oxford cognitive behavioural therapy (cbt) for … · top-up training in cognitive behavioural...

OCTC website - www.octc.co.uk

OXFORD COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (CBT) FOR PSYCHOSIS:

Top-Up Training in CBT for Psychosis

HEE Funded Places for EIP staff

PROSPECTUS 2016-2017

http://www.octc.co.uk/

Top-Up Training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis

Prospectus 2016-2017

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1

COURSE AIMS .................................................................................................................................. 1

ORGANISATION AND TRAINING ................................................................................................. 1

COURSE PARTICIPANTS ............................................................................................................... 2

COURSE STRUCTURE ................................................................................................................... 3

COURSE CONTENT ........................................................................................................................ 4

ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................................... 7

LOCATION.......................................................................................................................................... 8

FEES.................................................................................................................................................... 9

APPLICATION PROCESS ............................................................................................................... 9

CONTACT DETAILS ......................................................................................................................... 9



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INTRODUCTION The Top-Up Training in CBT for Psychosis is a comprehensive CBT training programme offered

conjointly by the Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre (OCTC) and Oxford Cognitive Approaches to

Psychosis, University of Oxford (O-CAP).

It has been designed specifically for professionals within NHS England Early Intervention for

Psychosis services who are already competent in delivering CBT for anxiety and depression,

but who wish to develop specialist skills and knowledge in using CBT with psychosis.

This course provides qualified healthcare professionals with high quality training and

supervision in CBT for psychosis theory and practice, enhancing knowledge and skill to facilitate

the delivery of NICE concordant care for people with psychosis, in line with relevant CBT

Competency Frameworks.

COURSE AIMS

The Course aims to provide students with:

1. A sound understanding of cognitive behavioural models of psychosis and the related

evidence base. .

2. Competence in engaging, assessing and developing collaborative formulations with

individuals with psychotic and bipolar illness. .

3. Competence to deliver high quality, individualised, evidence-based interventions in

accordance with NICE guidance and the competence framework for work with people

with psychosis and bipolar disorder (Roth & Pilling 2013).

ORGANISATION AND TRAINING

The Course takes full advantage of the high levels of theoretical knowledge and clinical

expertise available among practitioners of CBT for psychosis in Oxford. The design,

organisation, training and supervision are by BABCP accreditable therapists and/or supervisors

and trainers, who have extensive experience in the practice of CBT for psychosis and in related

training and research.

Course Lead

Dr Louise Isham, MA (Oxon), MSc, DClinPsy, PG Dip in CBTp, Consultant Clinical

Psychologist & Research Clinical Psychologist, Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre & Oxford-

Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis Research Team, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX



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Executive Committee

Prof Daniel Freeman, PhD, DclinPsy, CPsychol, FBPSs. NIHR Research Professor, Consultant

Clinical Psychologist, Lead Oxford Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis (O-CAP), Department of

Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX.

Dr Louise Isham MA (Oxon), MSc, DClinPsy, PG Dip in CBTp, Consultant Clinical

Psychologist & Research Clinical Psychologist, Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre & Oxford-

Cognitive Approaches to Psychosis Research Team, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX

Dr Louise Johns, MA (Cantab.), DPhil, DClinPsy, Consultant and Academic Clinical

Psychologist, Oxford Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, Neill Unit, Warneford Hospital,

Oxford, OX3 7JX.

Dr Sarah Rakovshik, BA, PG Dip Cog. Ther. (Oxon), DPhil (Oxon), Consultant Cognitive

Behavioural Psychotherapist, Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre, Warneford Hospital, Oxford

OX 3 7JX

Dr Kate Rosen, BSc, MSc (Clin Psych), PhD, CPsychol, Consultant Clinical Psychologist,

Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX

Mr David Slingo, BA, Chartered FCIPD. Head of Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre, Oxford

Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX

COURSE PARTICIPANTS

Limited HEE funded places are available for students working in NHS England EIP services.

Applicants are normally expected to:

1. Be qualified members of one of the main National Health Service professions (such as

clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, general practitioners, occupational

therapists), or other recognised professions (for example, social workers).

2. Have at least one year’s post-qualification clinical experience and be currently working

with individuals with psychosis.

