Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Foundations: A Skills-Based Approach

ESTIMATED COURSE LENGTH: 3 hrs. 15 min.
CE CREDITS: 3.25 continuing education/contact hours for social workers and psychologists / 3.00 continuing education hours for counselors and marriage and family therapists
TARGET AUDIENCE:* Mental Health Practitioners
LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION: Intermediate
PREREQUISITE(S): None
INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD: Self-paced; interactive; hybrid of audio, text, video, and learning checks
ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: Color contrast; transcripts of video components; closed captioning of audio
and video components. In order to request further accessibility accommodations, please email support@psychhub.com.

After completing this course, you will be able to describe and employ the following:
1. Describe the relation between cognition, emotion and behavior. The description must include: a clinical
understanding of how each element interacts to form a synopsis of how an individual perceives and reacts.
2. Relate cognitions to core beliefs and automatic thoughts, describing their modification through these five
techniques: thought change records, Socratic questioning, decatastrophizing, examining the evidence,
generating alternatives, and coping cards.
3. Assess behavior in the context of the CBT model and advise behavioral activation techniques for the following
three techniques: activity scheduling, problem solving, and graded task assignments.
4. Summarize the following seven CBT strategies: reciprocal inhibition, exposure, relaxation, thought stopping,
distraction, and breathing training in relation to coping with emotions.
5. Critically appraise CBT session structures that include addressing behavioral and coping modification, defining
healthy coping mechanisms and techniques for clients, and interpreting client homework assignments.
6. Evaluate client progress using measurement based care and assess client’s readiness for termination of therapy,
and/or potential for relapse using the techniques of maintenance, anticipating setbacks, and booster sessions.

Module 1: Introducing the Cognitive Behavioral Model
● The cognitive behavioral model and the process of cognitive appraisal
● Planning an agenda for the evaluation session with the client and outlining the goals of therapy, session
structure, assessment and expectations
● Utilizing assessment tools and gathering client data in preparation for conducting a case conceptualization
● Describing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an evidence-based practice
● Differentiating between the concepts cognitive and behavioral and their respective definitions
● Identifying the relationships between the elements of the cognitive behavioral model

Module 2: What Happens in the First Phase of Treatment?
● Educating clients on the cognitive behavioral model and its application to their individual condition
● Structuring the first phase of therapy sessions with an agenda that focuses on CBT as time-based, goal focused,
and involves a collaborative relationship between clinician and client
● Employing techniques that emphasize skill building and provide the rationale for homework and possible
obstacles
● Assessing the client’s mood, symptoms, and condition for the creation of a case conceptualization
● Discussing the traditional CBT session structure and the importance of a session-based and goal-focused
therapeutic plan
● Emphasizing the collaborative relationship and its importance to CBT and the goals of treatment

Module 3: Restructuring the Cognitive
● Collaborating with the client to set session agenda and establish goals for the future
● Educating the client on techniques for identifying and modifying automatic thoughts
● Discussing with the client on the role of homework in CBT and how practicing skills outside of therapy sessions
contributes to better outcomes
● Explaining the importance of setting structure and planning each therapy session
● Defining automatic thoughts and identifying the appropriate techniques to modify them
● Assessing techniques for identifying and modifying automatic thoughts that can be effectively used as
homework assignments

Module 4: Identifying Emotions and Altering Core Beliefs
● Reviewing homework and discussing session agenda involving techniques for identifying and modifying core
beliefs
● Teaching the client how to identify their emotions and core beliefs, showing how they relate to the cognitive
behavioral model
● Utilizing the appropriate techniques for identifying and modifying core beliefs, as well as developing
corresponding homework for the client
● Identifying agenda items that correlate with emotions and modifying core beliefs
● Defining the principles of core beliefs, distinguishing between those that are healthy and those that are
maladaptive
● Determining the appropriate techniques for modifying core beliefs to recommend to the client in their homework
assignment

Module 5: Applying Behavioral Intervention
● Reviewing homework and discussing session agenda involving techniques for behavioral intervention
● Applying the behavioral intervention techniques appropriate for each situation
● Assigning homework that will help the client review and apply learned techniques
● Defining behavior, events, and behavioral activation as they fit within the framework of the cognitive behavioral
model
● Listing various behavioral techniques, as well as their processes and requirements
● Determining effective tools and resources to be used by the client as homework assignments

Module 6: Coping Techniques and Behavioral Intervention
● Planning sessions employing healthy coping mechanisms and behavioral intervention techniques
● Demonstrating proven coping techniques to modify harmful behaviors
● Assigning appropriate behavioral intervention and coping homework to clients
● Describing typical session structures for addressing behavioral and coping modification
● Defining healthy coping mechanisms and techniques for clients
● Interpreting client homework assignments and making necessary adjustments

Module 7: Maintaining the Alliance with Your Client
● Planning sessions using measurement-based care techniques
● Utilizing assessments to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of care
● Providing clients with self-assessment tools and resources to use in and out of sessions
● Explaining the process and benefits of measurement-based care
● Discussing the criteria clinicians can use to evaluate care quality and effectiveness
● Listing common self-assessment scales available for clinicians and clients

Module 8: Ending Treatment and Preventing Relapse
● Summarizing the key principles, skills, plans, and techniques that have been discussed in this course
● Implementing a strategy for terminating treatment while considering the client’s achieved goals and
commitment
● Assessing the client’s overall therapy progress, quality of treatment, and ability to retain the skills learned in
therapy
● Identifying the client’s progress and determine if they are ready to terminate therapy
● Explaining the importance of retaining learned skills to help in preventing relapse
● Discussing possible obstacles and concerns the client might face when it is time to terminate treatment