CBT Course Cognitive Behavior Therapy Certificate Course

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, marital problems, eating disorders, and severe mental illness. Numerous research studies suggest that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life. In many studies, CBT has been demonstrated to be as effective as, or more effective than, other forms of psychological therapy or psychiatric medications. It is important to emphasize that advances in CBT have been made on the basis of both research and clinical practice. Indeed, CBT is an approach for which there is ample scientific evidence that the methods that have been developed actually produce change. In this manner, CBT differs from many other forms of psychological treatment.

Students will develop knowledge of various cognitive-behavioral models of common psychological disorders. Students will learn to develop a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral case conceptualization, which will inform treatment monitoring and planning. Additionally, students will review evidence and efficacy data available for the implementation of various cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies for specific disorders. Students will have the opportunity to implement specific individual and group cognitive-behavioral interventions within the context of the course. Throughout, this course will emphasize the integration of clinical expertise, knowledge of patient preferences, and evidence-based strategies to facilitate the development of an evidence-based practice approach to psychotherapy.

Topics covered include:

1. Basic Theory, Development, and Current Status of CBT
2. Distinctive Characteristics of CBT
3. The Therapeutic Relationship
4. Assessment and Formulation
5. Measurement of CBT
6. Helping Clients Become their own Therapists
7. Socratic Methods
8. Cognitive Techniques
9. Behavioural Experiments
10. Physical Techniques
11. The Course of Therapy
12. Depression
13. Anxiety Disorders
14. Anxiety Disorders: Specific Models and Treatment Protocols
15. Wider Applications of CBT
16. Alternative Methods of Delivery
17. Developments of CBT
18. Evaluating CBT Practice

Student Learning Outcomes

19. Course Learning Outcomes
20. Students will describe common cognitive-behavioral models for depression and anxiety disorders.
21. Students will identify and define the critical elements of a cognitive-behavioral case formulation.
22. Using provided clinical cases, students will write a cognitive-behavioral case formulation using the elements of a case formulation.
23. Students will describe the basic strategies employed in practice for clinical monitoring.
24. Students will present a treatment protocol for evidence-based intervention. The presentation will include an emphasis on cognitive formulation, specific interventions, and resources to implement the intervention.
25. Students will describe and demonstrate behavioral activation and pleasant event
scheduling in a group or individual therapy format.
26. Students will demonstrate identification of automatic thoughts, assumptions, rules, and core beliefs in a group or individual therapy format.
27. Students will discuss and describe how to assign, assess, and problem-solve therapeutic homework.
28. Students will demonstrate how to implement thought monitoring, Socratic questioning, and adaptive thought identification in a group or individual therapy format.
29. Students will demonstrate the development of an exposure hierarchy and implementation of exposure intervention in a group or individual therapy format.

Course duration is 6 months.

Prerequisite
This course is open to any health or mental health professional including nurses, social workers, psychotherapists, counselors, social service workers, youth care workers, and teachers,

Students will have a variety of opportunities to demonstrate their mastery during the course of the Case Formulation: students will complete 20 clinical CBT case studies utilizing the techniques and procedures.. The formulation will detail the automatic thoughts, assumptions, core beliefs, and behaviors of a patient or client diagnosed with depression or anxiety.

A certificate is awarded upon completion of this course.