Metacognitive Therapy for Anxiety and Depression

by Adrian Wells

This groundbreaking book explains the "whats" and "how-tos" of metacognitive therapy (MCT), an innovative form of cognitive-behavioral therapy with a growing empirical evidence base. MCT developer Adrian Wells shows that much psychological distress results from how a person responds to negative thoughts and beliefs—for example, by ruminating or worrying—rather than the content of those thoughts. He presents practical techniques and specific protocols for addressing metacognitive processes to effectively treat generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and major depression. Special features include reproducible treatment plans and assessment and case formulation tools, plus a wealth of illustrative case material.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help

316 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Oerloeg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This framework shifts the perspective of classical cbt from content to process. It is not "is this worry useful" but rather "is it usefull to worry". The difference seems small, but has huge implications for the therapy and the mindset of the therapist. Especially useful for the treatment of rumination and sorrow, therefore especially useful for the treatment of GAD.

One of the few textbooks worth their money.

[Baybars · Rating 5 out of 5]

**My review is not for psychologists, it's for dumbies like me who think that they know psychology** -

(2022) - Could be the most comprehensive book on MCT. However, its target audience is therapists, so it leaves some of the details untouched because it assumes that the reader has preexisting knowledge on some topics.

Edit (2024) - After expanding my knowledge in psychology, I can still say that the book is very much worth reading. It's a great book if your goal is to expand your perspective on psychology overall and gain new tools to form psychological arguments - whether your goal is establishing some basic structure of knowledge on which to base your future learnings, or arguing with redpillers online.

[Anthony Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing resource and potential breakthrough for many mental disorders

I am very impressed with Dr. Wells methodic, thoughtful approach to psychological disorder treatment. His aim to create a holistic framework for general treatment is coherent. I’m excited for how his work will continue impacting his field. Treating metacognition gets to the real source of mental suffering and helps patients understand their disorder so they can play an active role in healing themselves.

[Sofus Krogh Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, especially the theoretical side of Well's work. I have come to believe in the assumptions of the MCT model - that CAS, rumination, worrying and hyper vigilance, are behaviours that underlie a lot of what we see in mental health care, and that we have to interrupt these processes, not as a way of ignoring or distracting from the unpleasantness, but as a way of freeing ourselves from the grip of the content of our cognition.

If you are familiar with Michael Greenbergs theory on the relationship between OCD and rumination, then you will see a similarity in MCT. Greenberg believes that rumination is a compulsion, not an intrusion (in his view, the thoughts themselves are the intrusion, but the rumination that follow are a mental compulsion, and that means that we can and have to stop these processes of rumination. Moreover, he believes that rumination actually sustains and creates what we know as OCD. This is MCT. I believe that a lot of people would find it liberating and agency-giving if they were met with the likes of MCT and Greenberg.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this and its different view of things with good interventions.

[O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presents a very interesting theory about how the mind works. Difficult to give it 5 stars without some experience applying it--but it's certainly a candidate. I might raise the score later.

[Frank Corriveau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found some useful ideas, and quite a few that don't apply to me. Nevertheless, gave me some insight and processes to try out.

[Chet Taranowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another look at a variant of a CBT approach. I think he has something here.

[Divij Bhatia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but somewhat repetitive. Could be more concise and readable.

[Usama Beshara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly eye-opening and out-of-the-box approach!

[Freddy Reetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A relatively unknown therapy that systematizes mindfulness practices in a way that's easily digestible for non-meditators. Fascinating read.

[Jocelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rated with extreme prejudice because I figured out halfway through he's a proponent of the bullshit biopsychosocial hypothesis about "chronic fatigue syndrome."

[Heiko Portz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Metakognitive Therapie ist aus meiner Sicht ein smartes Konzept, weil es den Fokus weniger auf die inhaltlichen Themen unserer Gedanken richtet, sondern viel mehr auf das wann, wie, wie lange, wie oft unserer Gedanken. Eben die Metaebene.
Es gibt Berührungspunkte zu Achtsamkeit und Meditation, weshalb ich glaube, dass die Idee der Metakognitiven Therapie für jeden interessant sein dürfte, der nach persönlichem Wachstum und Entwicklung strebt.
Es ist auch für nicht deppressive, kerngesunde Menschen lesenswert, als Vorbeugung gegen Burnout, zur Verbesserung der Resilienz oder vielleicht auch weil es Aufmerksamkeit und Achtsamkeit aus einer sehr wissenschaftlichen Perspektive betrachtet.

[Loukie Adlem · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit I didn't read it all, it is not written for lay people and there are many detailed studies and terminologies that went over my head.
I read the parts that is pertinenet to me, i.e. how to apply metacognitive thinking to my thoughts to avoid descending into depression. Those sections are described clearly enough for anybody to follow.

Although it was difficult to read, I am benefitting a lot from the methods and I won't put the book away: I mean to keep it on my bedside table to dip into when necessary.

[Jon Westman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has given me a great insigth into the mechanics of thought and worry. It has been incredibly helpful in my professional life and has helped me helped several people suffering from GAD where regular CBT has not seemed to work.

I can only hope to convince my employer to pay for a full year of masterclass in MCT.

[Htb2050 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. This form of therapy seems closer to the stoic approach and that our thoughts are not the representative of actual reality and that they can be wrong sometimes. This book is alone worth it for the attention training technique.

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few worthy ideas. I skimmed most of the text.