Metacognitive Therapy

by Peter Fisher, Adrian Wells

Metacognitive therapy is based on the principle that worry and rumination are universal processes leading to emotional disorder. These processes are linked to erroneous beliefs about thinking and unhelpful self-regulation strategies. Metacognitive Distinctive Features is an introduction to the theoretical foundations and therapeutic principles of metacognitive therapy. Divided into two sections, Theory and Practice and using thirty key points, the authors explore how metacognitive therapy can allow people to escape from repetitive thinking patterns that often lead to prolonged psychological distress. This book is a valuable resource for both students and practitioners wishing to develop a basic understanding of metacognitive therapy and how it compares and contrasts with traditional forms of cognitive behavioural therapy.

Genres: Psychology

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2009

Reviews

[Baybars]

An easier read compared to "Metacognitive Therapy for Anxiety and Depression", more theoretical and organized, but less beneficial.

[Julia Wainstein]

Its an interesting idea that I think is useful in many ways but I need to think about it more.

I am skeptical about the extent to which some of the mental processes that they suggest are voluntary are actually consciously controllable, but maybe that just means I haven't practiced the skills enough...

In terms of the model of cognition that they are proposing/working off of, which is fundamentally different from the models postulated or supposed by other psychotherapies... obviously I have no idea how accurate it is and its a bit annoying honestly how many different models there are lol.

They do seem a bit overzealous in terms of having discovered a trans-diagnostic construct (the centrality of the 'Cognitive Attentional Syndrome' as the main or only maintenance factor in psychological illness) and a universal solution to mental illness. BUT I do think that they are onto something re: the utility of doing therapeutic work at the metacognitive rather than cognitive level, in terms of bringing awareness to unhelpful "cognitive" coping strategies like worry, rumination, and certain ways of paying attention to one's environment.

Anyways, much still to think about but it was interesting.

[Russ]

For such a short, slight book, it’s repetitive and dependent on acronyms; overly confident; an introduction for the very determined professional. Regardless, MCT could be the next biggest development in CBT.