Trainee High Intensity (CBT) Therapist

Job overview

What is a the role of a Trainee High Intensity (CBT) Therapist?

Cognitive behavioural therapists equip people with the tools and techniques they need to overcome complex problems related to anxiety and depression by providing a range of evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions.

Entry requirements

Postgraduate diplomas in CBT are usually aimed at experienced healthcare professionals. To access a postgraduate diploma in CBT, you need to have secured a high intensity therapist trainee position within an NHS Talking Therapies service.

These positions are open to Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners with 2  years post qualification experience and healthcare professionals with a BABCP recognised core professional qualification, including:

• mental health nursing
• clinical or counselling psychology
• medicine
• social work
• occupational therapy
• counselling
• psychotherapy/psychotherapeutic counselling
• teacher of special education / needs
• probation services

More information can be found on NHS Careers https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/roles/high-intensity-therapist

Main duties of the job

This post holder will be an experienced Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner or core professional who will be taking on an additional training role within the Therapy For You NHS Talking Therapies service. We have positions available in Therapy For You North Essex in Colchester and Tendring services.

The post-holder will work within the service providing high intensity interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training for this role.  This intensive training post will equip the post holder to provide a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) service to clients with a range of mental health problems for which CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective. The post holder will work in the service for 3 days of the week bringing their already well developed skills to practice at the same time as using the newly developed skills from the 12 month training programme which they will undertake for the other 2 days with University of Hertfordshire.

The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• CLINICAL

• Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
• Assess clients for suitability for psychological interventions.
• To evaluate and make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the services referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary.
• Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes drawing on a range of theoretical and therapeutic models across a range of mental health problems with which clients present.
• Use highly developed communication skills in working with people to understand their personal and often very sensitive difficulties and develop a range of treatment interventions.
• To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment and treatment of clients in line with the service.

2. TRAINING AND SUPERVISION

• Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post, within specified timeframes.
• Apply learning from the training programme in practice.
• Receive supervision from educational providers in relation to course work to meet the required standards.

3. PROFESSIONAL

• Upon completion of the course, candidates are expected to achieve and maintain accreditation with the BABCP.
• Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (e.g. BPS, UKCP, BABCP), and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the Department of Health (e.g. NHS plan, National Service Framework, National Institute for Clinical Excellence).

Full details available on Job Description and Person Specification.

Please note this is a fixed term/temporary contract to undertake a full-time programme of professional training leading to a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy by means of the successful completion of the designated clinical placements and academic assignments from September 2025. Your contract will automatically terminate 16 months from this date without the need to give further notice should the academic component of the role not be successfully completed within this timeframe. Successful completion (academic and practical competencies) within 16 months will lead to a permanent Band 7 High Intensity Therapist position subject to developmental interview.

If you terminate your employment or have your employment terminated before the end date of your contract you will be required to withdraw from the training programme. If you are not in a position to complete your training or you withdraw from the training programme your contract will be terminated.