Categories:
About the Modules:
Q: I am interested in some of the topics which are part of the Diploma course. I am not sure at the moment whether I want to do the Diploma. Are these courses suitable for me just as individual training days on the chosen topic?
A: Absolutely. Each course is designed to be an individual self-contained day on a chosen topic. All modules are designed in such a way that they can be taken in any order or individually. You don’t have to be a Diploma course participant to attend the individual training days.
Q: I would eventually like to do a Diploma in CBT, but am not registered on a course at the moment. If I took the courses one by one, would they be able to count towards the Diploma later on?
A: The individual modules can be taken independently and accumulated towards the Diploma gradually. You don’t need to commit to the whole Diploma straightaway.
It would be advisable to make your decision about the way you want to pay for the Diploma (as one full payment or per individual course) relatively early (before you’ve completed 3-4 courses) as it might be impossible to accept the full payment if the majority of courses have already been done on the one-off basis.
If you commit to the whole Diploma and pay in advance at the reduced price, you will be expected to complete all the modules within 2 years (from the date of your first module).
There is no time limit for those who pay for courses individually module-by-module.
It does not matter what way you choose to pay for your Diploma – as a whole of as individual modules. Both ways are equally valid and provide you with the same Diploma at the end.
Q: Is there any particular order in which I need to attend the modules?
A: The order of the modules is flexible.
However, it is highly recommended (but not essential) that you attend BPS Approved SDS’ “CBT: Introductory Course” as early as possible. Subsequent modules will extend skills and knowledge covered within this course.
Other courses for which it would be highly advisable to complete as soon as possible are the “Case Formulation” and Socratic Questioning Modules. Specific problem case formulations form part of the self directed skills element of the Diploma and hence it is very sensible to attend the taught Case Formulation module first so that you equipped with all the necessary skills to work on individual case formulations attached to further modules. Equally, Socratic questioning is such a fundamental skills based element of CBT which requires extensive practice, attendance early on for this module would be beneficial.
Q: Is it possible to take all the modules at one location?
A: Currently the course is based in Central London only – primarily at the British Psychological Society Headquarters near Moorgate tube. You will be informed of new locations if and when they are added.
Training with other organisations
Q: I am interested in the Diploma in CBT, however as I have done the introductory training at another training centre could I proceed to the other modules?
A: Unfortunately, our experience has shown that there is such a huge degree of variation between the courses that we cannot accept other (non-SDS) introductory CBT courses towards the Diploma. Our Diploma is approved by the BPS LC as a whole and no parts of it can be missed or replaced by other courses.
Time Limits:
Q: Could you let me know the exact duration of the course – I will probably have to work while doing this so need to see if it’s financially reasonable to do?
A: Time scale for completion of the course is flexible. However, we typically expect you to complete it within 2 years from the date of the first module you attend. It may be possible to complete the whole Diploma within a shorter period of time, but it will very much depend on availability of the individual modules. That is why we usually advise you via e-mail and on the website if some modules will not be soon repeated. Please try to book on theses modules when they are available.
In general, we do not put any limit on the time period you complete the whole Diploma within. However, SDS cannot guarantee that the Diploma will run in perpetuity, therefore, timely completion is advisable.
Q: Is there time limit on completion of the self-directed modules like Evidence-Reading and Case Formulations?
A: Yes. You are expected to complete each self-directed module within 2 months of your payment. In exceptional circumstances this time might be extended, by prior arrangement. SDS will not accept your work if you go outside the time limit without informing us in advance and agreeing it with us.
Q: What will be my time commitments when I enrol on this course?
A: The course consists of 26 modules that run for between one (majority of courses) and three (only CBT: Introductory Course) days. Usually there are 2 – 3 modules running per month (assuming an 8-10 moth working year). If you want to complete the Diploma quickly you can attend all the modules running each month, otherwise – you can limit your attendance to one to two days a month.
There are self-directed modules in the Diploma – reading and case formulations. These typically take between 4 – 8 hours per module.
The whole Diploma is designed as part-time training in such a way that it should allow you to continue your job without any major interruptions.
Diploma Completion
Q: Could you advice me on the academic criteria that needs to be met in order to pass the full course?
A: As the Diploma Course is modular, the academic criteria vary for different modules:
- The Training Modules typically require attendance only.
