Professional Certificate in CBT

CBT for the Pluralistic/Integrative therapist – IACP approved for 30 CPD hours

Dates: 2025

Fri 19 Sep 2025                       9.30am – 4.30pm

Fri 26 Sep 2025                       9.30am – 4.30pm

Fri 03 Oct 2025                       9.30am – 4.30pm

Fri 10 Oct 2025                       9.30am – 4.30pm

Fri 24 Oct 2025                       9.30am – 4.30pm 

Cost:  € 680

€100 deposit to secure your place.

Balance can be paid in instalments.

Live online interactive workshop

COURSE CONTENT

Historical & Philosophical Underpinnings of CBT: Learn about the history of CBT & discover the philosophical underpinnings of CBT, examining the influence of stoicism, rational emotive behaviour, and other philosophical schools of thought that emphasise rational thinking and the role of cognitive processes in emotional regulation.

Core Principles of CBT: foundational principles of CBT, including the cognitive model, the role of behavioural techniques, and the emphasis on collaborative empiricism and skill development in therapy.

How to Integrate CBT into Your Current Theoretical Framework: This topic addresses the strategies for seamlessly incorporating CBT methods into your existing practice, whether it’s psychodynamic, humanistic, existential, or another orientation. It focuses on identifying synergies between CBT and other therapeutic approaches, respecting the unique aspects of each client’s needs and your own style as a therapist, while ensuring that the integration enriches the therapeutic process rather than diluting it. This involves understanding the points of convergence and divergence, and developing a cohesive approach that allows for the flexibility and adaptability necessary in a pluralistic therapeutic environment.

Understanding and Developing a CBT Model: Learn how to conceptualise cases through the CBT lens, developing clear models for understanding clients’ problems, and designing targeted therapeutic interventions and share conceptualisations with your clients.

Introducing the Treatment Model to Clients: Master the skills needed to effectively communicate the CBT model to clients, ensuring they understand the rationale behind the techniques and the expectations of their active participation.

Assessment and CBT: Cover the strategies and tools for assessing clients’ difficulties, including the use of structured interviews, questionnaires, and the importance of ongoing assessment throughout the therapy process.

Case Formulation in CBT: Learn the art of case formulation, a crucial skill in CBT that involves integrating assessment information to create a coherent framework for understanding a client’s issues and guiding treatment.

Session Structure in CBT: Review the typical structure of a CBT session, including agenda setting, reviewing homework, addressing current problems, and setting new homework, to create a focused and effective therapeutic encounter.

The Therapeutic Process & Alliance in CBT: Examine the key elements of the therapeutic process in CBT, including building a strong alliance, working with resistance, and repairing ruptures to facilitate client progress.

Understanding and Working with Core CBT Skills: Gain proficiency in core CBT skills such as collaborative practice, guided discovery, Socratic questioning, cognitive restructuring, behavioural activation, behavioural experiments and relapse prevention, and understand how to apply them in therapy.

The Importance of Homework in CBT: Discuss the critical role of homework in CBT, how to effectively set and review it, and strategies for increasing adherence to ensure that learning and progress extend beyond the therapy sessions.

Introduction to CBT for Depression: Investigate CBT’s approach to treating depression, focusing on identifying and modifying maladaptive thought patterns and behaviours.

Introduction to CBT for Anxiety Disorders: Explore CBT interventions for a range of anxiety disorders, emphasising exposure-based techniques and cognitive restructuring.

Behavioural Techniques: Learn about behavioural strategies in CBT, including the use of behavioural activation to combat inertia and behavioural experiments to test and modify beliefs.

Cognitive Techniques: Examine techniques to identify and challenge negative automatic thoughts, underlying assumptions, and core beliefs, and learn how these cognitive processes contribute to clients’ difficulties.

Evaluating Outcomes in CBT: Understand the methods for measuring therapy outcomes, the importance of empirical evaluation, and the use of these evaluations to inform practice and ensure the efficacy of interventions.

Integrating Mindfulness: Learn to blend mindfulness techniques with cognitive-behavioural strategies, enhancing clients’ ability to observe their thoughts and feelings without judgement and improve their emotional well-being. 

About Susi Lodola

Susi holds a Master of Science in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing, a Higher Diploma in Psychology (level 8) and a BA (Hons) in Linguistics, from UCD, a BA (First Class Honours) in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy from IICP College (Dublin), a Professional Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Professional Certificate in Child and Adolescent Counselling and a Diploma in Clinical Supervision.

To deepen her knowledge on how CBT can be applied to help with weight management, Susi attended a specialised workshop at the Beck Institute in Philadelphia. The Beck institute is at the forefront of international research and training in CBT, and Dr Judith Beck is the author and founder of the Beck Diet Solution.

Beside her own private practice as a Psychotherapists and Supervisor, Susi also lectures at IICP College, Dublin.

This Is What Previous Course Participants Had To Say:

Steven O’Riordan – Psychotherapist

Susi Lodola’s Professional Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been an enriching journey. The course dives deep into cognitive restructuring and case formulation, equipping us with the tools to collaboratively guide clients towards their goals. Susi’s programme offers a wealth of knowledge and practical skills to add to your therapeutic toolkit right away. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of human functioning, exploring the interconnectedness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and behaviours. This holistic approach empowers you to effectively explain the CBT model, translate it to clients with fluency and support clients in taking action. A big thank you to Susi and my fellow participants for this fantastic learning experience!

