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Michelle Lee,
Shirley Reynolds,
Yen Tu,
Jeni Fisk,
Emily Green,
Lucas Shelemy,
Doireann O'Brien,
Emily Hards,
and
Faith Orchard
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This beginner’s course is aimed at anyone with an interest in mental illness generally, and anxiety and depression in particular. This may include: • those who are currently experiencing or have previously experienced emotional difficulties, • family and friends of those who are experiencing emotional difficulties, • primary (or other) healthcare professionals who have a frontline role in detecting mental health difficulties and offering appropriate support and guidance to those affected. You can use the hashtag #FLcbt to talk about this course on social media.
Read more
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This beginner’s course is aimed at anyone with an interest in mental illness generally, and anxiety and depression in particular. This may include: • those who are currently experiencing or have previously experienced emotional difficulties, • family and friends of those who are experiencing emotional difficulties, • primary (or other) healthcare professionals who have a frontline role in detecting mental health difficulties and offering appropriate support and guidance to those affected. You can use the hashtag #FLcbt to talk about this course on social media.
Read more
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This beginner’s course is aimed at anyone with an interest in mental illness generally, and anxiety and depression in particular. This may include: • those who are currently experiencing or have previously experienced emotional difficulties, • family and friends of those who are experiencing emotional difficulties, • primary (or other) healthcare professionals who have a frontline role in detecting mental health difficulties and offering appropriate support and guidance to those affected. You can use the hashtag #FLcbt to talk about this course on social media.
Topics Covered
- Week 1 provides an introduction to how we perceive the world around us and how this relates to the Cognitive Behavioural approach to anxiety and depression. It explores how CBT can be delivered and the types of difficulties if can help.
- Week 2 looks at depression within a CBT framework, exploring what depression is (and is not) as well as highlighting commonly held myths and stereotypes around depression.
- Week 3 explores anxiety within a CBT framework. It covers the function and positive role of ‘normal’ anxiety exploring the difference between ‘normal’ anxiety and anxiety disorders.
- Week 4 focuses on how behaviour changes in anxiety and depression, how these changes can maintain difficulties and how CBT techniques are used in therapy to address them.
- Week 5 focuses on ‘cognitions’ or thoughts; specifically the types of thoughts which commonly occur in anxiety and depression, how they maintain difficulties and what CBT techniques are used in therapy to address them.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/dnsfop/understanding
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Reviews summary
Introduction to cbt for anxiety and depression
According to learners, this course provides a clear and accessible overview of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as it relates to understanding anxiety and depression. Many students found the course content to be practical and highly relevant, offering useful strategies for both personal insight and supporting others. Reviewers frequently highlighted the course's strength as a solid introduction for those new to the topic, noting that it explains complex concepts in an easy-to-digest manner. While largely positive, some learners felt the course was basic and serves primarily as a foundation, suggesting it is not a substitute for professional training or therapy. Overall, it is seen as an excellent starting point.
Good for beginners, may lack depth for others.
"While great for a basic understanding, those with prior knowledge of psychology might find it too superficial."
"It's a wonderful introduction, but it's important to remember this is just the beginning, not an in-depth clinical training."
"The course covers the basics well but doesn't go into the deeper nuances of specific CBT techniques."
"If you're looking for advanced therapeutic skills, this course serves only as a preliminary step."
Understanding, not clinical practice or therapy.
"Crucially, the course emphasizes it's for understanding and not a replacement for therapy or professional qualifications."
"Learned a lot about understanding the issues, but it is clear this doesn't qualify you to practice CBT professionally."
"Important distinction made: this course is for insight and knowledge, not for treating conditions."
"It clearly outlines the scope - education and awareness, not clinical application."
Engaging delivery and well-organized modules.
"The instructors explain the concepts very well and keep the lectures engaging."
"Modules are well-structured and easy to follow week by week."
"Found the pacing of the course just right, allowing time to absorb the information."
"The way the topics progressed felt logical and built knowledge effectively."
Builds a good understanding of core CBT principles.
"Offers a solid foundation in CBT principles and their application to common mental health issues."
"This course truly helped solidify my understanding of the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors."
"I feel I have a much better grasp of the CBT framework after completing this course."
"A great overview that grounds you in the fundamental concepts before exploring deeper."
Offers useful strategies for personal use or support.
"The strategies discussed are incredibly practical and I can see myself using them in my own life."
"Found the information on coping mechanisms very helpful for understanding how to support family members."
"Provides practical tools and insights directly applicable to understanding anxiety and depression."
"I learned actionable techniques that resonate with real-life situations."
Explains complex concepts clearly for beginners.
"Provides a clear and concise introduction to CBT, making complex ideas easy to understand."
"This course is perfect for beginners, explaining how CBT works in a very accessible way."
"I found the way the material was presented made it simple to grasp the basics of cognitive behavioral approaches."
"Excellent starting point for anyone wanting to learn about CBT without prior knowledge."
