1st Edition

Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy Body, Imagery and Change

    334 Pages 14 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    334 Pages 14 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy (MIT) remains unique in providing instruments for dealing with clients with prominent emotional inhibition and suppression, a population for whom treatment options are largely lacking.

     This book provides clinicians with techniques to treat this population, including guided imagery and re-scripting, two-chairs, role-play, body-oriented work and interpersonal mindfulness. Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy is aimed at increasing clients’ awareness of their inner world, fostering a sense of agency over their experience, and dismantling the core, embodied aspects of the schemas. The techniques included also provide clients with fresh instruments to overcome pain and act creatively in their everyday life. Using an improved version of the MIT decision-making procedure, the authors have provided a set of techniques aimed at modifying mental imagery, body states, and behaviour, as well as at steering attention to avoid falling prey to rumination. The book is structured to gently push clients towards change, but also to always prioritize the clients’ goals and needs.

    Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy serves as an important guide for clinicians of any orientation.

    INTRODUCTION; 1: PSYCHOPATHOLOGY OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS 1: NARRATIVES, INTERPERSONAL SCHEMAS AND MENTAL STATES; 2: PERSONALITY DISORDER PSYCHOPATHOLOGY 2: METACOGNITION, COPING AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION. MAINTENANCE MODEL; 3: USE OF IMAGERY AND BODILY TECHNIQUES IN PSYCHOTHERAPY; 4: THE DECISION-MAKING PROCEDURE AND EXPERIENTIAL TECHNIQUES; 5: GUIDED IMAGERY AND IMAGERY RESCRIPTING; 6: DRAMA TECHNIQUES: TWO CHAIRS, ROLE-PLAY AND ENACTMENT; 7: BODY INTERVENTIONS; 8: BEHAVIOURAL EXPLORATION AND ACTIVATION; 9: TECHNIQUES FOR RESTRUCTURING ATTENTION AND TREATING COGNITIVE COPING STRATEGIES; 10: METACOGNITIVE INTERPERSONAL THERAPY IN GROUP (MIT-G); 11: TECHNIQUE SEQUENCES; REFERENCES

    Biography

    Giancarlo Dimaggio, psychiatrist and psychotherapist, has published six books on psychotherapy for severe patients and around 200 scientific articles and book chapters. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Psychology: In-Session.

    Paolo Ottavi, psychologist and psychotherapist,  is the main developer of two published treatments with empirical support: Metacognition Oriented Social Skills Training and Metacognitive-Interpersonal Based Mindfulness Training.

    Raffaele Popolo, psychiatrist and psychotherapist, has published many scientific papers and developed Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy in Group which has already been tested in two randomised control trials and two pilot studies. It is currently applied in Norway, Spain and Australia.

    Giampaolo Salvatore, psychiatrist and psychotherapist has published many scientific papers and has adapted Metacognitive Intepersonal Therapy for psychosis and for borderline personality disorders.

    The field of psychotherapy is moving beyond old polarities. In this new volume on Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy (MIT), Dimaggio and colleagues enter the central stage of this process. As readers we are introduced to the forefront of contemporary theoretical and technical debates. Deeply respectful and ethically grounded in style, while at the same time playful, challenging and conveying an intellectual joy of exploring new terrains. A delightful and highly stimulating read.

    Sigmund Karterud, MD, PhD. Professor of psychiatry, Oslo University Hospital.

    Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy represents a significant addition to our world literature on psychotherapy and its application to complex conditions including persons with histories of trauma, maladaptive personality traits, anxiety, dissociation and eating disorders. While falling generally within the field of cognitive psychotherapies, it moves beyond the dualistic views which separate mind and body which plague this approach. It understands that human suffering cannot be reduced to discrete thoughts or failures to form singular adaptive ideas and advances our field by focusing on the inextricably entwined embodied and reflective experiences which lay at the core of mental health.

    Paul H Lysaker, Clinical Psychologist Roudebush VA Medical Center, Professor Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry