Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Severe Mental Health Problems) (Taught)

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Severe Mental Health Problems) is a two-year course providing comprehensive training in the core competencies required to become a competent CBT therapist and an additional year of specialist training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Severe Mental Health Problems.*

Oxford is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy research, practice and training. This programme has evolved from a course established over 30 years ago and draws on an impressive body of local specialist knowledge and skills.

*The course is designed to enable students to meet the minimum training standards for British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP) accreditation as a CBT psychotherapist. It is currently BABCP-accredited at Level 1 and is seeking Level 2 accreditation.

Course aims
On successful completion of the course, graduates can expect to have achieved:

1. A sound knowledge of cognitive behavioural models, concepts and methods

2. An understanding of issues of importance relating to the theory and practice of CBT, including:

• The relationship between CBT theory and therapy

• The use of CBT with a variety of client groups and disorders

• Related research on outcome and process.

3. Competence to establish and maintain warm, respectful, collaborative therapeutic relationships, including:

• Having a conceptual framework for understanding and managing difficulties in the alliance

• Using clinical supervision to identify and resolve difficulties in practice

4. Competence in assessing and treating patients using CBT:

• Assessing patient suitability for CBT

• Developing CBT case-formulations

• Devising and implementing individualised treatment programmes

• Evaluating their effects

5. The ability to convey clearly to clients and others the central concepts of CBT and how CBT interventions work.

Please note: the course does not aim to prepare students to teach and supervise CBT. The emphasis is on acquiring, practising and communicating specialised clinical skills, within an explicit theoretical framework in relation to associated empirical research.