Centre for Behaviour Change International Training Programme Advanced Module: Principles and practice of Behavioural Systems Mapping.

A key task in developing behaviour change interventions is to choose the behaviour(s) of target population(s), group(s) and organisation(s) on which to focus in order to achieve the desired objectives. In other words to answer the question of who and what should we focus our intervention on in order to achieve our goal. For example, when attempting to reduce the amount of harmful material that is shared on a social media platform, how far show we focus directly on the behaviour of the perpetrators versus that of others in the social media space who may be in a position to discourage or report it.

Behaviours form parts of interacting systems that evolve over time the choice of behavioural and population targets can usefully be informed by modelling the causal influenced in those systems: a process known as ‘behavioural systems mapping’.

This module takes participants through the principles of ‘systems thinking’ and how this is applied in ‘systems mapping’. It equips participants with the knowledge and skills required to begin to create behavioural systems maps using freely available software and templates specifically designed for the module.

Facilitators Professor Robert West, Professor Susan Michie and Dr Vivi Antonopoulou will deliver an online full-day session from 10am to 4.00pm (UK time). The module is highly interactive and includes practical sessions in which participants can work together to familiarise themselves with both the principles and practice of creating behavioural systems maps.

Places are limited with the course capped at 36 participants.

For information on other Advanced Modules, see:

Centre for Behaviour Change International Training Programme Advanced Module:

From BCT Taxonomy (BCTTv1) to BCT Ontology (BCTO) - What is the new ontology and how do I use it?

The Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy Version 1 (BCTTv1) is very widely used for characterising the content of behaviour change interventions in a systematic way that forms the basis for scientific study. The taxonomy has been extended, improved and developed in a way that links techniques with other aspects of the intervention such as its delivery, target behaviour, setting, population and mechanisms of action. This allows for much fuller description than has been possible to date and more complex questions to be answered, such as variants of the “Big Question ”When it comes to behaviour change interventions: What works, compared with what, for what behaviours, how well, for how long, with whom, in what setting, and why?”

Professors Susan Michie, Marie Johnston and Robert West will deliver an online full-day session from 10am to 4.00pm (London time) introducing the new BCT Ontology. The module will be interactive and include time for demonstration, practice and discussion.

By the end of the course participants should be able to:

1. Describe the BCT Ontology (BCTO) and how it fits into the Behaviour Change Intervention Ontology (BCIO).
2. Explain the advantages of the BCT Ontology over the BCT Taxonomy v1.
3. Summarise how the BCTO can be used for designing, evaluating and reporting interventions and for evidence synthesis.

Places are limited with the course capped at 36 participants.

For information on the other Advanced Modules, see

Influencing motivation is often key to achieving behaviour change. That may mean shaping people’s plans, values, desires, and/or habits. Robert West, a founder of the PRIME Theory of motivation and the COM-B model of behaviour will guide participants step-by-step on a tour of human motivation and how it can be influenced through education, persuasion, reward, punishment, imitation, social norms, rules, environmental cues, providing support and by training habits and self-regulation skills.

It will also address how we can build resistance against to attempts at manipulation by vested interests.

The module will be interactive and include plenty of time for discussion. It will cover practical examples of motivational influence in a range of areas relating to health, wellbeing, and sustainable development. It will also offer participants an opportunity to discuss motivational interventions in their areas of interest.

The session will run from 10am to 4pm (UK time) with 30 minutes for lunch and 15-minute breaks in the morning and afternoon.

Places are limited with the course capped at 36 participants.

For information on other Advanced Modules, see here

Centre for Behaviour Change International Training Programme: Advanced Module: Applying the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) Toolbox in Process Evaluation.

Process Evaluation can be applied to better understand the outcomes of our behaviour change interventions by asking questions such as, which parts of our intervention were actually delivered, how were they received, and how and why did they have their impact on our target behaviour? This module will explore two key components of Process Evaluation; Fidelity and Mechanisms of Change. Participants will learn about what these components of Process Evaluation are, why they are worth investigating, and how the Behaviour Change Wheel toolbox can help us to do so.

