Why Choose Lincoln
Learn from subject experts
Fully funded by NHS England
Opportunities to practice and apply theory within clinical workshops
Delivered through blended learning (in person and online)
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PG Cert
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
PG Cert
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
Course Overview
The role of a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) is a crucial component of Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression.
This strategy is reflective of the increasing levels of complexity and chronicity of people in the UK with mental health needs and conditions. These practitioners work with patients who are identified as having 'mild to moderate' mental health problems, including anxiety and depression.
Fees for this programme are fully-funded by Health Education England (HEE), for those students who are eligible.
Course Overview
The role of a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) is a crucial component of NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression.
PWPs work in NHS Talking Therapy services following the Stepped Care Model and work at Step 2 to deliver assessments and treatments. These treatments are NICE approved evidence-based low intensity CBT based treatments and can be delivered through a range of modes of delivery based on patient choice. This can include guided self-help, delivered on a one-to-one basis or as a group, and via the telephone, interactive text or computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT).
PWP interventions aim to have a meaningful impact on patients' lives, improving social inclusion, employment and community connection, as well as symptoms.
The course is available as the standard part-time route and as an adapted part-time route for those who are employed part-time. Additionally, the course is available at Undergraduate and Postgraduate, depending on your previous level of study.
How You Study
This is a part-time course. Following intensive week block-teaching, the teaching is run on one teaching day and one study day per week with the University, and three days in service.
How You Study
You will study alongside working in a clinical setting. Teaching is a blend of online and face-to-face, and content is delivered through a combination of lectures and practical workshops, both delivered by qualified and experienced Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners.
Lectures give you the opportunity to explore the underpinning theories and evidence base, and workshops provide a chance to apply this theory into your clinical practice through experiential learning strategies by role playing with actors or other trainees.
Trainees on the standard part-time route will have one study day per week to undertake self-directed study including essays, portfolio work, and directed practice-based learning, and will work three days a week in a clinical setting.
Trainees on the adapted part-time route will work in a clinical setting, as well as having the equivalent number of protected study time to undertake self-directed study including essays, portfolio work, and directed practice-based learning.
Modules
Module Overview
This module will equip trainee PWPs with a good understanding of the incidence, prevalence and presentation of common mental health problems and evidenced-based treatment choices.
Skills teaching will develop trainee PWPs’ core ‘common factors’ competencies of active listening, engagement, alliance building, patient-centred information gathering, information giving, and shared decision-making.
Module Overview
Students will have the opportunity to learn about theoretical psychological models (primarily low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy - LiCBT) of psychological change and the pharmacological interventions that underpin PWP practice. They will further have the opportunity to practice evidence based low-intensity psychological treatments commonly used in NHS Talking Therapies services.
Module Overview
This module stresses the central role NHS values have in the promotion of recovery. Trainees will have the opportunity to learn about power imbalances in therapeutic relationships and the importance of social inclusion. They will have the opportunity to develop and consolidate their commitment to understanding cultural differences and the impact physical and sensory difficulties can have on delivering effective services to a diverse population.
Trainees will have the opportunity to develop the skills to ensure they work effectively with supervision and within their own competence, and to learn about the role of other therapists and how to access resources for clients who need a higher intensity service.
Module Overview
In this module, trainees will be on placement working in NHS Talking Therapies services, working under supervision delivering a range of PWP assessments and interventions.
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
Modules
Module Overview
This module will equip trainee PWPs with a good understanding of the incidence, prevalence and presentation of common mental health problems and evidenced-based treatment choices.
Skills teaching will develop trainee PWPs’ core ‘common factors’ competencies of active listening, engagement, alliance building, patient-centred information gathering, information giving, and shared decision-making.
Module Overview
Students will have the opportunity to learn about theoretical psychological models (primarily low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy - LiCBT) of psychological change and the pharmacological interventions that underpin PWP practice. They will further have the opportunity to practice evidence based low-intensity psychological treatments commonly used in NHS Talking Therapies services.
