Short course
Cognitive Behavioural Therapies: An Introduction
Course status:
Course ended
Location:
Online
Dates:
16/09/2025 - 25/11/2025
Study format:
Online - live
Fees:
£360.00
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)? Why has it become the most widely recommended and used of psychological therapies? How can you integrate it into an existing therapeutic practice or just use it to enable you yourself to gain a better understanding of your ways of seeing and being in the world?
This is a 10-week introduction to the theory and practice of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which assumes no previous knowledge or experience. Three integrated strands run through the programme: understanding theory, developing skills and improving self-awareness.
The theory will examine CBT's key theoretical assumptions across its varied evolution and development as well as considering the implications such ideas may have for a therapeutic or self-development practice. The course will also briefly consider transcultural CBT and the importance of anti-discriminatory practice.
Developing Skills will examine CBT's core practical aims, objectives and practices specifically providing a grounding in key CBT interventions such as Cognitive Restructuring, Behavioural Activation and Exposure Therapy. Students will be encouraged to use their own experience, but will not be expected to discuss painful personal issues.
Through the theory and the skills practice, students will be encouraged to reflect on their personal learning in order to gain self-awareness.
This course will enable participants to bring key CBT theory and skills to bear in either their clinical practice or general self-development. It provides a foundation rather than comprehensive training in CBT, as well as offering an opportunity for students to discover whether or not they want to progress to more advanced CBT training.
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Programme details
This course begins on the 16 Sep 2025 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 23 Sep 2025, 4:30-5:30pm (UK time).
Week 1: Reflective Practice – What is CBT?
Week 2: Overview of key CBT theory and practice.Â
Week 3: Diagnosis and Conceptualisation.
Week 4: Cognitive Restructuring.
Week 5: Behavioural Activation.
Week 6: Exposure Therapy.
Week 7: Behavioural Experiments.
Week 8: Third Wave CBT.
Week 9: Cultural Competence.
Week 10: What is CBT? A reconsideration and recap.
Level and demands
No previous experience of Cognitive Behavioural therapy is required to attend the course.Â
The course will include group discussions, experiential exercises and skills practice. Students are encouraged to take personal responsibility for any self disclosures they choose to make and to be respectful and sensitive to the disclosures of others.Â
This course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments and for the weekly webinar. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours, including those spent in live webinars.
English Language Requirements
We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements
Course aims
This course is an introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It is aimed at either enabling experienced practitioners to learn how to integrate CBT theory and skills into an existing clinical practice or as a self-standing opportunity for people wanting to know about the discipline out of general interest or for self development purposes. It may also act as a staging post for further training. No previous knowledge or experience is required.
Course Objectives:
1. To develop a greater understanding of what CBT looks like and the psychological and philosophical ideas which inform its practice.
2. To develop a greater understanding of and ability to use some core CBT interventions in practice.
3. To gain self awareness.
IT requirements
Any standard web browser can be used to access course materials on our virtual learning environment, but we recommend Google Chrome. We also recommend that students join the live webinars on Microsoft Teams using a laptop or desktop computer rather than a phone or tablet due to the limited functionality of the app on these devices.
Programme details
This course begins on the 16 Sep 2025 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 23 Sep 2025, 4:30-5:30pm (UK time).
Week 1: Reflective Practice – What is CBT?
Week 2: Overview of key CBT theory and practice.Â
Week 3: Diagnosis and Conceptualisation.
Week 4: Cognitive Restructuring.
Week 5: Behavioural Activation.
Week 6: Exposure Therapy.
Week 7: Behavioural Experiments.
Week 8: Third Wave CBT.
Week 9: Cultural Competence.
Week 10: What is CBT? A reconsideration and recap.
Teaching methods
This course takes place over 10 weeks, with a weekly learning schedule and weekly live webinar held on Microsoft Teams. Shortly before a course commences, students are provided with access to an online virtual learning environment, which houses the course content, including video lectures, complemented by readings or other study materials. Any standard web browser can be used to access these materials, but we recommend Google Chrome. Working through these materials over the course of the week will prepare students for a weekly 1-hour live webinar you will share with your expert tutor and fellow students. All courses are structured to amount to 100 study hours, so that on average, you should set aside 10 hours a week for study. Although the course finishes after 10 weeks, all learning materials remain available to all students for 12 months after the course has finished.
All courses are led by an expert tutor. Tutors guide students through the course materials as part of the live interactions during the weekly webinars. Tutors will also provide individualised feedback on your assignments. All online courses are taught in small student cohorts so that you and your peers will form a mutually supportive and vibrant learning community for the duration of the course. You will learn from your fellow students as well as from your tutor, and they will learn from you.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:
1. have gained a greater understanding of CBT;
2. have developed ideas about how to incorporate CBT theory and skills into their own therapeutic or self development practice; and
3. be aware of the importance of reflective and anti-discriminatory practice in maintaining and developing the therapeutic relationship.
If they have completed the course including the assignment, students should be well placed to apply for further training in CBT.
Assessment methods
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Damian is an accredited Cognitive Behavioural, Existential and Relational Life Psychotherapist with a background in international humanitarian work, domestic social work and university lecturing.
Damian White
Mr Damian White Damian is an accredited Existential, Cognitive Behavioural and Relational Life Psychotherapist with a background in international humanitarian work, domestic social work and university lecturing.
Assessment methods
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Level and demands
No previous experience of Cognitive Behavioural therapy is required to attend the course.Â
The course will include group discussions, experiential exercises and skills practice. Students are encouraged to take personal responsibility for any self disclosures they choose to make and to be respectful and sensitive to the disclosures of others.Â
This course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments and for the weekly webinar. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours, including those spent in live webinars.
English Language Requirements
We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £360.00 |
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