Johnny Ghiurcut – Psychotherapist

The course solidified my understanding of the cognitive-behavioral model (Beck), emphasizing the interplay between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I gained insights into how cognitive distortions and maladaptive behaviors contribute to client’s psychological distress. The practice sessions and exercises allowed me to apply CBT techniques in my practice. The hands-on approach helped build my confidence in using interventions such as cognitive restructuring and exposure therapy, socratic questioning. CBT Skills Certificate program has been an enriching and transformative experience. The knowledge and skills I have acquired are invaluable additions to my therapeutic toolkit. I feel well-equipped to implement CBT strategies effectively and look forward to applying these techniques to help my clients achieve better mental health outcomes. I highly recommend this program to anyone seeking a thorough and practical understanding of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Maureen Bolger – Psychotherapist

I Found the course  very helpful and brought a lot of new ideas and new techniques to use, especially while working with young people. I Loved the learning from the other participants in the group, and Susi was amazing, full of knowledge, very calm, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Look forward to putting my learning into practice.

Holly Heaven – Psychotherapist (USA)

This class was amazing. I’ve taken CBT classes before but Susi taught me how to implement CBT strategies. Thanks Susi.

Dr Helen O’Brien -Nutritional Therapist

I just wanted to send you my sincerest thanks for the most fantastic day of training last Wednesday. I have to say I enjoyed every minute of it. I absolutely loved your honest, compassionate and  supportive approach to your clients and to your teaching of us -which shone throughout the whole day.

I’ve been a nutritional therapist now for over 25 years mostly supporting clients with tummy problems, menopausal symptoms and general immune issues. And I’ve often realized that there are big gaps in what I’m doing. I’ve always been a very prescriptive style of practitioner and while I know this very works very well for the clients who need that kind of support- I know I would love to educate myself to be able to give them more ongoing support. I’ve recently started offering 12-week programs for clients instead of one-off sessions and the great thing is that the clients have benefited greatly – we’ve got to know each other better throughout the sessions and it’s been fantastic. So I would love to continue this type of longer connection to the client as I think it’s a great benefit to them and to myself as well.

Thank you again for most fantastic day Susi-It was absolutely brilliant!

Martina Fitzpatrick -Psychotherapist

I attended Susi’s two-day workshop on Weight Management using CBT, Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness Interventions.

From a personal and a professional point of view the workshop is informative and enjoyable.

There is depth to the understanding and application of the process in working with clients.

Susi’s knowledge, experience, warm personality and passion for this area is very evident….even through Zoom.

Highly recommended!

Melissa Hanley – Psychotherapist

I have attended Susi’s first two day IACP accredited workshop on applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing with clients to support them in changing their lifestyle and to lose weight. Susi was a fantastic presenter and the content of the workshop was not only evidence based research but reflected on people’s experiences also. I am eager to implement the skills and what I have learned from Susi in my clinical practice to help my clients gain insight into their relationship with food and overall well-being. Thank you susi for providing not only your knowledge in this area but for a really engaging and interesting workshop. I can highly recommend this to nutritionists, dieticians, nurses, counsellors and psychotherapists to inform their practice. Thanks Susi

Aine Connaire – Psychotherapist

I just attended Susi’s mind over body workshop for professionals and would highly recommend it to any psychotherapists or nutritionists who are interested in learning more about how to help their clients develop a healthy lifestyle and improve their relationship with themselves and their health. I learnt so much and gained loads of information and tools that I am looking forward to using with my clients in my own work as a psychotherapist. Thanks Susi!

Barbara Edwards – Life Coach

I am delighted that I decided to attend Susi’s workshop. I got so much from it and I can’t wait to implement it through my coaching practice here in Donegal. Susi delivers in such a relaxed and informative way making the learning a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable process. Highly recommended. Thank you so much Susi

Frances Walsh – Psychotherapist

I attended Susi’s first 2-day IACP accredited workshop on applying CBT and MI in working with clients with issues around food/weight. Susi is a very engaging trainer, the materials she presented are well researched and evidence-based, and the workshop was interactive and informative. The training will be particularly helpful for psychotherapists or nutritional therapists in working with clients with emotional eating behaviours and in changing mindsets to decrease sabotaging behaviours. Thank you Susi

Olivia Beck – Nutritionist

Susi is very knowledgeable about the role CBT plays in weight management. As a practitioner, she’s given me practical tools that I can utilise in my business as a Nutritionist

This is an amazing 2 day workshop and very good value for money.

The logic of using CBT principles of learning theory to modify unwanted eating behaviours is impressive in it simplicity. It helps us take control of the ways we use foods, not only to satisfy our hungry but to meet many emotional needs.

Toni Woodman – Psychotherapist

Susi shares her vast experience and knowledge in a most interesting and professional way making it simple and fun to take more control of this part of our lives – a well worthwhile two days.’

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