About the course:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and the recovery approach share many commonalities. The most notable of these are goal-setting by the service recipient, who is viewed as an expert on their own life; a perspective and dialogue on an equal footing; and the aspiration to help the service recipient take charge of their own life. This course is based on these foundational assumptions and enables students to learn skills that will help them support the rehabilitation and recovery processes of service recipients.

The first part of the course will review and invite practice of basic principles from the first wave (Behavioral Therapy) and the second wave (Cognitive Therapy) of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Later in the course, we will use these principles to learn selected interventions and skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which belong to the third wave of CBT.

Course Objectives:

• Students will learn key concepts from the behavioral approach and how to identify them in their own behavior and that of service recipients.
• Students will learn to identify different types of thoughts and how to effectively use Socratic questioning.
• Students will learn how to use the matrix (from ACT) to help service recipients live value-driven lives.
• Students will learn how to use selected skills of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness (from DBT) to help service recipients improve their ability to manage their emotions and enhance relationships.
• Students will apply the skills learned in and between classes, both personally and with service recipients in their workplace.

Course Structure:

The course includes 12 sessions, each lasting 6 academic hours, with the first two hours dedicated to practice and guidance (in two separate groups).

Participants

The course is designed for up to 30 participants. Registrants who do not hold an academic degree in a therapeutic profession may register if they are accompanied by a rehabilitation professional with an academic degree in a therapeutic profession who works with them as part of the same organic team at their workplace.

Course Requirements

• Mandatory attendance in 90% of classes, active participation, including participation in internships, exercises, and simulations (40% of the course grade).
• Preparation of a weekly practice assignment every week with at least one service recipient – a total of 10 assignments (40% of the course grade). The course cannot be completed without these assignments. If you do not meet service recipients weekly as part of your regular work, you must ensure you can do so during the course.
• Reading professional literature during the course as needed.
• Summary assignment: Reflection on the personal and professional process (20% of the course grade).

Admission Requirements

• Experience working in mental health rehabilitation
• Applicants who do not hold an academic degree in a therapeutic profession may register if a rehabilitation professional with an academic degree in a therapeutic profession, who works with them as part of the same organic team, also registers.
• Direct ongoing work (or the possibility to create direct ongoing work) with at least one service recipient each week, capable of rehabilitative work based on tool practice and self-analysis.