Metacognitive Therapy
A therapy that targets unhelpful thinking styles, such as worry and rumination, and beliefs about one’s own thinking, rather than the content of specific thoughts.
What Is Metacognitive Therapy?
Metacognitive therapy is a structured psychotherapy that focuses on unhelpful patterns of thinking about one’s own thoughts (metacognitions), such as excessive worry and rumination, and beliefs about the value or danger of these thinking styles, rather than focusing on the content of specific negative thoughts as in traditional cognitive therapy.
How It Works
This approach is based on the idea that psychological difficulties are maintained less by the content of negative thoughts and more by extended patterns of worry, rumination, and unhelpful beliefs about thinking itself (such as believing worry is uncontrollable or necessary). Treatment targets these thinking styles directly. This description uses original explanatory language.
What Happens During Therapy?
Sessions typically involve identifying patterns of worry or rumination, examining beliefs about these thinking styles, and practicing specific techniques to reduce excessive engagement with worry and rumination, such as scheduled worry periods and attention training.
Evidence and Effectiveness
Research supports metacognitive therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and depression, with evidence from randomized controlled trials showing effects comparable to or, in some studies, favorable relative to standard CBT, though the overall evidence base is smaller than for more established CBT approaches.
Who May Benefit?
Metacognitive therapy may be considered as part of an individualized treatment plan for people whose anxiety or depression is strongly characterized by excessive worry or rumination.
Limitations and Considerations
The evidence base for metacognitive therapy, while promising, is smaller than for more established therapies such as standard CBT, and availability of specifically trained clinicians may be limited.
Finding a Qualified Therapist
Metacognitive therapy is practiced by psychologists and other mental health professionals with specific metacognitive therapy training.
How Long Does Therapy Take?
Metacognitive therapy is often delivered over approximately 8 to 12 sessions, though length varies according to the person and clinical presentation.
Therapy vs. Medication
For generalized anxiety disorder and depression, metacognitive therapy and medication are not necessarily competing options and may be used alone or in combination, in consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.
What Conditions Is It Used For?
Related Therapy Types
Medical Information Disclaimer
Ratel Health provides general educational information and does not provide medical diagnosis, treatment, or individualized medical advice. Information on this page is not a substitute for evaluation or care from a qualified healthcare professional. Do not use this information to diagnose yourself or another person, or to start, stop, or change treatment or medication without consulting an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
References
- American Psychological Association. Clinical Practice Guidelines.
- American Psychiatric Association. Practice Guidelines.
- National Institute of Mental Health. Psychotherapies.