School of Psychology receives commission to enhance mental health education and services
12 December 2023
The School of Psychology has taken a significant step in providing vital psychological education and training that will help to advance the future of mental health support and services across Wales.
The collaborations represent a major investment from the Welsh Government in increasing the psychological workforce and mental health services across the region. By 2025/26 the number of clinical psychology training places commissioned will have increased by 100% since 2019.
Psychological education
The school has been commissioned to validate a new NHS profession for Wales, the Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology (CAAPs), and has been asked to provide Level 1 and 2 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) training for NHS staff. CBT is a talking treatment tool used by mental health professionals that has been proven to help people manage a range of mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
Joanne Williams, Senior Lecturer, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Programme Director said: “We are delighted that HEIW have given us this opportunity. This is a really exciting time for CBT in Wales, and we are very proud to be a part of it.”
The school has also been successful in continuing to validate the Clinical Psychology Doctorate, by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW).
“The award of these contracts is great news for the NHS and for people wanting to enter the psychological workforce and represents further validation of the quality of both the established Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme and of the new CAAPs MSc and CBT programmes.”
Building skills for a better Wales
Building Wales' skills for the future is at the centre of Cardiff University's ambitions. The increase in mental health practitioners trained here will make a major contribution, not only to the well-being of the population but also by creating diverse and rewarding career paths for psychology graduates and allied qualified healthcare professionals.
The School of Psychology's commitment to its civic mission remains, as it aims for a Wales where quality mental health and wellbeing support is readily accessible to all.
