STUDY

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is grounded in the understanding that thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviours are closely connected, and that change in one area can influence the others. This foundational module introduces you to the key principles, theory, and professional competencies that underpin CBT practice, providing a strong basis for further clinical training.

You will explore the historical development and philosophical roots of CBT, learning theory, and the cognitive and behavioural models that inform modern therapeutic approaches. Teaching focuses on developing essential therapeutic skills, including assessment, case formulation, and collaborative session structuring. Considerable attention is given to the therapeutic alliance, professional and ethical standards, and the relational stance required for effective and compassionate therapy.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are woven throughout the module, encouraging you to consider individual and cultural factors that shape client experience. You are introduced to supervision as a cornerstone of competent CBT practice and begin to use self-reflection to enhance professional awareness and personal development. Through workshops, role-plays, and skills-based activities, you learn to apply CBT concepts in practice and demonstrate readiness for supervised clinical placement.

This core module builds on the foundations of CBT theory to develop competence in the early clinical applications of therapeutic skill. You will deepen your understanding of assessment, formulation, and treatment planning, and begin to apply CBT techniques to low-complexity cases under supervision.

Teaching explores the structure and process of therapy, including the identification of safety behaviours, treatment goals, and maintenance cycles across presentations. You will learn to use CBT tools such as cognitive restructuring, behavioural experiments, and activity scheduling, alongside outcome measures that inform and guide treatment. Ethical awareness, professional conduct, and reflective practice are emphasised throughout, with particular attention to the use of supervision and feedback as integral components of therapist development.

Cultural and individual factors in CBT are considered across the module, encouraging you to deliver therapy with sensitivity and inclusivity. Through live demonstrations, peer role plays, and group exercises, you practise structured CBT interventions, develop collaborative communication skills, and strengthen their confidence in preparation for clinical placement.

This module develops advanced knowledge, skills, and clinical competence in delivering CBT for anxiety disorders. You will explore the theoretical models and evidence-based interventions that underpin effective treatment for presentations such as generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Teaching helps you understand the cognitive and behavioural processes that maintain anxiety and apply structured CBT formulations using evidence-based interventions. Emphasis is placed on creating personalised treatment plans, monitoring progress through outcome measures, and refining approaches through feedback and supervision.

Throughout the module, you will integrate theory with supervised clinical practice, strengthening reflective capacity, ethical awareness, and clinical reasoning. Live demonstrations, case formulation workshops, and role-play exercises help you develop confidence in applying CBT protocols in real-world settings. By the end of the module, you will be equipped to deliver CBT for anxiety disorders with increasing independence, consistent with BABCP professional standards.

The Clinical Placement module provides you with the opportunity to apply their learning in supervised clinical settings, developing the competence and confidence required for professional CBT practice. The placement allows you to deliver CBT to clients experiencing anxiety and/or depression while working under the supervision of a BABCP-accredited therapist.

Throughout the placement, you will gradually build your caseload and clinical experience, completing a minimum of 200 hours of supervised CBT practice and at least 40 hours of clinical supervision in line with BABCP Minimum Training Standards. You will also maintain a detailed Clinical Practice Portfolio, evidencing your progress, reflective learning, and professional development across the duration of the course.

You will receive support from the university supervisor, placement supervisor, and course team to ensure the placement experience is structured, safe, and aligned with professional expectations. Supervision, self-reflection, and feedback are central to this process, helping you strengthen your formulation skills, therapeutic techniques, and ethical awareness.

By the end of the module, you will have demonstrated the clinical competence and professional standards required to apply for provisional accreditation with the BABCP, ready to practise safely and effectively as CBT therapists within a range of health and wellbeing settings.

This module focuses on developing advanced knowledge and clinical skills in delivering CBT for depression and related mood difficulties. You will explore the cognitive and behavioural models that explain how thoughts, emotions, and behaviours interact to maintain low mood, and learn how to apply these frameworks in structured, evidence-based therapy.

Teaching emphasises formulation-driven treatment planning and the use of key CBT interventions such as behavioural activation, cognitive restructuring, and relapse prevention. You are supported to integrate theory with practice through supervised clinical work, developing competence in assessing and formulating mood-related difficulties, setting collaborative goals, and evaluating treatment outcomes.

The module also examines more complex aspects of mood presentations, including hopelessness, anhedonia, low self-esteem, and rumination, and introduces approaches for safely addressing risk and suicidality within a CBT framework. Professional development is woven throughout, with a focus on reflective practice, supervision, and self-awareness to foster growth as an ethical and effective CBT practitioner.

By the end of the module, you will be able to deliver structured CBT for depression with increasing confidence and adaptability, consistent with BABCP professional standards and the competencies required for clinical accreditation.

This advanced module builds on the earlier stages of training to develop competence in working with clients who present with comorbid or complex needs. You will explore how the principles and methods of CBT can be adapted to address the challenges of overlapping diagnoses, long-term health conditions, and complex psychosocial contexts.

Teaching focuses on advanced formulation skills and transdiagnostic approaches, supporting you to apply CBT flexibly across a wide range of client presentations. Topics include working with chronic depression, rumination, interpersonal difficulties, and obstacles to therapy such as ambivalence, resistance, and therapeutic ruptures. You also consider the ethical and professional issues involved in managing risk, endings, and relapse prevention within complex cases.

