Conducting therapy at the metacognitive level

The fundamental distinctive feature of metacognitive therapy is the explicit focus on modifying metacognitive beliefs and processes in order to achieve therapeutic change. In other words, MCT concentrates on changing how the patient thinks by altering beliefs about cognition. This is in direct contrast to CBT, which is concerned with the content and product of dysfunctional information processing and therefore the goal is to modify the output of unhelpful thinking (Clark, 2004). The CBT therapists' targets of change include systematic errors, negative automatic thoughts, and core beliefs. In essence, CBT works predominantly at the content or cognitive level, whereas MCT operates at the process or metacognitive level.