How do I get good training in Cognitive Therapy?

I often get questions about how someone who has finished grad school and is practicing out in the real world can get good training in CT. Some of us were fortunate enough to receive comprehensive training in Cognitive Therapy in graduate school, in practica and internships, in post-doctoral training, or on the job. Others of us have been less fortunate.

For most people, the first alternatives which come to mind are reading and workshops. These can be quite valuable but have obvious limitations. We are fortunate to have many good books on CT available (see the recommended readings earlier in this forum) but reading a good book is very different from having the opportunity to discuss the material covered or gaining supervised experience in applying the material. Workshops can be interesting and useful but a one or two day workshop does not give you the opportunity to try out the interventions in practice then return for follow-up. I would advise you not to stop with reading and workshops but to consider some of these other options as well:

• Look for an organized training program. If there is a Center for Cognitive Therapy in your area (or in the nearest large city), good training may be easily available. A number of the CT centers around the country offer extended CT training programs designed to meet the needs of practicing clinicians. These programs vary from Center to Center but typically meet for 60 or 70 hours over the course of a year and include readings, lectures, video, experiential exercises, and opportunities for consultation. Later in this thread I will post information about the CT training programs that I am aware of.

• If no organized CT training program exists in your area, consider importing one. If your employer, local psychological association, or a group of like-minded colleagues is interested, it probably would be feasibly to bring someone in to conduct a CT training program. This costs a bit of course, but if you have 20 or so who are interested in participating, it may well be affordable.

• Find a consultant or supervisor. If you can locate someone in your area who is qualified to provided supervision of consultation in CT, supervised experience combined with reading and workshops can give you a solid foundation. To locate possible consultants or supervisors contact the nearest Center for Cognitive Therapy, call the Beck Institute (610-664-3020) to see if they can recommend anyone in your area, try to locate a copy of the AABT directory, or check with the local university Psychology department.

• Organize a peer consultation group. Locate a few like-minded colleagues who are interested in meeting regularly to discuss cases, raise questions, and discuss readings. Meet regularly, and make it clear that the goal is to learn, not to try to impress each other. It may take a little effort to stay on task rather that just BS-ing but you will find that this can be really valuable.

In this thread I will post training opportunities as I discover them. Please add any opportunities you have located which I do not mention.

Replies:

Cognitive Therapy Training Tapes, by Jim Pretzer, 2/13/97 On-line video catalogue for CBT training, by Nick jordan, 9/11/97 Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation Offers Tapes of Presentations, by Jim Pretzer, 10/31/98 Beck Institute offers Intramural and Extramural Training, by Jim Pretzer, 11/27/97 Post-Graduate Training in Cognitive Therapy, by Jim Pretzer, 4/13/98 Best Investment I ever made, by N.Sakmar MSEd, 2/22/99 I'm curious....., by Tim Warneka, 3/13/99 Participants' opinion of the Cleveland CT program (updated 6/17/01), by Jim Pretzer, 05/06/99 The Cleveland Center for Cognitive Therapy can come to you!, by Jim Pretzer, 3/27/00 Training in Cognitive Therapy via Interactive Videoconferencing, by Jim Pretzer, 09/08/01 Re:Training in Cognitive Therapy via Interactive Videoconferencing, by Carla Glasper, 10/01/01 Re:Training in Cognitive Therapy via Interactive Videoconferencing, by Jim Pretzer, 10/01/01 Re:Training in Cognitive Therapy via Interactive Videoconferencing, by Mary K Renwick, 05/30/02 Re:Training in Cognitive Therapy via Interactive Videoconferencing, by Jim Pretzer, 06/01/02 Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Cleveland, 5/7/04, by Jim Pretzer, 02/10/04 Til Death Do Us Part: Dealing with Anger, Jealousy, and Infidelity in Couples, Cleveland, 5/8/04, by Jim Pretzer, 02/10/04 East Meets West: Mindfulness-Based Interventions in CBT, Cleveland, 5/10/04, by Jim Pretzer, 02/10/04 Let Me Off the Rollercoaster: Cognitive Therapy with Bipolar Disorder, Cleveland, 5/14/04, by Jim Pretzer, 02/10/04 A Partial Listing of Cognitive Therapy Centers (updated 8/10/03), by Jim Pretzer, 08/23/98 The Academy of Cognitive Therapy lists Workshops and Training Programs, by Jim Pretzer, 09/08/01 Graduate/Residency training in Cognitive Therapy?, by Jim Pretzer, 11/11/02 Oxford offers a certificate program in CT, by Jim Pretzer, 12/04/02 Making Training in Cognitive Therapy Affordable, by Jim Pretzer, 05/09/03

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