Activities
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Understanding Anxiety, Depression and CBT.
These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.
Career center
Learners who complete Understanding Anxiety, Depression and CBT will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
For more career information including salaries, visit:
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Reading list
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This workbook combines mindfulness and acceptance-based therapy (ACT) techniques to help people manage anxiety. It teaches readers how to be more present in the moment, accept their thoughts and feelings, and develop more effective coping mechanisms.
This workbook provides a structured, step-by-step program for overcoming anxiety using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It includes exercises and worksheets to help readers identify and challenge negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety.
This highly practical workbook that provides a comprehensive range of exercises and strategies rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help individuals manage various anxiety disorders and phobias. It's an excellent resource for gaining a broad understanding through hands-on application and is often recommended by mental health professionals as a valuable adjunct to therapy.
Practical guide to overcoming panic attacks, anxiety, and phobias. It provides step-by-step instructions for managing panic attacks, as well as strategies for coping with anxiety and phobias in everyday life.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) based workbook for managing anxiety and worry. It provides a variety of exercises and worksheets to help readers identify and challenge negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety and worry.
Comprehensive guide to relaxation and stress reduction techniques. It provides a variety of exercises and worksheets to help readers learn and practice relaxation techniques, such as meditation, deep breathing, and yoga.
Mindfulness-based approach to managing anxiety. It provides a variety of mindfulness exercises and meditations to help readers learn to be more present in the moment and accept their thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Introduces the concept of the highly sensitive person (HSP) and provides insights and coping strategies for individuals who experience the world more intensely. It can be particularly relevant for understanding how sensory overload and emotional reactivity can contribute to anxiety in sensitive individuals.
Comprehensive guide to the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. It provides evidence-based treatment recommendations and case studies to illustrate the application of these treatments.
Detailed guide to the interpretation of anxiety and fear in the MMPI-2 and MMPI-A personality tests. It provides information on the validity and reliability of these tests and offers interpretive strategies for assessing anxiety and fear.
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Offers a direct and actionable four-step method (Defuse, Allow, Run toward, Engage) for confronting anxiety and panic attacks. It focuses on changing the response to anxiety rather than trying to eliminate it, providing a refreshing perspective for those seeking practical tools. It can be particularly helpful for those experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety.
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A foundational text in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), this book provides a detailed explanation of how thoughts influence feelings and offers techniques to challenge negative thinking patterns. While not solely focused on anxiety, its principles are highly applicable and provide a strong basis for understanding the cognitive aspects of anxiety. It is considered a classic in the self-help genre and is frequently recommended by mental health professionals.
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Offers a deeply personal and extensively researched exploration of anxiety, weaving together the author's own experiences with the history of anxiety, its biological and psychological underpinnings, and various treatments. It provides a broad and nuanced understanding of the topic from multiple perspectives, making it valuable for both personal insight and academic context.
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This highly regarded workbook that teaches core principles of CBT through practical exercises and worksheets. It is widely used by therapists and individuals alike to identify and modify problematic thinking patterns and behaviors associated with anxiety and depression. Its structured approach is excellent for solidifying understanding through active engagement.
While primarily focused on trauma, this book is essential for understanding the profound impact of trauma on the brain and body, which often manifests as anxiety and other related conditions. It provides a deep dive into the neuroscience and physiology of stress and trauma, offering valuable context for understanding the根源 of anxiety.
Explores the neuroscience behind anxiety, explaining the different brain pathways involved in fear and worry. It translates complex scientific concepts into understandable language and offers practical strategies based on this understanding to help manage anxiety. It's particularly useful for those interested in the biological basis of anxiety.
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Offers a faith-based perspective on managing anxiety, drawing on principles from the Bible. It provides comfort and practical guidance for finding peace amidst worry and fear. While not a clinical text, it resonates with many and offers a spiritual approach to coping.
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This investigative journalism book challenges the conventional understanding of depression and anxiety, arguing that social and environmental factors play a significant role. It explores nine different potential causes and proposes alternative solutions beyond traditional pharmacological approaches. is excellent for gaining a broader, more contemporary perspective on the societal aspects of anxiety.
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Based on the popular app, this book offers a visually engaging and practical guide to mindfulness and meditation for everyday life. It provides simple techniques and exercises to help reduce stress and find moments of calm in a busy world. This good resource for those new to mindfulness as a coping strategy for anxiety.
Practical guide to managing anxiety, with a focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques. It provides step-by-step instructions for overcoming negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. The book is written by leading experts in the field and is based on the latest research on anxiety treatment.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/dnsfop/understanding
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Time
15 hours
Via
FutureLearn
Institution
University of Reading
Instructors
Michelle Lee
Shirley Reynolds
Yen Tu
Jeni Fisk
Emily Green
Lucas Shelemy
Doireann O'Brien
Emily Hards
Faith Orchard
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