Facilitators Dr Fabiana Lorencatto and Dr Danielle D’Lima will deliver an online full-day session from 10am-4pm. Key content will be broken down into digestible chunks with time allocated to apply the learning to learners’ own areas of interest, and gain support on how to prioritise different components of process evaluation based on available resources.

Places are limited with the course strictly capped at 36 participants and require a minimum number of 10 participants.

Daily session timings are from 10am GMT +1.

For more information on the Advanced Modules, see here:

A key task in developing behaviour change interventions is to choose the behaviour(s) of target population(s), group(s) and organisation(s) on which to focus in order to achieve the desired objectives. In other words to answer the question of who and what should we focus our intervention on in order to achieve our goal. For example, when attempting to reduce the amount of harmful material that is shared on a social media platform, how far show we focus directly on the behaviour of the perpetrators versus that of others in the social media space who may be in a position to discourage or report it.

Behaviours form parts of interacting systems that evolve over time the choice of behavioural and population targets can usefully be informed by modelling the causal influenced in those systems: a process known as ‘behavioural systems mapping’.

This module takes participants through the principles of ‘systems thinking’ and how this is applied in ‘systems mapping’. It equips participants with the knowledge and skills required to begin to create behavioural systems maps using freely available software and templates specifically designed for the module.

Facilitators Professor Robert West, Professor Susan Michie and Dr Vivi Antonopoulou will deliver an online full-day session from 10am to 4.00pm (UK time). The module is highly interactive and includes practical sessions in which participants can work together to familiarise themselves with both the principles and practice of creating behavioural systems maps.

Places are limited with the course capped at 36 participants.

For information on other Advanced Modules, see:

Personality Disorder: No Longer a Diagnosis of Exclusion

A 20^th Anniversary Conference sponsored by Mind and Rethink

In association with the National Knowledge and Understanding Framework (KUF) Hub and UCL Psychoanalysis Unit.

Twenty years on from the publication of Personality Disorder: No Longer a Diagnosis of Exclusion, this one-day conference will assess the extent to which the ambitions set out at that time have been achieved in each of four contexts: community mental health, criminal justice, crisis and inpatient care, and services for children and young people.  How are we doing, and could we be doing better?  What should be the priorities for the next two decades? 

We want you to be part of this important conversation.  Come along to hear the views of academics, mental health professionals, policymakers, and experts by experience, and have your say.

Thank you registering for the Personality Disorder: No Longer a Diagnosis of Exclusion: A 20th Anniversary Conference, taking place on Friday 23 June 2023.

We will be in touch closer to the time of the event with programme updates and joining instructions. If you have any other queries, please contact the events team at [email protected]. Please note that bookings will close at 12pm (BST) on Thursday 22 June 2023, or once full capacity has been reached.

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) Training with Dr Catrina Craig

A 1-day online course

Tuesday 4 July 2023, 9:00 – 3:45 BST

Online via Zoom

What is Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST)?

CST is an evidence-based group treatment for people with mild to moderate dementia. It involves 14 or more sessions of stimulating, themed activities, based around more complex principles including learning theory and person-centred care. CST can be extended into a longer-term treatment and can be offered to a range of clients including outpatients and people in residential or day care.

What does the training involve?

Training is interactive, involving group exercises, role-play, and video observation as well as some ‘teaching’. It is aimed to equip people with the knowledge required to deliver group CST in their work setting.

Who is the trainer?

The training is led by Dr Helen Donovan, a consultant clinical psychologist who has held senior positions since 2004 in the NHS in Bedfordshire & Luton including developing and providing services to people with dementia. She has been involved in CST and Maintenance CST research projects with UCL and has extensive experience of supervising and delivery of CST groups, and providing CST training in the UK and internationally.

You will receive a booking confirmation upon registration. We will contact you closer to the time of the event with updates and instructions. If you have any other queries, please contact [email protected].