Course Overview

This comprehensive 13 week (includes a mandatory intro TEAM CBT meeting) CBT course uses a combination of live group didactic sessions together with practice and role play, with emphasis on skill building of therapy tools and techniques for better CBT.  

Attendance at all 13 sessions and completion of CE survey after this course is required to receive CE certificate of completion.

Cost: $720 (price doesn't include required purchase of David Burns' ebook - Tools, Not Schools, of Therapy.  You will receive 25% off of $159, using the student discount available under the Description section - HERE).

Completion of this course provides units towards Level 1, 2, or 3 TEAM-CBT certification. Note, there are additional requirements for Level 2 and 3 CBT Certification which can be found on the Certification Requirements Table.

Learning Objectives

This course is designed to help you:

1. Collect and review patients’ self report data in order to improve therapy outcomes and strengthen the therapeutic alliance
2. Utilize advanced empathy skills to connect with more challenging patients doing CBT.
3. Apply “the five secrets of effective communication” with your patients to improve your therapeutic alliance and improve CBT outcomes.
4. Describe “the five steps of agenda setting” to address and decrease resistance in CBT
5. Demonstrate the “Invitation” step
6. Use the “Specificity” step to keep therapy on track
7.  Recognize several different common forms of resistance
8. Describe the magic button and magic dial techniques to reduce resistance and boost motivation
9. Use Daily Mood Logs effectively
10. Apply the Blame Cost/Benefit Analysis for use with relationship problems
11. Identify “tempting thoughts” and positive distortions in the treatment of habits and addictions
12. Utilize the recovery circle in selecting appropriate methods
13. Describe relapse prevention to prepare client for managing relapse
14. Apply the "Externalization of Voices Technique" to challenge negative thoughts and generate positive counter thoughts
15. Apply the “Double Standard technique” to generate positive thoughts that will counter a negative thought
16. Conceptualize the problem into one of four main areas (mood, relationship, habit/addiction, non-problem) to assist in dealing with resistance and guide method selection
17. Apply the “Examine the Evidence technique” to assist in generating positive/ more realistic thoughts
18. Apply dangling the carrot, sitting with open hands, and the gentle ultimatum to address process resistance

Key Topics

Participants wishing to get the very most out of the course, and apply the skills learned in it, more readily in their practice, may also want to purchase Dr. Burns “Therapists Toolkit” in addition to the required course materials.

Pre-course introduction session:  Review Ring Central technology, expectations for group, introductions, Q and A regarding getting started, review use of “Group Trainer Rating Scale,” and intro to Empathy Training.

Session 1:  Review the TEAM model, including Testing, Empathy, Agenda Setting, Methods briefly.  Model and practice going over a difficult previous session evaluation form (backside of BMS) using the five secrets.  Participants will practice using role-play. 

Session 2:  Empathy practice using 5 secrets with difficult cases.  The hopeless, angry patient. Participants will practice using role-play and giving/getting detailed feedback on skills.

Session 3:  Introduction to agenda setting/assessment of resistance using the invitation and specificity.  Practice offering the invitation and specificity–give/get feedback on skills.

Session 4:  Agenda Setting/Assessment of Resistance. Conceptualization and Motivation. Review of conceptualization, and intro to PAS.  Review of Outcome and Process resistance, what they are and how they are different. Examples of common forms of outcome and process resistance for depressed and anxious patients.  

Session 5:  Outcome resistance.  Miracle cure question, magic button, voicing the resistance, magic dial. Group members learn and then practice these skills.

Session 6:  Process resistance.  Sitting with open hands, the gentle ultimatum. Group members learn and then practice these skills.

Session 7: Daily Mood Log & Intro to Methods.  Integrate Agenda Setting with the DML. Review all steps of agenda setting.  Group members learn and then practice these skills. Give and get detailed feedback.

Session 8: Methods. Using the Recovery Circle, the list of 50 techniques, and the DML.  Practice selecting methods, Group members learn and then practice these skills. Give and get detailed feedback.

Session 9: Methods Review. Start with a completed DML (all group members have a DML completed) and review the recovery circle and learn relevant methods.

Session 10: Introduction to Relationship work.  Using the CBA & the Revise Your Communication Skills Worksheet.  Group members learn and then practice these skills. Give and get detailed feedback.

Session 11: Introduction to Addiction work – The Addictions/Habit Log and other methods to target habits and addictions, including procrastination, and over-eating. Group members learn and then practice these skills.

Session 12:  Relapse Preparation Training: Learn to use Relapse DML, Recovery Circle and Externalization of Voices for mood: Practice skills in breakout groups. Wrap up and review of course with Final Q & A.