PSYCHIAT 769 : CBT with Children, Adolescents and their Families 1

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as an evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents and their families, and covers both theoretical and practical applications of CBT. Specifically designed for New Zealand based practitioners working clinically and/or therapeutically with families, students will learn the CBT model, treatment packages and strategies for depression and anxiety. There is also a strong focus on culturally appropriate interventions (especially those appropriate for Māori).

Course Overview

This paper is a specialist clinical paper in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for children, adolescents, and their families. The aim of this paper is to produce participants who have in-depth practical and applied skills and knowledge about CBT for anxiety and depression with NZ children, adolescents and their whānau. We will establish a firm foundation in the theory and key concepts, look at what is needed to utilise CBT approaches with young people and their families, learn intervention approaches for depression and common anxiety presentations, and how to adapt CBT approaches in group and alternative settings. This paper is most suitable for practitioners from CAMHS, education services, specialist services and private practice. As a specialist clinical paper we maintain small class sizes so that students are given more personalised support. 

Prerequisites only applies to ICAMH Certificate, Diploma, and Masters programs. 

CBT courses can be completed as Certificate of Proficiency without PSYCHIAT 740 & 747. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: PSYCHIAT 740, 747

Course Contacts

Maisie Liu: Phone: +64 9 923 2177 | Email: ying.liu@auckland.ac.nz
ICAMH Administrator

Dr Marthinus Bekker (he/him)
Course coordinator 
Clinical Psychologist | Kaimātai hauora hinengaro
Senior Lecturer | ICAMH | Psychological Medicine
PhD MSc PGDipClinPsyc MNZCCP DBT-LBC
+64 9 373 7599 x 85674 | Email: marthinus.bekker@auckland.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand how to utilise CBT formulations in the development of appropriate CBT interventions with kids/teens and whānau, shown in an in-depth CBT case study. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  2. Demonstrate and apply at least 3 cognitive and 3 behavioural interventions for Anxiety and Depression with kids/teens and whānau. (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)
  3. Develop confidence in the use of socratic dialogue as the way to ensure that your CBT practice is reflective and responsive to the clients culture and developmental capacity. (Capability 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8)
  4. Appreciate and apply the Te Tiriti O Waitangi principles in the CBT case study and academic literature review. (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 8)
  5. Evaluate the types of strategies that are appropriate for New Zealand kids/teens/whānau when applying CBT principles and practices. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  6. Identify CBT practitioners within CAMHS who are able to provide supervision and mentorship with regard to clinical populations in Aotearoa. (Capability 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Literature Review & Case Study 30% Individual Coursework
Online quizzes 10% Individual Coursework
Practice examples 30% Individual Coursework
Coursework - Formulations 10% Individual Coursework
Group presentation 20% Group & Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Literature Review & Case Study
Online quizzes
Practice examples
Coursework - Formulations
Group presentation

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 36 hours of interactive workshop like lectures, 4 hours of online supervision, 10 hours of group interaction outside of class, 50 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 50 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including block courses to complete components of the course.

The course will include live online events including supervision.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Required  Text:
All texts are electronically available through the University library on enrolment.

1. Stallard, P. (2021). A clinician’s guide to cbt for children to young adults : a companion to think good, feel good and thinking good, feeling better (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.

2. Sburlati, E. S., Lyneham, H. J., Schniering, C. A., & Rapee, R. M. (Eds.). (2014). Evidence-based CBT for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents : a competencies-based approach (First edition.). Wiley Blackwell.

Workbooks that match main text:

CHILDREN:
Stallard, P. (2019). Think good, feel good : a cognitive behavioural therapy workbook for children and young people (Second edition.). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119395348

ADOLESCENTS:
Stallard, P. (2018). Thinking Good, Feeling Better: A Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Workbook for Adolescents and Young Adults (1st ed.). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119397298

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

2024 feedback:

"Martinus was approachable, no question felt like a dumb one. The examples he gave to cement the learning."

"Using own situations as learned experience, helped solidify my knowledge open to talking about wider topics and linking back in being relatable having recent working experience"

"Provided real life examples, also created a really inclusive, and welcoming space" 

"Willingness to answer questions, really approachable and easy to listen to all day!!"

"Interactive and fun sessions"

"The engaging way in which Marthinus presents information was brilliant"

Assessments in 2025 have been changed to be smaller and more manageable alongside clinical workloads. 

Other Information

Day One: CBT foundations and theory and its application to tamariki and whānau.
Day Two: CBT and Anxiety.
Day Three: CBT and Depression.
Day Four:  CBT in groups and alternative delivery 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.