Bespoke Members
Introduction
Bipolar disorder affects 1-2 % of the population, is a potentially life long condition and is
associated with increased risks of self-harm, suicide, substance use problems and anxiety.
NICE guidance recommends access to structed psychological therapies for people including CBT which has shown consistent promise in improving mood and relapse outcomes in bipolar disorder. Consistent with this NHS England is now providing training in CBT for complex mental health (particularly bipolar disorder and psychosis) as well as awareness raising workshops about the importance of psychological understanding of these mental health challenges. The aim of this workshop is to provide an introduction to CBT for bipolar disorder including information on specific approaches and those in common with CBT for other mental health challenges. It will also provide information on how this approach has evolved since it was first developed in the late 1990s and indicate where the field is heading drawing on the current research of the presenters and others.
The event will be equivalent to 2.3/4hrs of CPD.
Content
The workshop will provide a brief overview of the nature of CBT for bipolar before addressing a range of topics including:
• Basics for delivering CBT including skills in common from working with other groups
• What is different about working with bipolar clients?
• What do we know works?
• Experiential examples from lived client and therapist experience
• Some key techniques
• Where do beliefs and attitudes fit in?
• Personalisation/intersection with personality
• Positive formulation
• Developments in CBT approaches
• Stabilise – managing unstable mood
• Recovery – moving towards personally valued life goals
• Digital – supporting parents and partners with bipolar
• Practical take aways
Learning Objectives
1. To understand the evidence base for CBT and NHS perspective on its use in bipolar
2. To understand core approaches for CBT that are specific to working with people with bipolar
3. To practice key techniques including formulation
4. To be aware for new developments in psychological therapy for bipolar
Training Modalities
The workshop will use a range of approaches including slides, experiential exercises and video.
Key References
Lam, D, Jones, S. & Hayward, P. (2010). Cognitive therapy for Bipolar Disorder: A Therapists Guide to Concepts, Methods & Practice (Second Edition). Wiley
Jones, S. H., Smith, G., Mulligan, L., Lobban, F., Law, H., Dunn, G., Welford, M., Kelly, J., Mulligan,
J., Morrison, A. (2015). Recovery focused CBT for individuals with recent onset bipolar disorder:
A randomised controlled pilot trial. British Journal of Psychiatry, 206, 58-66
Jones, S. H., Byford, S., Coleman, E., Creswell, C., Cryle, L., Duffy, A., Fortier, S., Hewitt, C. E., Lobban, F., Lodge, C., Morriss, R., Palmier-Claus, J., Sinclair, L., Sutton, C. J., Watson, J., Yaziji, N., & Kerry, E. (2025). A randomised controlled clinical and cost effectiveness trial of an online integrated bipolar parenting intervention (IBPI) compared to treatment as usual in improving child emotional and behavioural outcomes: a study protocol. BMC Psychiatry, 25(1), Article 816. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07214-3
Wright, K., Koenders, M., Douglas, K. M., Faurholt‐Jepsen, M., Lewandowski, K. E., Miklowitz, D. J., ... & Mesman, E. (2024). Psychological therapies for people with bipolar disorder: Where are we now, and what is next? ISBD Psychological Interventions Taskforce—Position paper. Bipolar disorders, 26(6), 523-528.
About the presenter
Steven Jones is Professor of Clinical Psychology and Co-Director of the Spectrum Centre at Lancaster University. He has over 30 years of experience working with bipolar disorder both as a researcher and clinician. Work to date has led to the development of a series new interventions to help people living with bipolar ranging from web-based self-management support to intensive face-to-face psychological therapy to enhance personal recovery. He co-authored the first evidence based CBT manual for bipolar disorder in 1999 for Wiley, subsequently updated in 2010. Jones led the team that produced the ‘Understanding bipolar” report for the British Psychological Society (currently under revision) and was part of the Clinical Guideline Development team that updated the NICE bipolar treatment guidelines in 2014.
Kim Wright is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Exeter where she also co-leads an NHS funded research clinic offering novel and routine therapeutic interventions for adults with bipolar or hard-to-treat depression. She has been working as a clinician and as a researcher in this area for over 20 years, and is an experienced clinical trainer specialising in CBT and related interventions. She currently co-chairs the Psychological Interventions Task Force for the International Society for Bipolar Disorders.
Who should attend
This workshop is suitable for delegates who are already familiar with basic CBT principles and techniques.