develop your practical competency in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for psychosis and bipolar disorder or personality disorder within the context of secondary care services.
  • Understand the theoretical and research literature relating to CBT in the context of psychosis and bipolar disorder or personality disorder.
  • Develop practical competency in CBT for depression and anxiety, as well as develop critical knowledge of the theoretical and research literature relating to CBT in the context of depression and anxiety.

Post-course accreditation with the BABCP

The British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) is the accrediting body for CBT psychotherapists and for CBT training courses. This course adheres to the BABCP minimum standards for CBT training, its good practice guidelines, and its Professional Code. The course is not yet accredited but provides all of the criteria for BABCP Individual Practitioner Accreditation. The Clinical Portfolio required to complete this award is designed to easily support post-course accreditation with the BABCP.

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Clinical Education Development and Research (CEDAR)

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Contact

Programme Administrator: Alice Gooding

Email: SMHP@exeter.ac.uk

Phone: +44 1392 722780

CEDAR logo: Clinical Education Development and Research

This programme is delivered by Clinical Education, Development and Research (CEDAR): an applied psychological practice centre of excellence, focussed on training the new psychological therapies workforce of the future.

Thinking icon: a cog inside a human head

Competency-based training, delivered according to the latest evidence-informed clinical pedagogic approaches

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Dedicated training facilities equipped with video and audio recording

Graduation cap and diploma icon: symbolizing academic achievement and success.

A strong emphasis throughout the programme is placed upon your personal and professional development

Thinking icon: a cog inside a human head

Competency-based training, delivered according to the latest evidence-informed clinical pedagogic approaches

Video Camera icon

Dedicated training facilities equipped with video and audio recording

Graduation cap and diploma icon: symbolizing academic achievement and success.

A strong emphasis throughout the programme is placed upon your personal and professional development

Entry requirements

This programme is for clinicians who have had only introductory training in CBT and who require formal training in CBT for Depression and Anxiety Disorders and CBT for Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder or CBT for Personality Disorder.

Staff members applying for the programme need to meet the entry criteria stipulated by HEE which are to:

  • Have qualified in one of the core mental health professions (e.g. clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, nurse, GP, OT or Social Worker) or equivalent.
  • And have at least two years of post-qualification experience with psychosis and/or bipolar disorder or personality disorder.
  • And have some introductory knowledge and experience in CBT.

All applicants need to demonstrate the ability to work effectively at Masters level, and an interest in and enthusiasm for psychological approaches to working with people with psychosis and bipolar disorder, or personality disorder.

Staff should have the support of their manager to attend the teaching programme and be able to practice as a CBT therapist post-training.

Entry requirements for international students

Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.

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Course content

Cognitive Behavioural Therapists working in NHS secondary care services will assess and treat clients with psychosis and bipolar disorder or personality disorder, and comorbid common mental health problems using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

CBT is recommended in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines as part of the evidence-based care packages for psychosis. CBT for Personality Disorder is one of the therapies recognised within the NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) Guidance for people with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. The approach works to reduce distress, enhance understanding, alleviate symptoms, and have a positive impact on social inclusion, employment, and productivity.

Studying on this programme will allow you to:

  • Develop and update your knowledge of the fundamental principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) theory, research and practice.
  • Develop an advanced knowledge and understanding of how scientific principles inform cognitive behavioural clinical practice.
  • Develop an advanced knowledge of core clinical skills necessary for CBT practice with people experiencing psychosis, bipolar or personality disorder.
  • Develop the capacity to reflect critically on CBT theory, research and practice.
  • Be able to demonstrate how you meet the competencies required to deliver NICE-concordant CBT for psychosis and bipolar or personality disorder.
  • Develop a portfolio of training, assessment and supervised practice that would allow you to apply for accreditation as a Cognitive-Behavioural Therapist with the BABCP.

60 credits of compulsory and non-condonable modules.

a Modules PYCM104, PYCM105 and PYCM106 are taken in Year 1, modules PYCM107, PYCM108 and PYCM109 are taken in Year 2.

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
PYCM104 The Fundamentals of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [See note a above]20
PYCM105 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety and Depression - Theory [See note a above]20
PYCM106 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety and Depression - Clinical Practice [See note a above]20
PYCM107 Working with Complexity: Essential Competencies for Working with People with Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder [See note a above]20
PYCM108 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder - Theory [See note a above]20
PYCM109 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder - Clinical Practice [See note a above]20

Year 1: 60 credits of compulsory and non-condonable modules.

Year 2: 60 credits of compulsory and non-condonable modules.

Compulsory modules

CodeModule Credits
PYCM104 The Fundamentals of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [See note a above]20
PYCM105 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety and Depression - Theory [See note a above]20
PYCM106 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety and Depression - Clinical Practice [See note a above]20
PYCM110 Working with Complexity: Essential Competencies for Working with People with Personality Disorder [See note a above]20
PYCM111 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Personality Disorder - Theory [See note a above]20
PYCM112 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Personality disorder - Clinical Practice [See note a above]20

Studying on this programme will allow you to develop and update your knowledge of the fundamental principles of CBT theory, research and practice, and gain advanced clinical skills for working with people experiencing psychosis, bipolar or personality disorder.

Dr Hayley Keeble, Programme & Academic Lead

Clinical Psychologist & BABCP accredited CBT Therapist

How to apply

Applications to this programme may only be made through NHS services recruiting trainees and not directly through the University of Exeter. Posts are typically advertised internally within NHS services.

We welcome applicants from diverse cultural and personal contexts, mature applicants with extensive life experience, and applicants with disabilities. Candidates with disabilities are welcome to contact us to discuss the programme's capacity to meet their training needs. Please contact the Programme Administrator or the University AccessAbility department for further details.

Fees

£8,000 per year, funded by Health Education England, so fees are not payable by candidates.

Scholarships

We invest heavily in scholarships for talented prospective Masters students. This includes over £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*.

For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.

Teaching and research

How you'll learn

Teaching will consist of full- and half-day workshops delivered online. All sessions will include a theoretical and clinical skills component. Role play practice, practical exercises and small group discussions will occur regularly. There will also be guided independent study.

The course requires a minimum of two days per week, usually consisting of one day attending university (online) and one day delivering CBT. There are some block weeks of teaching throughout the year.

To complete the programme students must complete:

  • A minimum of 40 hours of university individual equivalent clinical supervision.
  • A minimum of 200 hours of attendance of teaching hours.
  • A minimum of 200 hours of supervised CBT practice.
  • Eight ‘completed’ CBT clients, including three closely supervised university clients. In year 1 trainees maintain a caseload of a minimum of four clients per week and so will very likely work with more than eight clients across the two years.

Assessments

Assessments will include:

  • oral case presentations
  • essays
  • written case reports
  • completion of CTSR competency assessments and accompanying documentation
  • and a clinical portfolio.

Careers

This programme is training people already in a career within the NHS. It will provide you with an outstanding opportunity to develop your competencies and knowledge associated with practice as a CBT Practitioner.

A strong emphasis throughout the programme is placed upon your personal and professional development.

Advantages of the programme are that:

  • You will study within a vibrant, stimulating and internationally-recognised research environment, where members of your teaching team have first-hand experience within the clinical setting.
  • Your learning experience will be enriched by nationally-recognised, innovative, clinical teaching approaches, designed to develop you on your terms.