- The self – directed Evidenced Reading Modules rely on a 75% pass rate of online multiple-entry tests.
- Case Formulation Modules are qualitatively assessed by SDS Tutors on a pass/fail basis with up to 2 re-submissions per module.
All information about the completed (and passed) modules is accumulated in the individual log for each delegate.
Supervision
Q: I would like to know how I can get supervision and how much it will cost me.
A: There are two choices regarding supervision for this course:
- Applicants can make their own arrangements for a supervisor.
- Applicants can use an SDS supervisor – please contact us and we will explore whether it can be arranged. SDS will put you in touch with one of our CBT Supervisors, however, all the supervision arrangements will be organised between the student and the Supervisor directly, without any SDS involvement.
Please note, that although supervision arrangements are not the integral part of the Diploma, it is an essential component of any good therapeutic practice and should be observed by everyone practicing CBT.
Equally – if you sign up for the whole Diploma course but would like to make your own supervision arrangements – you are free to do so. Supervision costs are not included in the overall Diploma price.
Terminology
A: 1. Terminology:
1.1 The title “CBT Therapist” is currently NOT a protected term and for this reason any practitioner could call themselves such.
1.2 SDS does NOT see it as good practice for any practitioner to call themselves a “CBT Therapist” without extensive training such as that provided by the BPS Approved Master Practitioner Diploma in CBT.
1.3 SDS strongly supports the principle that anyone describing themselves as a “CBT Therapist” or “using CBT in their practice” should obtain regular supervision from an Accredited CBT Therapist.
2. SDS courses quality assessments:
2.1 All SDS CBT training courses are quality controlled and assessed and informed by the latest research and practice principles.
2.2 All SDS CBT training courses are ONLY provided by Accredited CBT Therapists.
2.3 All CBT courses (provided by other quality training providers) that SDS directly recommends have passed an SDS consensus based quality threshold.
3. Recommended titles:
3.1 SDS supports the principle that students of its own short CBT courses (no less than 20 hrs +), as well as those provided by other training organisations that SDS directly recommends, can use the following terms on completion:
“use CBT in my practice”, “incorporate CBT into my practice”, “provide CBT”, “draw on CBT in my practice”, “trained in CBT” - assuming they are receiving ongoing clinical supervision from an Accredited CBT Therapist.
3.2 SDS supports the principle that students of its own longer CBT courses (e.g. CBT Master Practitioner Diploma Course), as well as those provided by other training providers that SDS directly recommends for this purpose, can use the following terms:
“CBT Therapist” or “Master Practitioner in CBT” - assuming they are receiving ongoing clinical supervision from an Accredited CBT Therapist.
4. SDS has no objection to students calling themselves “CBT Therapists” if they have received extensive CBT training from one or a variety of quality training sources - assuming they are receiving ongoing clinical supervision from an Accredited CBT Therapist.
Approval for this course
Q: What about BPS Approval for this course?
A: SDS’ Master Practitioner Diploma is Approved by the British Psychological Society Learning Centre. It means that the full course meets the Society’s five CPD standards. Delegates who complete the Diploma will receive their Certificates with the BPS Logo and the Approval Statement. In addition to that SDS’ three days Certificate Course CBT: Introductory Course that can be taken individually or as part of the Master Practitioner Diploma in CBT, is also Approved by The British Psychological Society Learning Centre for the purposes of CPD.
These courses can be found on BPS website: http://www.bps.org.uk/events/cpd-approved-events/cpd-approved-events
Online Course
Q: How does Online CBT course that SDS recommends fit into this?
A: Atheneum Learning and The Skills Development Service are partnering to offer the Online CBT Training Program developed at Harvard Medical School.
This course is developed and provided by Atheneum Learning. SDS has quality assessed this course and found the learning outcomes and standards of it fitting for CPD purposes.
If you complete this CBT course and you will earn 30 UK CPD training hours, Certificated and Approved by The Skills Development Service Ltd.
In this respect the course meets the criteria described in clause 3.1 above.
This distance CBT course is not a part of the Master Practitioner Diploma in CBT, nor is it a substitute for the SDS’ Introductory Certificate in CBT. This is because the course content is different in each. In making a decision regarding which course to complete prospective delegates are also strongly advised to study the course content of both courses.
For more information please consult T&C.