3. Be able to demonstrate competency in generic CBT for anxiety and depression as

evidenced by:

i) Completion of a Post Graduate Qualification (at either Certificate or Diploma

Level) in CBT (evidenced by transcript and supervisor reference). It is not

necessary for this qualification to have incorporated any training in working with

psychosis.

OR



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ii) Substantive generic CBT training (e.g. on DClinPsy training; evidenced by

transcript, CV and reference) AND at least one year post-qualification clinical

experience AND competency in delivering generic CBT.

For those short-listed for interview, competency in generic CBT will be further

assessed via a role play.

4. Demonstrate commitment to developing CBT skills for ongoing use in clinical practice

with individuals with psychosis and bipolar (assessed at interview).

5. Have access to treatment settings with regular clinical and CBT for psychosis

supervision where cognitive behavioural therapy skills can be practised and refined on a

regular basis.

Exceptions to these criteria are at the discretion of the course organisers.

COURSE STRUCTURE

The Top-Up training is designed to run from March 2016 to March 2017. From October 2017 we

will be offering a Postgraduate Certificate in Enhanced CBT: Psychosis and Bipolar, and the

Top-up training is a precursor to this. Please note that whilst it is designed to be equivalent in

terms of numbers of workshops and supervision to a Postgraduate Certificate the Top-Up

training does not result in a University qualification. We are, however, investigating options with

the University to see whether it may be possible to get an award retrospectively.

The Course comprises five aspects:

1. 4-day workshop series, 14th -17th March 2016.

2. Attendance at 7 OCTC full-day psychosis series workshops across 2016.

3. Access to OCTC online training programmes 2016-2017.

4. Easter school attendance 2017.

5. 14-sessions of small group “close” supervision across 2016-2017.

Each aspect is described in detail in the Course Content section.



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COURSE CONTENT

The syllabus is designed to enable students to develop the competence to deliver CBT for

psychosis as outlined in the competence framework for work with people with psychosis and

bipolar disorder by Roth and Pilling (2013).

1. Easter School Workshop Series (14th – 17th March 2016)

Students on the Top-Up training will be invited to a 4-day workshop series. This will provide

students with an overview of the current evidence-based treatments for CBT for psychosis

within Early Intervention and will serve as a “taster” for some of the training they will receive

in more depth later.

We envisage that, in many cases, students on the Top-Up training will be supervised within

their work place by those attending Advanced Practitioner Training. Previous feedback

indicates greater satisfaction with training when both supervisors and supervises attend the

same workshops, as it ensures a common foundation of shared understanding which can be

built upon within supervision. We will therefore be inviting staff on the Advanced Practitioner

Training to these workshops also.

The Easter School programme is outlined below:

Day 1: Early Interventions in Psychosis (Facilitated by Dr Louise Johns, University of

Oxford)

CBT for adolescents with psychosis - Dr Sophie Browning (South London &

Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust).

Prevention of long term social disability amongst young people with emerging

psychological difficulties - Prof David Fowler (University of Sussex).

Day 2: Recent Advances in CBT for Delusions (Facilitated by Prof Daniel Freeman,

University of Oxford)

An overview of current knowledge and future directions in the treatment of

persecutory delusions - Prof Daniel Freeman (University of Oxford).

Treatment of worry in persecutory delusions - Dr Bryony Sheaves (University of

Oxford) & Dr Louise Isham (University of Oxford; Oxford Cognitive Therapy

Centre).

Working with disrupted sleep in psychosis – Dr Felicity Waite (University of

Oxford).

Self-esteem and self-confidence in psychosis – Prof Daniel Freeman (University of

Oxford).

Re-learning safety – Prof Daniel Freeman (University of Oxford).



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Day 3: Working with Hallucinations (Facilitated by Dr Louise Johns, University of Oxford)

Working with command hallucinations – Dr Alan Meaden (Birmingham & Solihull

Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust).

Avatar therapy for voices – Dr Tom Ward (King’s College London).

Day 4: At Risk Mental States; Working with Trauma (Facilitated by Prof Daniel Freeman,

University of Oxford)

Working with At Risk Mental States (ARMS) – Dr Majella Byrne (King’s College

London) & Dr Louise Johns (University of Oxford).

Treating trauma in psychosis - Dr Tonnie Staring (Altrecht Psychiatric Institute,

Utrecht).

