Psychological Therapy in Primary Care MSc

Mental health services across the UK are facing a growing demand for therapeutic services to treat common mental health disorders. The NHS commitment to delivering evidence-based treatments means that the theoretical focus of this course is on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). 

Delivered jointly by the University of Stirling and the University of Dundee, it is designed by NHS professionals and clinical academics to give you the clinical and professional skills you need to work as a clinical associate in applied psychology within the NHS.

You'll receive expert training in delivering evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to adults in primary care, and develop your knowledge of the prevalence, diagnostic criteria, presentation and treatment of common mental health disorders within a CBT framework.

You'll gain the abilities to meet a range of performance targets safely, while responding constructively to clinical supervision, in line with professional and ethical guidelines.

Applicants to this course simultaneously apply for employment with the NHS and, if accepted, their tuition fees are paid by NHS Education for Scotland. You will be based in an NHS Health Board which will support you with supervised clinical practice in the workplace for clinical practice.

Job description and Person specification

This describes the role you will be undertaking, and the essential and desirable qualities and attributes of applicants

• Trainee Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology - Job description and person specification

Introduction from the Course Directors

The MSc in Psychological Therapy in Primary Care, established in 2005 with significant support from NHS Education for Scotland (NES), and the first of its kind in the UK, continues to respond to the high demand for effective psychological interventions for adults with common mental health issues. The development of collaborative relationships, which is vital for successful psychological treatment, is a key component in developing and delivering this programme. This spirit of collaboration cuts across two Universities – Dundee and Stirling – many NHS-based Psychology departments, and NHS Education for Scotland, to mention just the main parties involved. This MSc offers an exciting clinical training opportunity for Psychology graduates in close partnership with the NHS.

NES’s commitment to this training route continues this year with up to 50 funded trainee places being supported in health boards across Scotland. Scottish Government has provided additional funding to support this expansion to 50 places in recognition of the contribution trainees and graduates make to meeting nationally agreed access standards for psychological therapies.

Common mental health problems such as anxiety and depressive disorders are disabling and tend to recur. To deliver effective clinical services for these problems we must train many more psychological therapists than currently exist and, most importantly, we must train practitioners in how to deliver a flexible repertoire of evidence-based treatments. Scottish Government policy is driving redesign in mental health services to deliver its standards and commitments for mental health, including improved access to evidence based psychological therapies.. This MSc programme is designed to equip graduate psychologists with the knowledge and skills to get started as safe and effective practitioners in that changing service context.

The course team has extensive clinical experience of working within mental health, considerable expertise in both clinical training and research and, above all, a commitment to work with students to deliver the best possible quality of care. The programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and graduates are eligible for registration with the BPS. The programme also has Level 1 accreditation from the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP).

We are committed to providing not only very high-quality training in applied clinical and research methods, using the most advanced teaching resources and methods of delivery, but also a thoroughly rewarding introduction to clinical work.

Course Directors

• Dr Stephanie Chan, University of Stirling
• Dr Leeanne Nicklas, University of Dundee