Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Psychotherapy

The Challenge of the Course

Students will differ in regard to their levels and experience in cognitive psychotherapy. Some are relative novices, some have already read extensively and experimented with cognitive psychotherapy methods in clinical practice. Equally, trainees' professional backgrounds and current orientations differ widely, ranging from behaviour therapy through counselling and eclecticism to dynamic psychotherapy.

They will have two key qualities in common, however. Firstly, an expressed interest and motivation to learn more about cognitive psychotherapy. Secondly, all will have demonstrated competence and experience as practitioners within their own professions.

It is our observation, derived from experience in running the course, the feeling of being "deskilled" is a common experience, even for trainees with a high level of pre-existing experience and skill. Each year, trainees reach a point where they feel that they will never get it "right", and moreover each tends to believe that they are alone in this feeling. It is also common for people to feel pressurised by the demand of the written work, or indeed by the demands of fitting a one-day course into an already busy life. Sharing concerns with each other will help you to appreciate how common they are and find support in coping with them. Equally, you are welcome to discuss worries with the Course Director or Course staff if you would like to do so. We should like you to see the course as an opportunity to extend the knowledge and expertise you already possess through a process of active engagement in your own learning. You are not here to sit passively at the feet of the masters, but to take an active part in your own development. This means that we should appreciate feedback from you on your needs, ideas and reactions to what we provide. You will be invited to give written feedback on teaching sessions, on supervision and on the course as a whole.