A strong emphasis is placed on culturally responsive and inclusive practice, with opportunities to learn how to adapt CBT for neurodivergent clients and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. Through experiential workshops, case-based discussions, and supervised clinical work, you will refine your ability to deliver CBT with confidence and creativity in more demanding clinical contexts.

By the end of the module, you will have strengthened your professional judgment, meta-competence, and ability to deliver effective, ethically grounded CBT that meets the needs of a wide variety of clients in line with BABCP professional standards.

This module gives you the opportunity to consolidate your learning and demonstrate advanced understanding of CBT through an independent research project. Working under academic supervision, you conduct an in-depth systematised or scoping review of the literature on a topic relevant to CBT practice, exploring a clearly defined research question without collecting primary data.

Teaching combines structured seminars and individual tutorials that guide you through each stage of the research process, from identifying a research question and designing a review strategy to analysing findings and considering their clinical implications. You will learn to appraise and synthesise existing research, evaluate methodological strengths and limitations, and communicate their findings clearly and professionally.

Throughout the module, emphasis is placed on reflective and critical thinking, linking research to real-world practice and professional development. You are encouraged to consider how your findings might inform clinical decision-making, future research, and service delivery within CBT. By the end of the module, you will have produced a coherent, evidence-based dissertation that demonstrates your ability to think analytically, work independently, and contribute meaningfully to the field of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

The Clinical Placement module provides you with the opportunity to apply their learning in supervised clinical settings, developing the competence and confidence required for professional CBT practice. The placement allows you to deliver CBT to clients experiencing anxiety and/or depression while working under the supervision of a BABCP-accredited therapist.

Throughout the placement, you will gradually build your caseload and clinical experience, completing a minimum of 200 hours of supervised CBT practice and at least 40 hours of clinical supervision in line with BABCP Minimum Training Standards. You will also maintain a detailed Clinical Practice Portfolio, evidencing your progress, reflective learning, and professional development across the duration of the course.

You will receive support from the university supervisor, placement supervisor, and course team to ensure the placement experience is structured, safe, and aligned with professional expectations. Supervision, self-reflection, and feedback are central to this process, helping you strengthen your formulation skills, therapeutic techniques, and ethical awareness.

By the end of the module, you will have demonstrated the clinical competence and professional standards required to apply for provisional accreditation with the BABCP, ready to practise safely and effectively as CBT therapists within a range of health and wellbeing settings.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is grounded in the understanding that thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviours are closely connected, and that change in one area can influence the others. This foundational module introduces you to the key principles, theory, and professional competencies that underpin CBT practice, providing a strong basis for further clinical training.

You will explore the historical development and philosophical roots of CBT, learning theory, and the cognitive and behavioural models that inform modern therapeutic approaches. Teaching focuses on developing essential therapeutic skills, including assessment, case formulation, and collaborative session structuring. Considerable attention is given to the therapeutic alliance, professional and ethical standards, and the relational stance required for effective and compassionate therapy.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are woven throughout the module, encouraging you to consider individual and cultural factors that shape client experience. You are introduced to supervision as a cornerstone of competent CBT practice and begin to use self-reflection to enhance professional awareness and personal development. Through workshops, role-plays, and skills-based activities, you learn to apply CBT concepts in practice and demonstrate readiness for supervised clinical placement.

This core module builds on the foundations of CBT theory to develop competence in the early clinical applications of therapeutic skill. You will deepen your understanding of assessment, formulation, and treatment planning, and begin to apply CBT techniques to low-complexity cases under supervision.

Teaching explores the structure and process of therapy, including the identification of safety behaviours, treatment goals, and maintenance cycles across presentations. You will learn to use CBT tools such as cognitive restructuring, behavioural experiments, and activity scheduling, alongside outcome measures that inform and guide treatment. Ethical awareness, professional conduct, and reflective practice are emphasised throughout, with particular attention to the use of supervision and feedback as integral components of therapist development.

Cultural and individual factors in CBT are considered across the module, encouraging you to deliver therapy with sensitivity and inclusivity. Through live demonstrations, peer role plays, and group exercises, you practise structured CBT interventions, develop collaborative communication skills, and strengthen their confidence in preparation for clinical placement.

This module develops advanced knowledge, skills, and clinical competence in delivering CBT for anxiety disorders. You will explore the theoretical models and evidence-based interventions that underpin effective treatment for presentations such as generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Teaching helps you understand the cognitive and behavioural processes that maintain anxiety and apply structured CBT formulations using evidence-based interventions. Emphasis is placed on creating personalised treatment plans, monitoring progress through outcome measures, and refining approaches through feedback and supervision.

Throughout the module, you will integrate theory with supervised clinical practice, strengthening reflective capacity, ethical awareness, and clinical reasoning. Live demonstrations, case formulation workshops, and role-play exercises help you develop confidence in applying CBT protocols in real-world settings. By the end of the module, you will be equipped to deliver CBT for anxiety disorders with increasing independence, consistent with BABCP professional standards.

