CBT in the Context of Long Term Distressing and Persistent Health Conditions

The aims and objectives of this programme are in line with the Psychological Trainings National Curriculum for Long Term Persistent & Distressing Health Conditions (NHS England, 2016; Updated, 2022):

“To increase students’ theoretical and research knowledge in working with people with anxiety disorders or depression in the context of Long-Term Physical Health Conditions (LTHCs) and with people who experience persistent and distressing Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS).  To provide practical, intensive and detailed skills training for working with people with anxiety disorders or depression in the context of LTHCs and people with distressing MUS.”

The programme aims to enable students to demonstrate the competencies detailed in Roth and Pilling (2015)  A competence framework for people with persistent physical health problems:  accessed at  www.ucl.ac.uk/core/competenceframeworks ) , on which the National Curriculum is based.

The course is accessible to those employed within psychological services in the Northwest of England, places are allocated to services by NHS England (NHSE) and are based on existing requirements.

Practitioners attending training will have a professional accreditation in CBT and be competent in working with people with anxiety disorders and depression.

All entrants to the training must have either passed an psychological accredited postgraduate training in CBT (or another Postgraduate CBT programme or Clinical Psychology Doctorate accredited at Level 2 by BABCP)  OR  be accredited/going through the process of accreditation by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) as a CBT therapist.

Applicants must have access to appropriate LTHC/PPStD client groups and have an agreed source of specialist LTHC/PPStD focused supervision.

The LTHC top-up training is now compulsory for all High Intensity CBT Therapists and practitioners are encouraged to complete it within 2 years of qualification.

The training component is in the form of didactic teaching, observation, demonstration and experiential/reflective sessions.  Following the initial two day induction, there will be a further eight full teaching days.  Attendance is weekly on mainly one day per week (Mondays). 

The psychological service lead will be informed of the number of places available for this financial year, as well as the dates that the course will run from and to. The lead will also be sent the application form that applicants will need to complete, and the deadline by which to do so. This, in addition to information about when and by what means, the pre-course group interviews will be held.  Completed and approved application forms are sent to the training centre by the psychological Service Lead.

If you do not know who your psychological service lead is, please speak to your service manager. 

Applications sent directly to the training centre by the applicant will not be accepted.

We are happy to answer questions related to the course itself, but unfortunately are unable to provide any general career advice.