Module Overview
This module stresses the central role NHS values have in the promotion of recovery. Trainees will have the opportunity to learn about power imbalances in therapeutic relationships and the importance of social inclusion. They will have the opportunity to develop and consolidate their commitment to understanding cultural differences and the impact physical and sensory difficulties can have on delivering effective services to a diverse population.
Trainees will have the opportunity to develop the skills to ensure they work effectively with supervision and within their own competence, and to learn about the role of other therapists and how to access resources for clients who need a higher intensity service.
Module Overview
In this module, trainees will be on placement working in NHS Talking Therapies services, working under supervision delivering a range of PWP assessments and interventions.
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
Placements
Alongside the course, as a trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, you will work in an NHS Talking Therapy service.
Trainees need to be able to travel to our Brayford Pool Campus to attend face-to-face teaching as a mandatory requirement of the course.
BPS Accreditation
The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) meaning those who complete the course can register with the BPS or the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies.
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How to Apply
Postgraduate Application Support
Applying for a postgraduate programme at Lincoln is easy. Find out more about the application process and what you'll need to complete on our How to Apply page. Here, you'll also be able to find out more about the entry requirements we accept and how to contact us for dedicated support during the process.
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Entry Requirements 2024-25
Entry Requirements
Degree of 2:2 or above.
Must be employed as a trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner with a recognised service provider of Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression at point of entry.
Candidates would ideally have at least two years' experience in a caring role, and demonstrate evidence of:
- ability to form empathic relations with a wide range of
people in a variety of settings
- ability to form good and respectful professional
working relationships with a wide range of professional colleagues.
- capacity to reflect constructively on all aspects of own
performance
- capacity to reflect realistically on their own strengths
and developmental needs
Applicants who are shortlisted are also required to pass an interview with the Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression provider with a representative of the University present.
Applicants also need to provide two references, one indicating suitability for TTAAD employment and one indicating the ability to manage a demanding professional and academic programme at Master's level (Level 7).
Candidates whose first language is not English will be required to have attained a recognised English language qualification no more than two years prior to admission.
A British Council IELTS with an overall minimum score of 7.5 with no element below 7.0, also attained no more than two years prior to admission.
Achieved a Pearson Test of English Academic 73 with a minimum of 67.
Attained a CELE pre-sessional course final assessment of Pass with High Distinction.
Entry Requirements 2025-26
Entry Requirements
Trainees must be employed, either full-time or part-time, as a trainee PWP by an NHS Talking Therapies service at the point of entry, and must be eligible for funding from NHS-England.
Recruitment is shared with employers, and therefore applicants must also meet the criteria for the employing organisation. Trainees must be able to provide suitable references. Trainees must be deemed suitable by both the university and the employing service.
To be eligible to study on the Postgraduate course, trainees must be able to evidence their previous successful study at Level 6.
Candidates whose first language is not English will be required to have a recognised English language qualification achieved no more than two years prior to admission: A British Council IELTS overall minimum score of 7.5 with no element below 7.0, achieved no more than two years prior to admission. OR Pearson Test of English Academic 73 (minimum 67). OR CELE pre-sessional course final assessment of "Pass with High Distinction".
Fees
This course is fully funded by Health Education England
Health Education England Funding Guidance
In line with guidance from Health Education England, individuals who have had funding from Health Education England and started an NHS-funded psychological professions training programme will not normally be eligible to receive NHS funding for a subsequent psychological professions training until a minimum of 2 years after the award for training is recommended by the qualifying examination board or by the chairs action after the qualifying exam board.
This rule also applies to any individual who starts and subsequently completes, withdraws, or fails to complete the qualifying requirements of a training programme.
Find out More
If you would like to know more about this course, please contact pwp@lincoln.ac.uk.
Alternative Courses
For those who may be interested, we also deliver a UniDip Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner course an NHS Talking Therapies Supervisor Training course.
Postgraduate Events
To get a real feel for what it is like to study at the University of Lincoln, we hold a number of dedicated postgraduate events and activities throughout the year for you to take part in.
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