Unified Protocol for Emotional Disorders
Target the emotional processes that underlie anxiety, depression, and a wide range of clinical presentations.
About the course
Start date
Starts 01 September 2026Length
12hrs | 6 weeksWho this course is for
For Mental Health Professionals, Health Professionals & CoachesOrganization Enquiries
Find out moreWhat if anxiety, depression, panic, obsessive thinking, and many other conditions have more in common than they first appear?
Many clients present with overlapping difficulties that do not fit neatly within a single diagnosis. Anxiety and depression frequently occur together, alongside panic, obsessive thinking, insomnia, chronic pain, and substance use, making it difficult to know where to begin and what to prioritise in treatment.
The Unified Protocol helps therapists make sense of this complexity by focusing on the emotional processes that underlie these presentations. For many clients, these processes centre on their relationship with emotion. They may experience emotions intensely, struggle with how they relate to those emotions, and become caught in patterns of avoidance that keep distress going.
Rather than requiring therapists to learn a different treatment protocol for every diagnosis, the Unified Protocol provides a single evidence-based framework for helping clients develop a more flexible relationship with their emotions.
$290
Save $200
Unified Protocol for Emotional Disorders
Normally $490
Enroll now$290
Early Registration | Save $200
Offer ends on August 14Learn From the Developers of the Unified Protocol
David Barlow is the developer of the Unified Protocol and one of the most influential figures in the development of modern Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. As founder of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University, his research has shaped the understanding and treatment of anxiety, mood, and related emotional disorders for more than four decades.
Todd Farchione is co-author of the Unified Protocol treatment manuals, Research Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Boston University, and Director of the Intensive Treatment Program at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. He has spent many years researching, teaching, and applying the Unified Protocol and brings deep expertise in its clinical application.
Together, they bring decades of experience developing, researching, and teaching the Unified Protocol.
Dr Farchione is also available throughout the course forum to answer questions and provide guidance as you work through the material.
See the Unified Protocol in Action
The Unified Protocol is best understood through application. Rather than learning concepts in isolation, you'll see how experienced clinicians apply the model across a range of client presentations through therapy demonstrations, clinical examples, practical exercises, and guidance from David Barlow and Todd Farchione.
You'll see how the Unified Protocol is used to assess clients, develop case formulations, teach skills, and guide emotional exposure throughout treatment.
By the End of This Course, You'll Learn How To:
Understand the emotional processes that contribute to anxiety, depression, and related emotional disorders
Develop transdiagnostic case formulations that focus on emotional functioning rather than diagnostic categories alone
Identify patterns of emotional avoidance and emotion-driven behaviours that maintain distress
Help clients build emotional awareness and respond more flexibly to difficult emotions
Apply the core treatment modules of the Unified Protocol, including mindful emotional awareness, cognitive flexibility, behavioural change, interoceptive exposure, and emotion exposure
Use a single evidence-based framework to treat co-occurring emotional disorders
Apply the Unified Protocol across a range of emotional disorders and clinical presentations
Confidently implement the Unified Protocol using practical strategies, worksheets, and therapy demonstrations drawn from real clinical practice
Whether you are new to CBT or looking to expand your existing CBT skills, this course will help you develop confidence applying the Unified Protocol across a range of emotional disorders and co-occurring presentations.
A Learning Experience That Suits You
You'll learn through:
A structured six-week learning journey that builds understanding and skills step-by-step
Therapy demonstrations that follow clients through assessment, case conceptualisation, and treatment
Downloadable worksheets and resources designed to support clinical implementation
Direct access to Todd Farchione through the course forum, where you can ask questions and discuss challenges that arise in practice
Flexible online learning that allows you to study at your own pace
Is This Course Right For You?
This course is suitable for psychologists, therapists, counsellors, social workers, mental health professionals, health professionals, and coaches who want a practical framework for working across anxiety, depression, and related emotional disorders.
It is also valuable for health services, clinics, and training programs seeking a shared treatment framework that can be applied across a wide range of emotional disorders and co-occurring presentations.
