Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon

    Overview

    Application of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to common mental health disorders, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and psychotic disorders. Participants are required to be employed by a DHB, or a Ministry of Health funded PHO or NGO in a supervised clinical mental health setting.

    Please Note: CBT Course Fees are funded by Ministry of Health Te Pou Agency.

    This Postgraduate Certificate course is specifically designed for registered health professionals, working in a Ministry of Health funded mental health service,  who wish to extend their understanding of those with common mental health disorders, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and psychotic disorders. The course is both practical and applied and is designed so participants develop skills which enable them to use Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) in their workplace. Establishing a firm theoretical knowledge base, it shows how CBT is used as a framework for assessing and gaining understanding of a patient's psychological distress and then formulating and implementing an intervention based on that conceptualisation.

    The course is an introduction to CBT, intended to teach the basic theory and strategies to a basic level of competence, i.e. able to work under supervision by a clinical psychologist, with easier to treat anxiety disorders, and depression, with some knowledge of working with people with psychosis and alcohol and drug problems.

     

    About this paper

    Paper title Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
    Subject Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
    EFTS 0.5
    Points 60 points
    Teaching period Full Year (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $3,201.50
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Limited to
    MHealSc, PGCertHealSc, PGDipHealSc
    Eligibility

    Applications for this course open early September and close end of October each year.

    Applicants must be:

    • A registered health professional working in a mental health setting, with a minimum of two years' clinical experience
    • Employed by a District Health Board or a Ministry of Health funded NGO or primary health organisation
    • Working at least 0.6 FTE in a mental health setting and must have access to ongoing work with clients
    • Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or hold a permanent residency permit
    • Applicants are also required to have individual supervision by a clinical psychologist with expertise in CBT
    • Applicants must have access to ongoing therapeutic work with clients

    To apply for this course:
    All interested parties are invited to complete phase one of online enrolment with the University: otago.ac.nz/courses/qualifications/apply

    Once registered as an applicant with the University of Otago, the next step is to complete the online Verification Form link which will be sent to you by CBT administration in Wellington. As there is a clinical component to this course, the verification process is to ensure each applicants suitability for the course. This may involve a phone interview (to be confirmed). Application outcomes are usually advised in the week before the Christmas break each year. If successful, you will then be invited to continue with formal enrolment.

    Contact

    CBT Administrator via cbt.uow@otago.ac.nz

    Teaching staff

    Dr Emily Cooney
    CBT Programme Director/ Senior Lecturer
    Otago Medical School
    Dept of Psychological Medicine
    University of Otago Wellington

    Dr Fiona Mathieson
    Senior Lecturer in Psychology
    Department of Psychological Medicine
    University of Otago, Wellington

    Paper Structure

    During the academic year, course participants must attend three week-long teaching blocks and one final exam day on campus.

    The course is half time for one academic year and must be completed in one year. It involves three block weeks of teaching plus monthly Zoom tutorial conferences, and supervised practice in the workplace. Students are required to complete three written case histories with CBT conceptualisations and treatment plans, along with therapy session recordings of their work with the client described in the case history. This is assessed using the Cognitive Therapy Scale (Revised). Students are required to meet regularly with their supervisors, who are clinical psychologists based in their workplace.

    Teaching Arrangements

    This course is a Wellington campus registered course.

    In 2024 we will be offering two streams taught at the Wellington Campus and one stream taught at the Auckland Campus.

    Textbooks

    Kennerley, Helen, Joan Kirk, and David Westbrook. An introduction to cognitive behaviour therapy: Skills and applications. Sage, 2016.

    Bennett-Levy, James, and Richard Thwaites. Experiencing CBT from the Inside Out: A Self-Practice/Self-Reflection Workbook for Therapists. Guildford Press, 2015.

    Course outline

    View the latest course outline

    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Self-motivation.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes

    The ultimate aim of this paper is that participants learn the skills to conceptualise and respond to their clients' problems in the future.

    The course is an introduction to CBT, intended to teach the basic theory and strategies to a basic level of competence, i.e. able to work, under supervision by a clinical psychologist, with easier to treat anxiety disorders, and depression, with some knowledge of working with people with psychosis and alcohol and drug problems.

    Course objectives for students:

    • To develop a coherent psychological framework to underpin the application of CBT
    • To provide a historical context for CBT, including models of learning and cognitive psychology
    • To explain and practise the range of methods of assessment used in CBT
    • To explain and practise the range of intervention strategies used in CBT
    • To explain, differentiate, and practise formulation and CBT conceptualisation
    • To develop and practise the core therapeutic skills of CBT through feedback from role plays and videos
    • To teach the CBT models, assessment and interventions for depression, GAD, social phobia, panic disorder and agoraphobia, substance abuse and psychosis
    • To model the CBT collaborative, structured process in the course of the teaching
    • To be responsive to student feedback on teaching
    • To facilitate supportive group environment to maximise participation and learning
    • To provide appropriate teaching regarding bicultural considerations in assessing, conceptualising and treating clients
    • To provide examples of CBT in action through videos and lecturer role plays
    • To give specific, detailed & constructive feedback on assignments
    • To use a variety of teaching methods
    • To provide relevant supplementary reading materials
    • To ensure that all students have regular, effective supervision by a clinical psychologist
    • To maintain regular supportive contact with supervisors

    Timetable

    Full Year

    Location
    Wellington
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Moodle
    Back to top