Course summary
Our Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Therapies: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (High Intensity) offers an excellent programme of study for those wishing to qualify as CBT therapists. Students of CBT have studied on this programme for over ten years and we have a proven record of producing well-rounded and knowledgeable therapists. Teaching is delivered across a mix of classroom learning, clinical practice based learning, clinical supervision and intensive skills workshops. In addition to the high quality teaching, there is an emphasis on self-practice and self-reflection, both to enhance therapy skills and to support students in their journey through an intensive but rewarding year.
Modules
Modules include: Fundamentals of CBT; Consolidation of the Fundamentals of CBT; CBT for Anxiety Disorders; Consolidation of CBT for Anxiety Disorders; CBT for Depression; Consolidation of CBT for Depression
Assessment method
Students will be assessed via formative and summative assessments over the duration of the programme. The summative assessments are detailed below: Case studies: You are required to write four Case Reports, which must relate to four separate clients, invariably with a different primary disorder for each client. The disorder of the first report you write (Module 1) will not be specified but for the subsequent reports one will be an anxiety disorder (Module 3), one will be a depressive disorder (Module 5) and one will involve comorbidity (Module 6). In the report, you will describe the work you have done with the client, including assessment, formulation, action plan, intervention and outcomes. The first report will be of an assessment, and so will not include the actual intervention you might have carried out, nor the client outcomes. However the subsequent three reports will include these details. It is necessary to underpin clinical decisions with research support, however you may also offer some critical review of the existing research literature and expert opinion on the topic of your reports. You will be expected to critically reflect on the clinical work you carried out for each of the reports. The first case report will be no more than 4000 words in length, the later three no more than 3,000 words Videos: Together with each of these later case reports, you will be expected to submit a digital video recording of a session with the client who was the subject of that report. Similar to the formative video assessment above, these will be 50-60 minutes in duration and are rated by both trainee and examiners using the Cognitive Therapy Scale - Revised (Blackburn et al. 2001). In addition, you will be specifically required to submit a video recording of one of your sessions with a client whose main presenting condition is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. This may be up to 90 minutes in duration, but is rated using the same scale as the other videos. Literature Reviews: During the programme, you will produce one stand-alone Literature Review (Module 2) relating to the fundamentals of CBT application. This will involve carrying out a literature search on a subject chosen by you from a list of topics. Having read the research you identified, you will describe, critically analyse and then synthesise it with reference to your review subject. Effectively you will set yourself a question and then answer it by reference to the literature. This review will be no more than 4,000 words in length. Clinical Portfolio: The portfolio will consist of the evidence you will have collated to meet the eligibility requirements for British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) accreditation. This will include several forms of evidence of the clinical work and supervision you will have received during the programme, in addition to your case reports, presentations and reflective accounts (see below). The Portfolio submission is pass/fail and is not graded. Reflective Accounts: At the end of each term you will be expected to write a brief (1-2 pages) reflective account of your experience of various assignments, e.g. working as part of a group for the literature and case presentations, working on the SelfPractice/Self-Reflection module. These Reflective Accounts provide an opportunity for you to review and describe the key features of your professional learning and development through your involvement in each of the assignments. All reflective accounts should be included in the clinical portfolio at the end of the programme
Entry requirements
Applicants should have a professional qualification recognised by the BABCP, or be able to demonstrate they have the required core training and competence for the delivery of a psychological therapy within an ethical framework.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £9535* | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535* | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535* | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535* | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9535* | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535* | Year 1 |
*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
The fees above are for the 2025/26 academic year but may be subject to change following any announcements by the UK Government (approved by Parliament) regarding maximum Undergraduate tuition fee caps for 2025/26.
In addition, the University reserves the right to increase all full-time and part-time Undergraduate tuition fees mid-course, in line with any further inflationary increase in the Government tuition fee cap which is approved by Parliament. The University will publish information about any changes to tuition fees on its website.
International Tuition Fees (including EU fees): To be confirmed
Undergraduate tuition fees for International students are not subject to the Government’s regulations on maximum tuition fees.
Provider information
Canterbury Christ Church University
North Holmes Road
Canterbury
CT1 1QU