Online CBT Basics Certificate Course: Learn Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Through Practical Training
As the result of increased understanding in the global world about the importance of mental health of people as part of their general health status, more professionals with experience in evidence based psychotherapies become needed. As the result of development of mental health services in different settings, such as clinical, educational, health care and community organizations, the necessity to develop training programs that provide students and young professionals with practical skills in psychotherapy becomes obvious. Nowadays, one can distinguish the type of psychotherapy that is thoroughly researched and recognized as the approach in the treatment of many psychological problems – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
The efficiency of this type of therapy has been proven for the treatment of various emotional and behavioral problems, such as anxiety disorders, depression, stress-related conditions, OCD, PTSD and many others. CBT allows identifying the relations between a patient’s thoughts, emotions, physical reactions and his/her behavior and using techniques of changing maladaptive patterns to improve a patient’s psychological state. As a result of the empirical nature and clinical effectiveness of CBT, it has become an integral part of modern mental health practice and included in guidelines in many countries.
The CBT Basics Certificate Course has been created to deliver a full and thorough coverage of the theoretical basis and practical implications of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.This certificate course is aimed primarily at psychology undergraduates, behavioral science graduates, junior counselors, educators, healthcare professionals, and those who are preparing themselves for further graduate training in clinical or counseling psychology. With a good balance of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, this program consists of live online lectures, clinical demonstration, case discussion, therapist-client role playing, exercises, and assignments that help learners to obtain the initial level of knowledge about CBT as well as practical skills that will allow them to apply what they know in educational, clinical, and community environments.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Definition
The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy which was basically developed largely due to the innovative contributions of Dr. Aaron T. Beck, psychiatrist and other notable proponents of cognitive therapy. According to the core principle of CBT, an individual’s cognition, affect, physiology, and behavior are interconnected in a dynamic manner. In the cognitive model, dysfunctional cognition processes have significant influence on an individual’s feelings and behaviors and also cause psychological disorders. With the help of CBT, such dysfunctional cognitive processes can be modified leading to an improvement in one’s emotion and behavior.
In contrast to therapeutic methods that largely concentrate on the analysis of past events, CBT concentrates more on current problems and the development of skills necessary for meaningful and lasting changes. CBT is a collaborative, structured, limited in duration and goal directed form of therapy in which patients are motivated to take part in determining the aims of treatment, tracking their progress and applying evidence based cognitive-behavioral strategies in the course of and out of therapy sessions.
Indeed, in recent decades CBT has become one of the most studied types of psychotherapy, having an impressive number of scientific studies confirming its efficacy for varied people and different clinical pictures. Thus, CBT is actively recommended by various guidelines for clinical practice in the country and abroad and is used in hospitals, mental health centers, rehabilitation centers, schools, community health services, private practice, etc. It remains one of the most influential and widely applied therapeutic techniques in modern mental health care due to its flexibility and research base.
Why Learn About CBT?
Due to increased attention to mental health problems, professionals in the areas of psychology, education, healthcare and social services are becoming more and more aware of clients who suffer from emotional and psychological problems.
Learning CBT helps professionals to:
- Understand the relationship between thoughts, emotions and behaviors
- Develop proper communication and interviewing skills
- Acquire evidence-based intervention techniques
- Become better at problem solving and case formulation
- Prepare for further clinical psychology studies
- Gain basic counseling skills
No matter whether your aim is academic or professional, CBT offers one of the best foundations for evidence-based psychology.
What You Will Learn
In this four-month course leading to a certificate, there is a step-by-step approach to learning theoretical knowledge and skills.
Students will learn:
- Concepts and principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Clinical interviewing and communication in therapy
- Professional ethics and limits of therapy
- CBT case formulation and assessment
- Functional behavioral assessment
- Setting goals and treatment plans
- Conducting structured CBT sessions
- Automatic thoughts and cognitive distortions identification
- Thought recording and cognitive restructuring techniques
- Behavioral activation
- Problem-solving therapy
- Relaxation techniques
- Exposure therapy concepts
- Depression and anxiety CBT treatments
- Relapse prevention techniques
Practical Learning Experience
Understanding of CBT cannot be confined only to books. In this course, we have practical learning components which will facilitate participants to use knowledge in practical scenarios.
The list of practical training includes:
- Therapist-patient role plays
- Formulation of cases
- Discussion of clinical cases
- Practice of thoughts recording
- Planning behavioral interventions
- Assignments every week
- Demonstrations
- Clinical skill assessment
Who Should Participate?
The Online CBT Basics Certificate Course is for beginners and individuals starting their careers and wishing to build their CBT knowledge from scratch.
Those who should take this course are:
- Students of Psychology
- Students of Behavioral Sciences
- Counselors and budding therapists
- Social workers
- Teachers concerned about the mental well-being of their students
- Health professionals
- Individuals looking to join Clinical or Counseling Psychology courses in the future
- Program Structure
- The course is spread over 16 weeks with weekly classes conducted online.
Course Features
Duration
- 4 Months
- 16 Live Classes
- 4 Hours Per Class
- 64 Hours Guided Learning
- Weekly Assignments
- Role Play Practice
- Case Studies Discussion
- Clinical Skills Practice
- Practical Final Assessment
Why This Course?
In contrast to a great many introductory programs that emphasize theory more than anything else, this course balances academic education with practical knowledge.
Transferable skills learned include:
- Clinical interviewing skills
- Therapeutic communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Case formulation skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Ethical decision making skills
- Reflective practice skills
- Documentation skills
Kick-Off Your CBT Training Experience
By developing a good understanding of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, you will create more chances for yourself in the field of education and career. If you are planning to study further, improve your counseling abilities, or learn about psychological treatments supported by empirical evidence, this course will give you the required training experience.
Become a participant of our Online CBT Fundamentals Certificate Course and start acquiring knowledge, confidence, and skills in one of the most acclaimed models of psychological treatment.