Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

The Institute of Counselling was founded in 1985 as a Christian based, not for profit independent educational body. It is committed to promoting pastoral care throughout the services it provides.

The Aims of the Institute of Counselling are:

(a) to promote the training and development of counselling skills, (b) to provide opportunities for continuing professional development, (c) to produce and distribute counselling skills training resources and (d) to provide a counselling service for individuals needing counselling.

The Institute provides a wide range of counselling and related courses. Students enrol with assurance and confidence on our quality courses, which are fully backed by the experience and resources of the Institute of Counselling.

In its early years the Institute offered only courses in Clinical and Pastoral Counselling, within a pastoral context. Since 1985, over 18,000 students from the UK and overseas have enrolled on these courses.

In recent years, has also produced a selection of further courses which follow the clinical person-centred approach developed by Carl Rogers and others.

The Institute is committed to providing counselling skills training to all who will benefit from the courses. On this basis a non-discriminatory policy is operated with regard to students' background, culture, ethnic origin, gender, age or creed.

Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

This skills based, distance learning, tutor supported course covers practical insights into the methods and techniques of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

CBT is a series of strategies specifically targeted at an individual’s disorder. These can include cognitive therapy, relaxation, breathing techniques and interceptive exposure.

People with specific issues such as panic attacks, depression, anxiety, anger etc. are helped by teaching them to control their thought patterns instead of their thought patterns controlling them.

Who is the course designed for?

The course is of specific interest to those of you working in the healthcare professions and is also aimed at people in the broader caring and training professions.

You are introduced to the ABC Model of counselling. This describes the interaction between the clients’ behaviours, feelings and thoughts. You are also taught to identify errors in thinking, and to challenge damaging beliefs your clients or patients may have.

Thus the aim is to enhance your effectiveness in your profession by teaching you the skills and techniques of CBT, through providing case studies, illustrations, practical activities and assignments.

The course is designed to be relevant and practical. It applies CBT to a number of key areas. These include:

1. Couple and family relationships
2. Depression
3. Anxiety (and phobias)
4. Anger and violence
5. Pastoral and spiritual issues

The course materials consist of 10 lessons, 5 tutor marked assignments and a textbook, supplemented with suggested background reading.

Please also go to course 2000 and consider enrolling for the diploma in CBT.