In-Congress Workshop 24 - Quality CBT Without Borders: Implementing WCCBT's Global Training Standards

Global mental health needs demand expanded access to cognitive and behavioural therapies (CBTs), yet inconsistent training standards contribute to inequities in accessing effective treatment. In keeping with the World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies’ (WCCBT) mission to promote well-being through evidence-based cognitive and behavioural approaches, this workshop will outline WCCBT's Training Guidelines and guide participants in translating them into practice.
This workshop will speak to the Congress’ theme by empowering participants to implement standardized training guidelines while adapting for cultural and contextual diversity. The workshop will explore (a) the rationale for global training standards, emphasizing the relationship between treatment fidelity and clinical effectiveness; (b) the collaborative international development process that shaped the Guidelines; (c) core content domains including CBT knowledge, assessment, intervention competencies, and training/evaluation strategies; (d) principles for adapting for individual and cultural diversity; and (e) practical implementation of the Guidelines across diverse regions and settings—academic, healthcare, and community.
Through case-based scenarios and group-based problem-solving, participants will actively apply the Guidelines to real-world training challenges in their contexts. They will identify relevant Guideline components, develop implementation strategies, and design evaluation approaches appropriate for their settings. This collaborative process will generate practical solutions while contributing to a global CBT community committed to accessible, culturally responsive, high-quality CBT training. Participants will leave equipped with concrete tools to enhance training standards, ultimately advancing mental health equity and sustainable CBT delivery worldwide.