Enrollments
We're happy to help if you can't attend the current intake. Once your purchase is complete, contact our customer service team and we can enrol you in a future intake.
If you need an invoice, please fill out the form here.
Course Overview
Course modules
Week 1 : Development of the Unified Protocol
Section one
Introduction to the course
Section two
The development of the Unified Protocol
Section three
Transdiagnostic approaches and targets
Section four
Nature of emotional disorders
Section five
Basic principles underlying treatment
Section six
Assessment and case conceptualization
Section seven
Summary and quiz
Week 2: Maintaining Motivation, Goal Setting and Understanding Emotions
Section one
Introduction to the week
Section two
Motivational enhancement
Section three
Understanding emotion and building emotional awareness
Section four
The three component model of emotion
Section five
ARC and tracking emotions
Section six
Quiz questions
Week 3: Mindful Emotion Awareness and Cognitive Flexibility
Section one
Introduction to the week
Section two
Mindful emotion awareness
Section three
Cognitive flexibility
Section four
Quiz questions
Week 4: Countering Emotional Behaviors and Interoceptive Exposure
Section one
Introduction to the week
Section two
Emotion avoidance
Section three
Emotion-driven behaviors
Section four
Interoceptive exposure
Section five
Symptom induction exercise
Section six
Summary and quiz questions
Week 5: Emotion Exposure
Section one
What is exposure?
Section two
Emotion exposure
Section three
Blocks and barriers
Section four
Quiz questions
Week 6: Relapse Prevention and Looking to the Future
Section one
Relapse prevention
Section two
Evaluation and lack of progress
Section three
Review of key concepts
Section four
Ending treatment
Section six
Summary and quiz questions
Course excerpts
What People Say About This Course
Elena BildPsychologist - Brisbane QLD, AustraliaI learned a lot, I really like the content, and I like that we've followed specific patients through their therapy journey. I enjoyed most the therapy, the patient examples, the good explanation, and the resources.
Irismar Reis de OliveiraPsychiatrist - Salvador, Bahia, BrazilIt's practical and high quality. I like the combination of theoretical aspects provided by Dr. Barlow and the practical demonstrations provided by Todd.
Roger DavisSocial Worker - Monterey, CA, USAThe information is concise and well-developed. I enjoyed most the conceptualization paradigm within the UP. Also, It is a great generalist approach, and worth learning.
Diana Mejia CruzPsychologist - Sonora, MexicoReally practical, and with a lot of information. You can learn and practice a lot about emotion exposure, and the course is amazing.
Thomas LolleyLicensed Professional Counselor - Meridian, Texas, USAThis course gives a comprehensive look at all aspects of the UP. I like the time flexibility of access, coupled with the accountability of weekly modules. Also, this course provides tremendous value in terms of the knowledge provided and practical examples of application in session.
Audrey RadenLicensed Professional Counselor - Buffalo Grove, Illinois, USAI find the UP very compelling and I have high hopes for its usefulness. The UP pulls from some of the things I find most useful with clients and knits them together in a logical and useful way. It also deepens how I have been using these tools. I am so excited to be able to begin this with clients, and as I teach them about it, they are also indicating an eagerness to begin. This course is very much worth it.
Accredited Continuing Education Credits
Unified Protocol for Emotional Disorders is designed for mental health professionals, health professionals and coaches worldwide. On completion you'll receive an official certificate of completion, which can be submitted to registration bodies for CPD.
This course is accredited for 12 CE/CME credit hours for US licensed professionals:
Psychologists - 12 CE hours, APA - co-sponsored with Amedco, an APA-approved sponsor
Social workers - 12 general CE credits, ASWB ACE
Physicians - 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACCME
Nurses - 12 contact hours, ANCC
Counselors, MFTs & addiction professionals - 12 hours, accepted by most US state boards via APA and ASWB ACE credit - see the state-by-state list
Approved CE activity with the New York State boards for Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, and Marriage & Family Therapy.
View the full learner notification for this course (PDF) — includes complete accreditation statements, state board acceptance lists, learning objectives and faculty disclosures.