The Clinical Placement module provides you with the opportunity to apply their learning in supervised clinical settings, developing the competence and confidence required for professional CBT practice. The placement allows you to deliver CBT to clients experiencing anxiety and/or depression while working under the supervision of a BABCP-accredited therapist.

Throughout the placement, you will gradually build your caseload and clinical experience, completing a minimum of 200 hours of supervised CBT practice and at least 40 hours of clinical supervision in line with BABCP Minimum Training Standards. You will also maintain a detailed Clinical Practice Portfolio, evidencing your progress, reflective learning, and professional development across the duration of the course.

You will receive support from the university supervisor, placement supervisor, and course team to ensure the placement experience is structured, safe, and aligned with professional expectations. Supervision, self-reflection, and feedback are central to this process, helping you strengthen your formulation skills, therapeutic techniques, and ethical awareness.

By the end of the module, you will have demonstrated the clinical competence and professional standards required to apply for provisional accreditation with the BABCP, ready to practise safely and effectively as CBT therapists within a range of health and wellbeing settings.

This module focuses on developing advanced knowledge and clinical skills in delivering CBT for depression and related mood difficulties. You will explore the cognitive and behavioural models that explain how thoughts, emotions, and behaviours interact to maintain low mood, and learn how to apply these frameworks in structured, evidence-based therapy.

Teaching emphasises formulation-driven treatment planning and the use of key CBT interventions such as behavioural activation, cognitive restructuring, and relapse prevention. You are supported to integrate theory with practice through supervised clinical work, developing competence in assessing and formulating mood-related difficulties, setting collaborative goals, and evaluating treatment outcomes.

The module also examines more complex aspects of mood presentations, including hopelessness, anhedonia, low self-esteem, and rumination, and introduces approaches for safely addressing risk and suicidality within a CBT framework. Professional development is woven throughout, with a focus on reflective practice, supervision, and self-awareness to foster growth as an ethical and effective CBT practitioner.

By the end of the module, you will be able to deliver structured CBT for depression with increasing confidence and adaptability, consistent with BABCP professional standards and the competencies required for clinical accreditation.

This advanced module builds on the earlier stages of training to develop competence in working with clients who present with comorbid or complex needs. You will explore how the principles and methods of CBT can be adapted to address the challenges of overlapping diagnoses, long-term health conditions, and complex psychosocial contexts.

Teaching focuses on advanced formulation skills and transdiagnostic approaches, supporting you to apply CBT flexibly across a wide range of client presentations. Topics include working with chronic depression, rumination, interpersonal difficulties, and obstacles to therapy such as ambivalence, resistance, and therapeutic ruptures. You also consider the ethical and professional issues involved in managing risk, endings, and relapse prevention within complex cases.

A strong emphasis is placed on culturally responsive and inclusive practice, with opportunities to learn how to adapt CBT for neurodivergent clients and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. Through experiential workshops, case-based discussions, and supervised clinical work, you will refine your ability to deliver CBT with confidence and creativity in more demanding clinical contexts.

By the end of the module, you will have strengthened your professional judgment, meta-competence, and ability to deliver effective, ethically grounded CBT that meets the needs of a wide variety of clients in line with BABCP professional standards.

This module gives you the opportunity to consolidate their learning and demonstrate advanced understanding of CBT through an independent research project. Working under academic supervision, you conduct an in-depth systematised or scoping review of the literature on a topic relevant to CBT practice, exploring a clearly defined research question without collecting primary data.

Teaching combines structured seminars and individual tutorials that guide you through each stage of the research process, from identifying a research question and designing a review strategy to analysing findings and considering their clinical implications. You will learn to appraise and synthesise existing research, evaluate methodological strengths and limitations, and communicate their findings clearly and professionally.

Throughout the module, emphasis is placed on reflective and critical thinking, linking research to real-world practice and professional development. You are encouraged to consider how your findings might inform clinical decision-making, future research, and service delivery within CBT. By the end of the module, you will have produced a coherent, evidence-based dissertation that demonstrates your ability to think analytically, work independently, and contribute meaningfully to the field of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

The Clinical Placement module provides you with the opportunity to apply their learning in supervised clinical settings, developing the competence and confidence required for professional CBT practice. The placement allows you to deliver CBT to clients experiencing anxiety and/or depression while working under the supervision of a BABCP-accredited therapist.

Throughout the placement, you will gradually build your caseload and clinical experience, completing a minimum of 200 hours of supervised CBT practice and at least 40 hours of clinical supervision in line with BABCP Minimum Training Standards. You will also maintain a detailed Clinical Practice Portfolio, evidencing your progress, reflective learning, and professional development across the duration of the course.

You will receive support from the university supervisor, placement supervisor, and course team to ensure the placement experience is structured, safe, and aligned with professional expectations. Supervision, self-reflection, and feedback are central to this process, helping you strengthen your formulation skills, therapeutic techniques, and ethical awareness.

By the end of the module, you will have demonstrated the clinical competence and professional standards required to apply for provisional accreditation with the BABCP, ready to practise safely and effectively as CBT therapists within a range of health and wellbeing settings.