Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Psychotherapy
Evaluation
The mechanisms for assessment and examination of candidates for the Postgraduate Diploma course are outlined below.
Students will be required to complete one long and one short essay in the second and third terms respectively. Students will be required to write up two treated cases, one in the first and one in the second term. Finally, each student will submit audiotapes of selected therapy sessions with clients they are treating during the year for evaluation. The best tape submitted by each student will be rated by the external examiner for the Diploma course using a standardised cognitive therapy rating for competency.
a) Attendance Requirements
You will need to attend at least 80% of course sessions. A session means a full day, from 9.00 am to 5.00pm. Naturally you will gain more from the course if you exceed the minimum, and again the expectation is that you will attend every week.
b) Written Assignments
First Term
a) Case Study I: (2000-4,000 words),
Case study describing rationale for selection, initial assessment, engagement of patient and preliminary formulation.
b) Self Rating of Tape submitted at end of first term
Both due last day of Term I
Second Term
a) Literature Review and Outline Essay I: 2000 - 4000 words.
A list for topics outlining an area of special interest in Cognitive Therapy will be provided. If, however, there is a particular subject you wish to write about, you can submit a short proposal at the beginning of Term II to the Course Director.
b) Case study write up with Self Rating of tape submitted at end of second term
Due last day of Term II
Third term
a) Final essay: 4000 - 6000words
b) Class Presentation on integration of Cognitive Therapy principles into your own practice
Due on last day of Term III
Guidelines will be provided to help with essays and case presentations.
For the first three assignments above, short extensions to deadlines (one week) will be considered only on presentation of a written application, which must be given to the Course Director at least one week before the deadline. Further extensions will only be considered on presentation of relevant documentation (for example, a medical certificate). There are no extensions to the deadlines for the final case study.
The M.Sc. in Cognitive Psychotherapy is offered on the basis of having successfully completed both years and satisfying the examination board and the external examiner that clinical and written work have reached the desired standard of excellence.
Successful completion of the Diploma year suggests that a student has a very sound grasp of the basic model and that he or she is committed to furthering these skills.