Training and Consultancy Services

I offer the opportunity for supervision for experienced cognitive Behavioural psychotherapists either on a face to face or via web cam and internet. I have extensive experience of supervision.

A number of recent studies have shown that relatively brief problem solving based interventions can be helpful in the management of mild to moderate anxiety and depression amongst people who present to primary care workers and family doctors.

The aims of problem solving based interventions are:

• Assist patients to identify psychosocial factors as the causes of their dysphoria.

• Help them to recognise their strengths and resources the have at their disposal to enable them to cope with or overcome their difficulties.

• Teach patients a systematic and generalisable method for overcoming their current and future problems.

• Enhance their esteem through developing control over their difficulties.

Applications of the approach

A number of of controlled evaluations have demonstrated its effectiveness in:

• Mild to moderate depression.

• Generalised anxiety and panic.

• Somatisation and hypochondriasis.

• Acute stress reactions.

The programme covers:

• Assessment of psychological distress.

• Indicators for specialised mental health intervention.

• When problem solving therapy is applicable and suitability criteria.

• How to draw up a problem list, making priorities and setting goals.

• Identifying the patients resources and maintaining the focus on strengths.

• Teaching problem solving using an eight stage model.

• Strategies to supplement problem solving such as behavioural and cognitive strategies.

• Terminating therapy and prevention of relapse.

Teaching Methods

Ground rules will be established at the beginning of the programme to help create a safe and supportive environment for learning. Participants will be expected to practice the techniques and methods taught in pairs and small groups. Were possible actual case material is used from the participants own work area. Feedback on competency is a key feature of the programme as the participants develop and refine their skills.

The course is for:

All qualified health care professionals interested in improving their mental health skills. It is particularly suitable for individuals in a primary care setting with existing general counselling skills.

Cognitive behavioural psychotherapy is a well researched and now well established clinical treatment for a wide variety of psychological and psychiatric disorders.

Applications of the approach

A number of of controlled evaluations have demonstrated its effectiveness in:

• Depression.

• Anxiety.

• Panic.

• Anger management and control.

• Coping with stress.

• Post traumatic stress disorder.

• Habit disorders.

• Residual psychotic symptoms.

The programme covers:

• Beck's cognitive model and exposure based treatments.

• Initial and Behavioural interviewing.

• Clinical measurement.

• Eliciting automatic negative thoughts, assumptions and schema.

• Practice in a range of behavioural and cognitive interventions. Terminating therapy and prevention of relapse.

Teaching Methods

Ground rules will be established at the beginning of the programme to help create a safe and supportive environment of learning. Participants will be expected to practice the techniques and methods taught in pairs and small groups. Were possible actual case material is used from the participants own work area. Feedback on competency is a key feature of the programme as the participants develop and refine their skills.

The course is for:

Mental health workers with introductory knowledge and skills in cognitive behavioural interventions.

Groups can be just as effective as individual treatment for a wide range of psychological and mental disorders. Seeing people in a group setting can however be more cost effective providing that the groups are established using several well defined principles.

Applications of the approach

A number of of controlled evaluations have demonstrated its effectiveness in:

• Depression.

• Anxiety.

• Panic.

• Anger management and control.

• Coping with stress.

• Residual psychotic symptoms.

The programme covers:

• Assessing for suitability for group working.

• Measuring the effectiveness of the group.

• Stages of group development.

• Ensuring support and feedback.

• Education and practical skills development.

• Structure and content of group sessions.

• Terminating the group sessions and prevention of relapse.

Teaching Methods

Ground rules will be established at the beginning of the programme to help create a safe and supportive environment of learning. Participants will be expected to practice the techniques and methods taught in pairs and small groups. Were possible actual case material is used from the participants own work area. Feedback on competency is a key feature of the programme as the participants develop and refine their skills.

The course is for:

Mental health workers with intermediate knowledge and skills in cognitive behavioural interventions.