MA IN CBT: ICHAS/UCD?

Limousine Fred

Hi all,

I have recently completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology and am interested in becoming a CBT therapist.
I have combed through some of the information on boards and found some good and bad.

ICHAS offer an MA in CBT but are accredited by APCP which from reading through various posts is not a good thing. Students are also required to source their placements/practicum hours. How is this done? Do you ring up every mental health institution you can think of that practice CBT and ask? Most of the info is, from what I could find about what not to do MA wise and not what to do.

Could anyone who has experience in completing an MA with a view to practicing CBT, or knows the right route to take give me the information I need to move forward. This is a very big decision as I'm sure anyone looking to undertake an MA will understand due to the loan I would have to take out to pay the fees.

I apologize if this has been covered previously but I sincerely could not find the information.

Thanks.

Odysseus

Limousine Fred wrote: »

Hi all,

I have recently completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology and am interested in becoming a CBT therapist.
I have combed through some of the information on boards and found some good and bad.

ICHAS offer an MA in CBT but are accredited by APCP which from reading through various posts is not a good thing. Students are also required to source their placements/practicum hours. How is this done? Do you ring up every mental health institution you can think of that practice CBT and ask? Most of the info is, from what I could find about what not to do MA wise and not what to do.

Could anyone who has experience in completing an MA with a view to practicing CBT, or knows the right route to take give me the information I need to move forward. This is a very big decision as I'm sure anyone looking to undertake an MA will understand due to the loan I would have to take out to pay the fees.

I apologize if this has been covered previously but I sincerely could not find the information.

Thanks.

CBT is not really my field even though the HSE has had me trained up in it. In relation to placements, a lot of courses ask you to secure your own, which is not easy. When I worked in a rehab setting I used to take students but I won't in a clinic. Most people end up ringing around the usual places, community addiction centers are often stuck for people.

As for professional bodies should you not be looking for one which the PSI stands over. JC will know more but I think there are two bobies for CBT over here. As it is a big decision take you time and check every thing out. As far as I know Trinity do a CBT Masters. Sorry I couldn't help more, but some else will be along soon with better info.

Limousine Fred

Thanks for taking the time to reply Odysseus.

JuliusCaesar

May I refer you to this post in one of the stickies?

You can't become a CBT therapist with just an undergraduate degree. (Well, you probably could; you could call yourself one now- or any other kind of counsellor/psychotherapist - if you fancied and nobody could stop you except your conscience.)

Both the BABCP and NACBT insist on a base profession - psychologist, counsellor, psychiatric nurse, psychiatrist BEFORE starting your studies in CBT. People with base professions generally can do a placement within their own workplaces, and so it isn't a problem.

Good quality MSc courses in CBT are offered in Trinity College Dublin, UCD, and Queens. These courses are either accredited by BABCP or in the process of seeking accreditation. They offer a substantial contribution towards individual practitioner accreditation. Accreditation as a CBT therapist involves a 4 year cycle of CBT studies - usually Foundation/Certificate course for a year; then a Post Grad Diploma in CBT; then finally an MSc.



In the UK, you could study CBT at a low-intervention level and become a low-intensity CBT therapist. But such a job does not exist here.

This doesn't stop people from saying that they do CBT having done a weekend course/read a book about it, on the grounds that it looks simple. And this is a huge problem here, because those inept people are giving CBT a bad name.

Limousine Fred

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

May I refer you to this post in one of the stickies?

You can't become a CBT therapist with just an undergraduate degree. (Well, you probably could; you could call yourself one now- or any other kind of counsellor/psychotherapist - if you fancied and nobody could stop you except your conscience.)

Both the BABCP and NACBT insist on a base profession - psychologist, counsellor, psychiatric nurse, psychiatrist BEFORE starting your studies in CBT. People with base professions generally can do a placement within their own workplaces, and so it isn't a problem.

Good quality MSc courses in CBT are offered in Trinity College Dublin, UCD, and Queens. These courses are either accredited by BABCP or in the process of seeking accreditation. They offer a substantial contribution towards individual practitioner accreditation. Accreditation as a CBT therapist involves a 4 year cycle of CBT studies - usually Foundation/Certificate course for a year; then a Post Grad Diploma in CBT; then finally an MSc.



In the UK, you could study CBT at a low-intervention level and become a low-intensity CBT therapist. But such a job does not exist here.

This doesn't stop people from saying that they do CBT having done a weekend course/read a book about it, on the grounds that it looks simple. And this is a huge problem here, because those inept people are giving CBT a bad name.

Thanks for the info, wouldn't feel right being a cowboy therapist to be honest. The years masters did seem to good to be true.
Will look into the one's you recommended a bit more but unfortunately I've left it too late to apply.

ABN1

Deleted post - first post by a poster which recommends a particular college is seen as spam JC

mackem7200

Hi
Just to add to the debate Im a fully accredited psychotherapist, with IAHIP, ICP and have also been awarded the European Certificate of Psychotherapy from the EAP in Vienna (which allows me to practice as a Psychotherapist anywhere in Europe due to over 7 yrs of training, supervision, CPD etc) i.e. Did it the long and hard way but glad i did .
I have looked into and enquired about the ICHAS MA CBT and in my professional/personal opinion its a waste of money and peoples time.
UCD, Trinity etc are basically twice the price and take longer but you will have a qualification that will qualify and equip you with everything you need to become qualified and fully accredited with some of the above professional bodies inc IACP.
I can understand how tempting ICHAS seems especially with their marketing approach but i doubt anyone but themselves recognise and more importantly value its credibility

am23843

Hi, have you looked into Belfast Cognitive therapy centre. If you have an undergraduate degree and voluntary work exp you could apply. Their course is 1 day per week in 1st year and a 2nd day in 2nd year for placement which they organise. supervision is also organised. It is accredited to BACP, which you recieve when you complete your counselling hours, you can then apply to work towards your BABCP accreditation , BACP accreditation is one route to application to BABCP if you cant apply the direct way. This is what I have been advised. It will take longer than if you had a mental health profession but may be an alternative if your undergraduate degree is suitable. Interviews are in August. Hope this is of some help.:)