Pgdip mental health: psychological therapies wolfson institute of preventive medicine

Structure

In term 1, students take the 1st module: Advanced Skills in Mental Health. In term 2, students take the 2nd module: Psychological Therapies.

Each module consists of 12 weeks of teaching and assessment, with one core taught day each week, for which onsite students are required to be on campus. Distance learning students meet for half a day each week in online group tutorials, facilitated by their tutor.

On teaching days, the structure typically consists of two hours of lectures, 4 hours of facilitated group work and one and a half hours tutorial focused on consolidating learning and critical skills.

Period of Study

Completion of the first module is accredited for exit with a PGCert in : Advanced Skills in Mental Health

Advanced Skills in Mental Health prepares students for working with people with complex mental health needs. The ability to safely and accurately assess and identify mental health problems in vulnerable people is a valuable skill for work in psychiatric or psychological services, homelessness agencies, learning disabilities services or forensic services, and legal services. The knowledge and skills acquired in this module will enable you to feel well equipped in understanding the signs, symptoms and labelling strategies used in deciphering complex mental health issues to make you a more effective member of the service team. You will also learn study skills and presentation skills and engage in group learning processes using problem based learning, role plays, and group discussion.

The Psychological Therapies pathway equips students with knowledge about psychological therapies including individual cognitive behaviour therapies, cognitive analytic therapies, psychodynamic therapies, as well as group and family therapies.
Students undertake some supervised practice during placements for which they apply during the course. Students become skilled in communicating and presenting their ideas in written and oral form.
Students become knowledgeable and experienced in deciding which interventions may be helpful, and knowing more about which therapies might work for whom. In addition, during the experiential groups and clinical placements they become more mindful and experienced in working with emotional, behavioural and psychological distress.
These learning processes are strengthened, unique and effective because:

1. Placements – learning is enhanced by placements in clinical care. Students secure their own placements to develop skills in brief or long term therapy, under supervision. We have a number of placement partners but you will be required to ensure governance arrangements are in place and that you are working for an established and well supervised service. Please note this course does not equip you to be registered as a psychotherapist in the UK for which you must pursue additional advanced training, but this course does prepare you to enter such a career. This exercise encourages students to independently identify and secure work roles in the field of mental health, prepare CVs, proceed through interviews, and develop some clinical skills before considering more advanced and accredited courses.
   
   Placement information
   
2. Experiential groups – the first step towards training in psychotherapy of any kind is the ability to observe, reflect, mentalise, and to deal with uncertainty and emotions. The psychological therapies pathway provides students with an experiential group to learn about their own mental life and emotional world and how to deal with uncertainty and worry, in a confidential and safe environment with expert group therapists.

The distance learning option operates to the same structure as the on-site programmes (apart from the experiential groups which are onsite only). Distance learners access materials and lecture recording in an online learning environment where they also submit their assignments.

In the virtual learning environment, QMplus, students have access to our established E-learning facilities for each module, including: online programme syllabus; student handbook; e-lecture and workshop materials; tools for submitting online assignments/homework; email; virtual discussion board; virtual classrooms (synchronous); e-calendar; Tools for online student feedback.

Please note the Distance Learning mode requires weekly attendance in half-day online group tutorials for interactive exercises, discussions, problem-based learning and research supervision.

Distance Learning students need a standard PC/Mac with reliable access to broadband internet connection, headphones, a microphone and a webcam.