2. Attendance at OCTC psychosis workshop series across 2016-2017

OCTC has an existing portfolio of “open” CBT for psychosis full-day workshops which

trainees on the Top-Up route will have access to. Workshop titles are given below but further

details (if required) can be found via the OCTC website (https://www.octc.co.uk/workshops).

Workshop Trainer Venue (2016) 2016 date

1. CBT Treatment of Worry

for Patients with

Persecutory Delusions

Dr Louise Isham Oxford 20th April

2. An Introduction to

Cognitive Therapy for Post-

Traumatic Stress

Reactions in Psychosis

Dr Craig Steel

& Dr Amy Hardy

Oxford 21st April

3. Cognitive Therapy for Early

Intervention in Psychosis &

At Risk Mental States:

Back to Basics

Prof Tony

Morrison

Oxford 22nd April

4. Acceptance and

Commitment Therapy

(ACT) with People with

Psychosis

Dr Louise Johns

&

Dr Joe Oliver

Oxford 7th June

5. A Beginner’s Guide to

Psychosis and Bipolar

Dr Louise Isham Oxford 22nd

September

6. Working with Psychosis:

An Introduction to CBT for

Delusions

Dr Louise Isham Oxford 23rd

November

7. Working with Psychosis: Dr Louise Isham Oxford 24th



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An Introduction to CBT for

Voices

November

3. Easter School 2017

In order to cover aspects of the CBT for psychosis competencies that would not be covered

by the training already outlined, a 3-day Easter school will be run in 2017 (dates to be

finalised).

The summer school will be likely to include sessions on:

- working with negative symptoms and thought disorder;

- attachment and interpersonal issues;

- reasoning biases in psychosis;

- CBT for bipolar disorder;

- medication and psychosis;

- cognitive functioning in psychosis;

- substance use and psychosis;

- culture and psychosis;

- working with carers.

4. Access to OCTC online training resources

OCTC has an extensive online CBT training programme covering a broad range of CBT

topics from introductory through to advanced. Although the programme does not currently

contain CBTp-specific components, access to this resource will nevertheless provide an

excellent training opportunity both in terms of revision of key concepts (e.g. behavioural

experiments) and training in more advanced techniques (e.g. reliving for PTSD;

compassionate mind work) which will be facilitative in enabling the trainee to deliver highest

quality CBT and CBT for psychosis..

The online training can be accessed remotely and within a time frame that best fits with the

trainee so offers an opportunity for flexible learning that will be of value. Training modules

available currently (this may be added to in time) include:

Basics:

i. Basic CBT Theory –David Westbrook.

ii. CBT assessment and formulation –David Westbrook.

iii. Collaborative working - Gillian Butler.

iv. Goal setting - James Bennett-Levy.

v. Behavioural experiments –James Bennett-Levy.

vi. Socratic Method – Facilitated by Helen Kennerley.



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Intermediate – Advanced:

i. Using Imagery and Behavioural Experiments to enhanced CBT for Panic

disorder and agoraphobia –Ann Hackman.

ii. CBT for obsessive compulsive disorder – Norma Morrison.

iii. Mental imagery and formulation in cognitive therapy module –Emily Holmes.

iv. Working with Core beliefs – Helen Kennerley.

v. Enhanced Reliving in PTSD – Martina Mueller.

vi. Enhancing self-esteem – Melanie Fennell.

vii. Compassionate mind – Deborah Lee.

Content of the training is via a combination of lectures and role plays. The effectiveness of

this method as a training medium in conjunction with appropriate supervision has been

demonstrated by OCTCs’ Director of Postgraduate Diploma and MSc in CBT, Dr Sarah

Rakovshik (Rakovshik, McManus et al. (2013); Rakovshik, McManus et al. (in press)).

Further details of the online training provision as well as free excerpts to view are available at

www.octc.co.uk/training/online-training. This resource would be available to “Top-Up”

trainees from March 2016 –March2017.

5. Small group supervision

The provision of supervision is a crucial aspect of the training package needed to support

trainees to transfer declarative knowledge gained from training workshops into procedural

practice. The Top-Up package would include 14 sessions of 2-hour small “close” group

supervision across the 2016/2017 year. Group size would be limited to 4 trainees per group.

