Course Overview
We recognise the needs and challenges for mental health practitioners working with individuals and families in a wide range of settings. That is why we've developed this course to be beneficial for professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds including health, local authority, volunteering and the independent sector.
Taught by experienced practitioners who specialise in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), this course will develop your knowledge and skills in treating mental health sufferers with particular focus on how you apply CBT theory and practice to your own work with individuals and families.
Delivered over half-day weekly sessions, this course will challenge you to reflect and evolve your current practice with particular focus on engagement, assessment, and strategies to address the risk of relapse and social disabilities. Through a series of workshops and presentations you will also develop a deeper understanding of the approaches, models, relationships and interventions needed for effective use of CBT in a range of mental health care settings.
Armed with this invaluable knowledge you will not only be more effective in your practice but increase your employment prospects and obtain academic credits that can be put towards further undergraduate or postgraduate study, such as a BSc degree or MSc Mental Health Studies.
Please contact Alfonso Pezzella for more information.
Course content
This short course is devised to enable you to maintain your professional employment while studying by attending half-day weekly study sessions at our London campus.
- This course uses workshops and presentations to cover the following subjects:
- Cognitive behavioural approaches
- Getting started
- Engagement and assessment
- Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships
- Vulnerability Stress Models of mental Illness
- Therapeutic Interventions
- Interviewing/questioning skills: re-framing, goal setting, problem solving, task setting
- Strategies to address the risk of relapse and social disabilities
- Family sessions, structuring sessions and achieving the aims
Learning and teaching
Teaching on this module is delivered entirely online, with all scheduled sessions taking place via Microsoft Teams. The module adopts an online, student-centred approach to learning that combines synchronous and asynchronous activities to support engagement, flexibility, and the development of advanced knowledge and skills.
A range of teaching methods are employed to promote active participation. These include structured presentations supported by PowerPoint, interactive group work, and scenario-based learning designed to encourage critical thinking and the application of theory to practice. Digital technologies are used extensively to enhance learning, including video resources and interactive platforms. Students are expected to engage with preparatory and consolidation activities to reinforce learning and support independent study.
Formative assessment is embedded within the module to provide ongoing feedback and support students’ academic development. This enables learners to reflect on their progress, identify areas for improvement, and build confidence in meeting the module learning outcomes.
Assessment
Formative assessment
You will be expected to participate in a short role play for 15/20 minutes demonstrating the use of MI strategies and techniques for which you will receive verbal and written feedback from your fellow classmates and the module leader.
You will be required to incorporate the learning gained from this exercise into your final submission.
Summative assessment scheme
This course is assessed entirely through a taped interview and discussion.
Teaching dates
For academic year 2026-2027
TBC
How to apply
To be eligible for this module, you must provide evidence of an ability to study at Level 7. Apply for this module through our .
Please note applications to this module will close 10 days before the module start date.
Download an enquiry form and for more information on the application process. Applications to this module should be made directly to the university, apply for a CPD module or programme.