Courses At Vita House With Dr. Brian Mc Clean
CBT- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Depression is a hard place to be. For some, it feels like a like a toxic black cloud that seems to come from nowhere and destroyed rational thinking. Almost one in five of us will become depressed in our lifetimes and at any one time, one in twenty of us are currently depressed.
It often takes a combination of things to get well. Talking can help. We may need to exercise. We may need to rest. We need to eat well. We need get up and do things we enjoy. Learning mindfulness is proving to be very helpful. Cognitive behaviour therapy is another tool that can help us understand the causes of depression, and give us tools for dealing with the distorted thinking.
Cognitive behaviour therapy explains how emotions are not simply results of events but of interpretations of events, which can be changed to be more helpful or realistic. Its not just about “thinking positively”. It’s about becoming more aware of automatic thoughts, which can become distorted
and lead to anxiety and depression. Common Thinking Errors include Black and White Thinking, in which you see everything in only two categories - all or nothing. If you think you have'nt done something
perfectly then you've failed, or if your clothes are less than immaculate you
see yourself as a wreck. Other thinking errors - Jumping to Conclusions (negative conclusion when there is little or no evidence), Catastrophising (exaggerating your problems), Over generalising (thinking that if an unpleasant thing happened
before it would happen again), and Should Statements (being a fierce task master who sets very high standards for themselves and others) – are also common ways our thinking becomes distorted and we create our own
anxiety and depression.
Course Duration
This is a six-week course
Compassion Focused Therapy
Compassion is a deep sensitivity to the suffering of the self and others, with a deep wish and commitment to relieve that suffering. The courage to be compassionate lies in the willingness to see into the nature and causes of suffering, in ourselves, in others and in the human condition.
Compassion Focused Therapy is a model of psychotherapy that integrates ideas from cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness and evolutionary psychology
This course is aimed at anyone who has an interest in CBT and may also be of particular use to those currently working in the addiction, counseling, mental health or community/voluntary sector.
Aim
The aim of this four week course is to provide an overview of CFT and the space to practice the skills associated with this approach.
Learning Objectives
Participants will learn to
Examine compassion in the contexts of shame, self-criticism and trauma
Develop a Compassion Focused Therapy formulation
Generate ideas for therapeutic intervention
Practice Compassionate Mind skills
Assessment
Participants will develop a case formulation and treatment plan from a vignette
Outline of sessions
1. The Origins of Compassion Focussed Therapy
2. The Compassionate Self
3. Compassion Focussed Therapy Formulations
4. Compassionate Focused Interventions
Course Duration
This is a four-week course
Recovery from Trauma
Trauma is often thought of as something that happened in the past. While traumatic events may belong to our history, the lasting impact of trauma is experienced in the present. It influences how we respond to stress, relate to others, interpret situations, and react to the body's internal alarm system. Trauma can shape our thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and physical responses, often without us even realising it.
This course explores the practical ways trauma affects both the mind and body, helping participants understand why they may feel "stuck" in patterns of anxiety, overwhelm, hypervigilance, or emotional numbness. Drawing on current understanding of the nervous system and trauma-informed approaches, participants will learn how the brain and body respond to perceived threat and why these responses are normal survival mechanisms.
Throughout the programme, participants will discover practical, evidence-informed strategies to regulate the nervous system, manage anxiety, respond compassionately to difficult memories, and build greater emotional resilience. The course emphasises developing awareness of present-moment experiences rather than becoming overwhelmed by the past, enabling participants to cultivate a greater sense of safety, balance, and wellbeing.
By the end of the course, participants will have a deeper understanding of trauma and leave with a range of practical skills they can use to respond more effectively to life's challenges, helping them move beyond survival and towards living with greater confidence, connection, and presence.
Course Duration
This is a six-week course
For further information you can contact Mags at info@vitahouse.org or 090 6625898
Presenter: Dr Brian McClean, B.A. M.Sc. (Clin) Psych.D.
Brian McClean qualified as a Clinical Psychologist from the University of Surrey in 1987. His doctoral thesis was on Outcomes of Positive Behavioural Support for 138 people with challenging behaviour. In 1994, he founded the Callan Institute for Behavioural Support and developed it as a national consultation and training agency in biopsychosocial intervention. He founded the Irish Association for Behavioural Support, which aims to promote quality services for people with challenging behaviours. His research interests include the effectiveness and maintenance of a positive behavioural
support, service models for people with dual diagnosis and quality of life outcomes. In 2001, he established a Behaviour Support Service in Co Roscommon, which supported community living and real lifestyles for people needing behavioural
support. He was chair of the Research sub-committee of the National Federation of Voluntary Body from 2007-2009, and is their designated expert on challenging behaviours. He is currently Senior Clinical Psychologist with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, where he provides Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Mindfulness Based Behaviour Support.