The default package would be for this to be offered face-to-face at the Warneford Hospital,

Oxford but, dependent on the specific cohort, there may be flexibility around this. For

example, if there were 4 trainees from the same service provider who could meet in a

location convenient to them, it could be possible to deliver the supervision remotely via skype

or similar online system. OCTC has considerable experience of offering flexible supervision

packages both to individuals as well as larger scale organisations.

Supervisors will be BABCP accredited or accreditable CBT practitioners. The will all be highly

experienced specialists in CBT for psychosis, and experienced supervisors.

ASSESSMENT

Whilst this is not a University accredited course, we believe that it is extremely important to

assess the competence of supervisees and evaluate their progress over the training

programme. Therefore students on this course will be required to complete assessments

designed to determine whether the aims of the Course have been met.

http://www.octc.co.uk/training/online-training



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Students are expected to take an active part in teaching and supervision sessions, and to carry

out CBT with the required number of patients. Their competence and knowledge will be

assessed through written assignments and direct evaluation of clinical performance, as follows:

1. Written assignments

a) Case Reports

Students are required to write up one treated case of no more than 6,000 words. A case report

should include:

References to relevant literature

A description of the patient

A cognitive behavioural formulation of the case

A treatment plan demonstrating knowledge of appropriate CBT interventions

An evaluation of outcome

A concluding discussion

2. Evaluation of Clinical Performance

a) Supervision of clinical casework

The training provision includes 14 sessions of small group supervision which will be offered to

students attending the Top-Up Training. As part of this, supervisors will provide ratings and

commentaries on therapy recordings during the course. Throughout the course, students are

encouraged to make audio or video recordings of therapy sessions to facilitate case discussions

during supervision with examples of recorded therapy sessions. Students are expected to show

competence in general therapeutic skills (such as the ability to structure sessions and to form an

equal collaborative relationship) as well as in formulating overall treatment strategies and in

carrying out specific CBT for psychosis techniques.

b) Audio/video-recorded treatment sessions

Students will be required to submit three audio or video recorded examples of whole, mid-

treatment CBT for psychosis sessions, one of which will be formally assessed. Using this

recording, competence as a CBT therapist is evaluated by means of the Assessment of Core

CBT Skills (ACCS), which is an established measure of CBT competence, and using the

Revised Cognitive Therapy for Psychosis Adherence Scale Manual (R-CTPAS; Rollinson et al.,

2008) which evaluates CBT for psychosis skills specifically.

LOCATION

Workshops will usually take place within Warneford Hospital in Oxford, or alternatively another

Oxford based venue. Clinical practice is carried out at the student’s normal place of work.



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FEES

We are offering Higher Education England funded places on the Top-Up Training. Funding

covers the workshop and online training access, supervision, and assessments as outlined.

Please note that all other costs (including any necessary travel and accommodation

expenses) are not funded and hence will need to be met by the student and/or their

employer. Places are limited as per HEE directions and applications must be made in

agreement with your local trust.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The closing date for applications for the course is Thursday 25th February 2016. For

consideration by the admissions committee applications must be completed by this date.

Applications for this course should be made via email to [email protected]

Please ensure all documents required for application are submitted together in a single email.

Application forms should be accompanied by the following compulsory materials:

CV

Two academic references, one of which must be from a clinical supervisor

Transcript(s) from previous higher education

Evidence of generic CBT competence as demonstrated by:

o Transcript of PGCert or PGDip in CBT (including marks on formal assessment

of therapy recordings using the CTS-R or ACCS scales)

OR

o Evidence of substantive CBT training (e.g. DClinPsy). Further assessment of

competency will be made via a role play at interview for those short-listed.

All applications must be complete by the deadline.

Interviews will be held on 1st, 2nd and/or 3rd March 2016.

Please note that the course starts with attendance at the 4-day Easter School Workshop

on Monday 14th March 2016.

CONTACT DETAILS

We hope that this prospectus has informed you of everything you need to know about the Top-

Up Training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis. If you would like any further

information please see the relevant page of our website www.octc.co.uk or contact:

Address: OCTC, Warneford Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 7JX

Tel:+ 44 (0)1865 902801

mailto:[email protected]




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Fax:+ 44 (0)1865 337416

Email: [email protected]

Additional information on CBT training and other services provided by OCTC can be found on

our website: www.octc.co.uk

mailto:[email protected]


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