Primary Certificate in
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with Children & Adolescents
(Shane Stevenson)

Introduction

This course will provide tools and techniques for utilising CBT with young people, primarily addressing work with children but including younger adolescents. While it will emphasise the behavioural focus that is more relevant to that age group,  the course will also cover a range of suitable cognitive techniques. 

Material presented will draw from a range of authorities on using CBT with young people, in particular, March & Mulle, Kendall, Friedberg & McClure, Stallard, and Sanders, Ralph & Church.

Course content

Topics covered will include:

• Basic concepts of CBT, why we need to adapt it for young people and how to introduce them to the principles of CBT.

• A range of behavioural strategies, including reinforcement schedules, behaviour charts, behavioural rehearsal, fear hierarchies, exposure & response prevention.

• Cognitive techniques such as thought restructuring (e.g. Superhero Thinking), thought stopping, externalising, thought detectives, video learning, etc.

• Miscellaneous strategies including diaries, overlearning, relaxation techniques, understanding & identifying emotions.

• Family involvement in therapy.

• Behavioural problems and parenting techniques to deal with these.

• Specific disorders relevant to young people, including obsessive compulsive disorder, selective mutism, specific phobias, generalised anxiety and, if time permits, other disorders such as eating and sleeping problems, enuresis and anger management.

The 3-day practicum will provide an opportunity for the presenter to share some of his experiences of working with young people and for participants to familiarise themselves with the resources available and practise some of the techniques.  

Structure of the course

The course will consist of three stages

Stage One will begin six weeks before the practicum and will involve a small amount of pre-reading on the basics of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. As well, participants will prepare a case-study to bring to the practicum.

Stage Two will be a three-day practicum that will combine interactive learning with actual practice of techniques.

Stage Three will consist of further  reading, practice with clients and preparation of the final assessment. The length of this stage (most likely 2-3 months) will be negotiated at the practicum.

Reading

Participants will receive a small amount of reading to be completed in advance of the practicum. At the practicum they will be provided with the set text: Friedberg & McClure (2001) Clinical Practice of Cognitive Therapy with Children and Adolescents: The Nuts and Bolts. NY: Guilford (NB: do not purchase this text – it is already included in the course fee and will be provided to trainees by the Centre).

Presenter

The course presenter is Shane Stevenson – for details, click here.

Entrance requirements

The course is aimed primarily at helping professionals who have a background in counselling/therapy with some basic knowledge of cognitive behaviour therapy (though not necessarily formal training in CBT). Trainees must currently be working with young people.

Certification & Assessment

The program is certificated by the New Zealand Centre for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. The Certificate recognised by the United Kingdom Centre for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, which provides it with a similar status to the Primary Certificate in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy.

Assessment will involve presentation of a structured case study along with a short (5-10 minute) video showing the trainee using one technique with a client (under special circumstances, trainees may negotiate an alternative to the video).

Participants who fail the assessment will have opportunity to repeat the work involved (submission of repeat work for assessment will attract an additional charge to cover the time involved for the assessor, as will extensions of time).

Dates, locations & fees

The course officially begins six weeks before the practicum, however trainees may begin Stage One at any time. The Centre plans to present between one and two practicum each year, in separate locations and at different times. To find out what practicum are being offered in the coming year, go to the Professional Training page.

Each course is limited to 12 participants.

To check the course fee, go to the Registration Form page.

Would you like to visit New Zealand?

Overseas visitors are very welcome to attend our training programmes in New Zealand. Feel free to enquire. Take a look at our information section for overseas visitors.

Links to other training pages

NB: Information in this document is subject to change without notice.