If you’ve spent time in counsellor Facebook groups, you’ve seen some version of this post:
“Where can I do a CBT CPD?”
“Any CBT courses you recommend?”
“I want to add CBT to my practice—where do I start?”
Totally fair questions.
But here’s what I’ve noticed (and what many counsellors quietly realise after they buy a few trainings):
You can do a “CBT CPD”… and still walk into sessions thinking:
“Okay… what do I actually do next?”
So before you spend money on another course, ask these 7 questions. They’ll help you choose training that turns into better sessions, not just more knowledge.
1) Does it teach session execution or just CBT theory?
A lot of CPD is great at explaining CBT concepts:
- cognitive distortions
- core beliefs
- formulation models
- the rationale for CBT
But in private practice, the challenge is usually execution:
- setting an agenda without it feeling forced
- moving from exploration to intervention
- keeping sessions from drifting
- turning formulation into a next step
- setting homework clients actually do
What to look for: training that shows what a session looks like, step-by-step (not just what CBT is).
2) Will it give you a repeatable session structure you can use every week?
The biggest confidence boost for integrative counsellors is having a simple structure that works across presentations.
A solid CBT-informed session typically needs:
- check-in + brief measures (optional)
- agenda (2 items max)
- link to the maintaining cycle
- one intervention/practice
- homework/practice step
- summary + feedback
What to look for: a structure you can follow when you’re busy, tired, or dealing with complex clients.
If a course can’t give you that in a simple way, it’s probably going to stay “in your head” rather than in your sessions.
3) Does it teach you what to do when the session gets stuck?
This is where most counsellors struggle—not because they’re “bad at therapy,” but because real sessions are messy.
Common stuck moments:
- “I don’t know.”
- silence
- client agrees with everything but changes nothing
- homework not done
- reassurance-seeking (“Do you think I’m okay?”)
- rumination loops (“But what if…?”)
- avoidance disguised as insight
What to look for: troubleshooting. Not just “do homework,” but what to do when it doesn’t happen.
4) Does it come with scripts or example language you can actually use?
Many counsellors don’t need more theory—they need words.
Because the hardest part is often:
- introducing an intervention without sounding cold
- setting boundaries around reassurance without damaging rapport
- encouraging exposure/behavioural change without power struggles
- redirecting rumination without invalidating
What to look for: scripts that are human, adaptable, and specific to common moments (not robotic lines that don’t fit real clients).
5) Does it provide practical tools (templates/worksheets) that reduce your prep time?
This matters more than most people admit.
In private practice, time is limited. If a CPD adds cognitive load (“design your own worksheets”), you often won’t use it.
Useful tools include:
- agenda template
- goals → targets sheet
- formulation → treatment plan template
- homework planner (small, scheduled, barrier-proof)
- progress tracking sheet
- relapse prevention plan
What to look for: tools you can print, reuse, and rely on week after week.
6) Does it focus on the presentations you actually see most?
Some CBT CPD is niche, academic, or geared toward specific services.
In private practice, the “bread and butter” tends to be:
- worry/overthinking (GAD-style)
- low mood and withdrawal
- social anxiety and self-focus
- health anxiety and checking/reassurance
- OCD patterns (including mental rituals and reassurance-seeking)
- trauma symptoms (avoidance, triggers, guilt/shame meanings)
What to look for: training that gives you a clear map for the common stuff, not just the interesting edge cases.
7) Will you still use it 3 months from now?
This is the question that saves you the most money.
Most people buy CPD, watch some of it, feel briefly motivated… then it fades.
The training you keep using is the training that:
- fits into your workflow
- is easy to revisit quickly
- helps you in the moment
- supports sessions, not just knowledge
What to look for: resources that are designed for reference (not just consumption). Think checklists, one-page maps, scripts, and “what to do next” guides.
A simple takeaway (if you only remember one thing)
If your real struggle is:
“I know CBT… but in sessions I’m not sure what to do next”
…then you don’t primarily need another theory-heavy course.
You need:
- a repeatable session structure
- decision support (what to target next)
- scripts for stuck moments
- templates that make action easy
That’s what turns “learning CBT” into using CBT.
Want a practical freebie to help you right now?
If you’d like, I can share a free “CBT CPD Buyer Checklist” version of these 7 questions (printable) plus a simple session agenda template—so you can compare training options quickly and start structuring sessions immediately.