Bespoke Members
Introduction
Mental Health UK (2025) reports that approximately one in ten people will be living with an anxiety disorder, this amounts to over 8 million people. This statistic highlights the high prevalence of people grappling with anxiety related symptoms. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2011) guidance recommends the use of Low Intensity CBT (LICBT) and High Intensity CBT (HICBT) treatment interventions when working with individuals experiencing symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder (NICE, 2011).
It is essential for clinicians to work within the remit of step 2 and implementing best practice. This ensures that treatment is delivered within the boundaries of step 2 and ensures there is no deviation from the fidelity of the intervention. The NHS Talking Therapies manual (NHS England, 2025) outlines the treatment of GAD using worry management and problem solving and the treatment of panic disorder using cognitive restructuring and graded exposure. Ensuring best practice when working with individuals with anxiety, allows for evidence based and person-centred treatment to be delivered consistently and effectively, promoting a positive therapeutic alliance and positive treatment outcomes.
The event will be equivalent to 2.3/4hrs of CPD.
Content
In this half day workshop, we will provide best practice recommendations when working with individuals experiencing anxiety. The workshop will focus on the importance of formulation at assessment to identify the right interventions, and also when completing treatment interventions for GAD. The workshop will focus on best practice guidance on common difficulties experienced by individuals who are engaging in anxiety-based interventions.
The workshop will include theoretical information, case studies and role plays to better integrate best practice guidance and embed learning.
Learning Objectives
1) Problem-formulation and shared understanding: capturing the right thoughts to identify the right intervention (differentiating between panic, GAD and other anxiety disorders)
2) Worry diaries – identifying hypothetical and practical worries and the ones that fall in between, with a focus on understanding the ones which have elements of both
3) Worry Time and Worry Postponement:
• understanding the importance of how people develop strategies to postpone worries
• getting the time and content right for worry time
Training Modalities
This workshop will have didactic content, opportunities for reflection and Q&A. The use of case studies and role-play video to demonstrate key skills
Key References
Bennett-Levy, J., Richards, D. A., Farrand, P., Christensen, H., Griffiths, K. M., Kavanaugh, D. J., Klein, B., Lau, M. A., Proudfoot, J., Ritterband, L., White, J., & Williams, C. (Eds.). (2010). Oxford guide to low intensity CBT interventions. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780199590117.001.0001
Farrand, P (2025) Low-Intensity CBT Skills and Interventions: A Practitioner’s Manual 2nd Edition Sage
Kell, L (2025) How to Beat Worry Robinson
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2011). Common Mental Health Disorders. Identification and pathways to care (CG123). London: NICE.
Mental Health UK (2025) Mental Health UK - Forward Together. https://mentalhealth-uk.org/.
NHS England, (2025). NHS Talking Therapies Manual. NHS England. https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/the-improving-access-to-psychological-therapies-manual/
Papworth, Mark & Marrinan, Theresa & Martin, Brad & Keegan, Dominique & Chaddock, Anna. (2013). Low intensity cognitive-behaviour therapy: A practitioner’s guide.
About the presenter
Liz Kell is an experienced PWP having first qualified 20 years ago. She has over 12 years’ experience working within Primary Care Mental Health and NHS Talking Therapies settings before moving to work within Higher Education Institutes leading PWP training. Liz has led a number of regional and national PWP professional forums including setting up and leading the Northwest PWP Community of Practice and Senior PWP Forum and re-launching and chairing the BABCP Low Intensity Special Interest Group in 2017 where she continues as a committee member. Liz is also the first Co-Chair of a PPN Network from a Practitioner role.
Palvisha Iqbal is a practicing Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner and works with the University of Bradford as a PWP lecturer. She has presented work on improving inclusion in PWP training at national conferences and is a lead chapter author in the Low Intensity CBT Skills and Interventions practitioner manual (2025) focussing on working with individuals from ethnic minorities. She is also the Co-Chair of the Anti-Racist Community of Practice at Psychological Professions Network (NW-PPN).
Who should attend
We hope this workshop will be useful for any Low Intensity CBT practitioner working with adults.