Postgraduate Certificate in Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

The Postgraduate Certificate in Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is part of a comprehensive CBT training programme, which has been renowned for its consistent record of excellence in CBT practice, training and supervision over the past 25 years. Oxford is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in CBT and the course draws on an impressive body of local specialist skill and knowledge.

After successful completion students are awarded a Postgraduate Certificate from the University of Oxford. This award can contribute towards a Postgraduate Diploma in CBT, accredited by The British Association of Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies at Level 1.

The Postgraduate Certificate provides qualified healthcare professionals with high-quality training and supervision in CBT theory and practice, enhancing knowledge and skill in what is now recognised by the National Health Service as a major psychological treatment modality, with a substantial and growing evidence base.

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Programme details

Students on the PG Cert in Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy will study one of the following specialisms:

Postgraduate Certificate in Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Children and Adolescents)

Course lead: Dr Joanna Adams

(This course will not be accepting applications for 26/27 entry)

Designed to equip clinicians for work with children, adolescents and their families, this pathway offers specialist supervision and teaching that covers general principles of adapting CBT for children, young people and families, including developmental, systemic and ethical/professional issues. The course will take a transdiagnostic focus, with some teaching on relevant topics shared with students on the Complex Presentations pathway,

Students are expected to carry out CBT with at least three suitable patients during the course and receive two hours of small group supervision on a bi-weekly basis.

The course begins with a two-day induction block and then attendance is required for two days bi-weekly, for training workshops.

Postgraduate Certificate in Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Psychological Trauma and Personality Development)

Course lead: Dr Helen Kennerley

The course offers comprehensive, specialist training in Enhanced CBT with a strong grounding in current psychological and CBT theories and research. It is designed to offer an in-depth understanding of the range of difficulties experienced by those who have suffered developmental trauma and adversity, alongside an in-depth understanding of the personality development issues that can have a significant impact on functioning. The course highlights the CBT principles, theory and research that can guide optimal treatment delivery to people living with the legacy of trauma and/or with personality development issues.

You will be expected to have access to treatment settings with regular clinical and CBT supervision where cognitive behavioural therapy skills can be practised and refined on a regular basis.

Twenty days of training and supervision are spread over an academic year, between November and July. There are five teaching blocks, each lasting for four days:

Block 1 is in November (Michaelmas Induction)

Block 2 is in January

Block 3 is in March

Block 4 is in May

Block 5 is in July 

At least 20% of the teaching days are held in Oxford, which students are expected to attend in person. Other sessions are conducted online.

There are twelve, expert-led, small group clinical supervision sessions between November and May. Over the duration of the course, students are normally expected to engage in CBT with at least four patients with a significant trauma history, which has impacted on their current mental health presentation, and/or who have personality development issues that impair functioning. We expect patients to demonstrate complex, co-morbid and/or interpersonal difficulties. Therapy must demonstrate the Enhanced CBT skills and knowledge relevant to working with this population.

You will be expected to complete therapy with at least one patient over the duration of the course, although student caseloads will need to be a minimum of three to account for drop-out. To gain the most from the course we encourage you to arrange your caseloads so therapy is completed with more than one patient.

Coursework is spread over the period of training; four assignments are summative.

Postgraduate Certificate in Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Psychosis and Bipolar)

Course lead: Dr Louise Isham

The course seeks to enable students to develop a sound understanding of cognitive behavioural models of psychosis and bipolar and the related evidence base; competence in engaging, assessing and developing collaborative formulations with individuals with psychotic and bipolar presentations; and competence to deliver high quality, individualised, evidence- based interventions in accordance with NICE guidance, the competence framework for work with people with psychosis and bipolar disorder (Roth & Pilling 2013), and the Health Education England national curriculum for CBT for severe mental health presentations.

You will be expected to have access to treatment settings with regular clinical and CBT supervision where cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis and bipolar skills can be practised and refined on a regular basis.

The course comprises teaching over three terms: running from October to the end of June. Teaching and supervision typically take place on Thursdays and students should keep all Thursdays during term time free for course related teaching, supervision, and study. There will also be some Fridays required for teaching and supervision (a total of five Fridays across terms one and two). At least 20% of the teaching days are held in Oxford which students are expected to attend in person. Other sessions are conducted online.

Coursework is spread over the period of training; four assignments are summative.

Postgraduate Certificate in Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Supervision and Training)

Course lead: Dr Helen Kennerley

(This course will not be accepting applications for 26/27 entry)

This specialism aims to prepare students to teach and to supervise CBT. The emphasis is on acquiring, practising and communicating specialised dissemination skills, within an explicit theoretical framework. The course also prepares students for dissemination in a range of settings (eg individual and group supervision, small and large group training). 

The course is informed by established and contemporary theory and research concerning learning principles and the practice of high-quality CBT. The content of the course is highly experiential, with opportunities to engage in supervision and training practice during training sessions and to obtain live feedback on practice and performance. 

Students are normally expected to carry out CBT supervision in at least three supervision settings or formats over the course and to present at least one training event in that time. There are three summative assessments over the period of training. 

The course comprises 18 days, presented in five teaching blocks. It begins with a four-day induction, followed by further three-day or four-day blocks. Formal teaching comprises full or half- day workshops and a half-day Practice of Supervision (PoS) session is integrated into the course. Six of the training days are open to a wider professional audience. This enables course participants to interact and share with a broader group of specialist practitioners. 

Fees