Postgraduate Certificate

IAPT (Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies)

Post-Graduate Certificate in Low Intensity Psychological Therapies

This course provides individuals with training to become an ‘Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies’ programme (IAPT) Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner. The National Department of Health IAPT Programme is an innovative approach to address common mental health problems. Therapists are trained to help those who experience depression and anxiety through use of evidence-based psychological therapies.

Trainee PWPs are provided with training on this course to implement packages of cognitive-behaviour therapy (e.g., supported self-help). The goal of their role is to aid clinical improvement and social inclusion – including return to work or other meaningful activity. Applicants for this course must do concurrently, relevant work which includes minimum supervision resource dictated by the IAPT programme. For NHS-funded places, individuals will be employed or placed in services. We hope to introduce self-funded posts for the 2011-12 intake. Self funded individuals will need either to be in relevant employment which will be appropriate and support the training, or an unpaid placement arranged by student or the course (but it is the student's responsiblity to arrange this).

The programme is based in a pleasant University campus which is adjacent to Newcastle's city centre. Newcastle is one of the most vibrant cities in Europe which enjoys a relatively inexpensive cost of living, also being positioned near to country-side which is renowned for its beauty (e.g., Lake District, Scottish Borders).

For further information regarding the Low Intensity course please contact Mark Papworth, Programme Director.