Prospectus

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Cognitive Behaviour Interventions (HMP)

Course
2023-2024

Entry requirements

The course Cognitive Behavioural Interventions is only open to Master students of the specialisation Health and Medical Psychology, and Research Master’s students of the track Clinical and Health Psychology. Entry requirement for the Master students is that the MSc course Basic Therapeutic Skills (BTS) has been completed. Entry requirement for the Research Master students is that the course Psychopathology and Therapeutic Skills (until 22-23: Basic Therapeutic Skills) has been completed.

This course is offered twice a year

Description

This course consists of a theoretical and a practical part, which will be offered simultaneously. The theoretical part consists of lectures on general aspects of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and specific interventions for different forms of psychopathology and psychological consequences of chronic disease. There is a written exam.

The practical part consists of work group sessions. Each week there is a supervised and an unsupervised work group. In the supervised work groups, students will be taught when and how to apply basic cognitive-behavioural intervention techniques, such as case formulation, challenging and modifying negative thoughts and behaviours, exposure, and behavioural experiments. During the unsupervised work groups, students conduct a mini therapy of five sessions with a fellow student. Developments that take place during mini-therapy are reported in weekly reports and discussed during supervision. Students have to write a final report.

Course objectives

Students will:
1. Acquire knowledge and understanding of the theory and empirical evidence of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy .
2. Acquire knowledge and understanding of the main evidence-based cognitive-behavioural assessment and intervention techniques.
3. Acquire skills to apply evidence-based cognitive-behavioural intervention techniques in a professional clinical psychology, health and/or medical psychology setting.
4. Be able to report on content, course and outcome of a mini-therapy.
5. Be able to reflect critically on the process of the mini-therapy, therapeutic relationship and role as a therapist.

Timetable

For the timetable of this course please refer to MyTimetable

Registration

Education

Students must register themselves for all course components (lectures, tutorials and practicals) they wish to follow. You can register up to 5 days prior to the start of the course.

Exams

You must register for each exam in My Studymap at least 10 days before the exam date. You cannot take an exam without a valid registration in My Studymap. Carefully read all information about the procedures and deadlines for registering for courses and exams.

Exchange students and external guest students will be informed by the education administration about the current registration procedure.

Mode of instruction

4 2-hour lectures
7 3-hour supervised work group sessions
7 2-hour (unsupervised) work group sessions
Attendance is mandatory for all work group sessions.

Assessment method

The final grade is based on a grade for the written exam (50%) and a grade for the work group (50%).

The written exam consists of open questions. The questions have to be answered in English.

The work group grade will be determined on the basis of the final report on the mini therapy, the quality of the weekly mini therapy reports, and participation during work groups.

Students need to have both a sufficient exam grade (minimum pass is 5,5) and a sufficient work group grade (minimum pass is 5,5) to pass the course.

The information how to sign up for the post-exam consultation will be posted on Brightspace. Post-exam consultation will be possible only on the designated date and at the designated time and only if you were registered for the course and took the exam.

Study material for the exam:

  • Chapter 1 of the Wright, Brown, Thase, and Basco (20017) book;

  • Chapter 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13 & 14 of the O’Donohue & Fisher (2012) book;

  • The lectures and lecture slides posted on BS;

  • Additional literature posted with the lectures on BS.

Study material for the work groups: the Wright, Brown, Thase, and Basco (2017) book.

The Institute of Psychology follows the policy of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences to systematically check student papers for plagiarism with the help of software. All students are required to take and pass the Scientific Integrity Test with a score of 100% in order to learn about the practice of integrity in scientific writing. Students are given access to the quiz via a module on Brightspace. Disciplinary measures will be taken when fraud is detected. Students are expected to be familiar with and understand the implications of this fraud policy.

Reading list

For the lectures:

O’Donohue,W.T. and Fisher, J.E. (2012). Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Core Principles for Practice. Publisher: Wiley & sons, Inc. (selected chapters).

For the work groups:

Wright, J.H., Brown, G.K., Thase, M.E., & Basco, M.R. (2017). Learning cognitive-behavior therapy: an illustrated guide. American Psychiatric Association Publishing.

Contact information

Dr. Véronique De Gucht (course coordinator for specialisation Health and Medical Psychology) deGucht@fsw.leidenuniv.nl