Emotional disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders in youths, with approximately 10-20% of children and adolescents meeting diagnostic criteria. The first-line psychological treatment for youth emotional disorders is Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) which seems to be an effective treatment in about two thirds of adolescents with emotional disorders. However, only around half of adolescents with emotional disorders meet criteria for full recovery following CBT. Hence, there is still a need to develop better treatments for adolescent emotional disorders.
Metacognitive therapy (MCT) is an effective psychological treatment for depression and anxiety disorders in adults and is probably the first to demonstrate effects that can exceed well-established interventions such as cognitive-behavioural therapies. Based on promising results for the metacognitive formulation and treatment of psychological disorders in adults and on preliminary results indicating feasibility of MCT for children and adolescents as outlined above, the metacognitive approach could potentially enhance our understanding and treatment of psychological vulnerability and disorder in youth.
This workshop will present how we can apply MCT with children and adolescents.
CE Learning Objective(s)
Following this presentation, participants will:
- Describe three metacognitive mechanisms of emotional distress in young people
- Observe demonstration of how two MCT change techniques can be applied to young people
- Describe three key findings from the empirical literature on MCT for anxiety and depression in young people
About Presenter
Henrik Nordahl, Ph.D. is an associate professor of clinical psychology and specialist in clinical psychology affiliated with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and St. Olavs University Hospital, in Trondheim, Norway. He is certified as a level I and level II MCT therapist with the MCT-Institute and was supervised by Adrian Wells for his Ph.D.. He has now published more than 50 research articles in international peer-reviewed journals on the metacognitive model and MCT. Henrik Nordahl is responsible for the education of new MCT-therapists in Norway.
Target Audience
This workshop is designed for licensed professionals & advanced graduate students with clinical experience who anticipate seeking licensure as mental health professionals. The instructional level of this presentation is INTERMEDIATE. Registrants will be asked to have completed one of the Beginner Level trainings offered by PBTA focused on Major Depression or Generalized Anxiety Disorder or to watch the recording of one of these Beginner level trainings sponsored by PBTA - registrants will receive recordings one month in advance of this training event.
- Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists*. Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
- This program provides three and a half (3.25) hours of CE credits.
- * PBTA now offers CE to licensed psychologists licensed in the state of New York. Attestation of full attendance and provision of license number post-event required to obtain certificate that meets NY criteria for CE.
- PBTA is also an authorized provider of CE credits for Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Clinical Social Workers licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. Non-psychologist licensees in other states should confirm with their respective boards if this meets criteria for CE in their specific non-PA states.
- Full attendance with video display is required to obtain CE credit for this program. APA guidelines do not permit PBTA to issue partial CE credits. No refunds are provided for CE programs. No exceptions allowed. Registrants can log in and cancel up to 48 hours before event when registration closes.
Suggested Readings
Knowles, M. M., Foden, P., El‐Deredy, W., & Wells, A. (2016). A systematic review of efficacy of the attention training technique in clinical and nonclinical samples. Journal of clinical psychology, 72(10), 999-1025.
Murray, J., Scott, H., Connolly, C., & Wells, A. (2018). The attention training technique improves children's ability to delay gratification: A controlled comparison with progressive relaxation. Behaviour research and therapy, 104, 1-6.
Murray, J., Theakston, A., & Wells, A. (2016). Can the attention training technique turn one marshmallow into two? Improving children's ability to delay gratification. Behaviour research and therapy, 77, 34-39.
Wells, A. (2009). Metacognitive therapy for anxiety and depression. New York: Guilford press.
Wells, A., Capobianco, L., Matthews, G., & Nordahl, H. M. (2020). Metacognitive therapy: Science and practice of a paradigm. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 576210.
