Online Overview of Third Wave CBT

In this online course Paul Grantham, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Director of SDS Seminars provides an overview and introduction not just to the four areas of the BPS Approved Certificate in 3rd Wave CBT but also to the historical development and possible future direction of these therapeutic approaches. Although in the last 15 years 3rd Wave CBT has become one of the most powerful therapeutic developments, it still remains a poorly defined and understood concept. Numerous definitions have existed in the literature. However there are certain themes that bind different therapeutic approaches together under the heading of “3rd Wave” and which also go some way towards explaining its growing popularity. Firstly, 3rd Wave CBT tends to give a greater emphasis to function and relationship rather than content. Hence “what” the client thinks or believes is of less importance than the client’s relationship with such thoughts and “how” they think them. Secondly, 3rd Wave CBT has tended to bring the issue of “emotion” back onto centre stage rather than cognition. This obviously alters both the nature of the dialogue with clients as well as addressing such issues as soothing and distress tolerance. Finally, 3rd Wave has an integrative effect on the practice of CBT by drawing on a range of strategies and ideas that derive from other traditions. The Buddhist Mindfulness tradition is the most obvious but not the only one. Approaches as diverse as Gestalt Psychotherapy and Radical Behaviourism have found a place within 3rd Wave approaches.