S u m m a r y

 

Kivistö S (2002)

Focus on metacognitive processing in the cognitive psychotherapy model

Psykologia 38:152-159. Vammala ISSN 0355-1067.

 

The role of reflective metacognitive processing (M) in assessment and conceptualizing in cognitive therapy is discussed in this article. Metacognitive skills are needed for self-regulatory executive functioning (S-REF) in adapting to stressful events and have an important role in emotional disorders (Wells, 2000). In severe personality disorders fostering metacognitive capacity may be a prerequisite to beginning therapy (Liotti, 1998).

However, the concept of metacognition has not developed even though the concept of cognition has changed. If therapy is considered an interaction between separate actors (the patient, his/her social network, the therapist), metacognition is multicentered (Raeithel, 1983, Engeström, 2001). In addition to the original concept of self-centered metacognition (Ms), the concepts decentered (Md) and recentred (Mr) metacognition are proposed in this article.

 

Key words: Metacognition, metacognitive profiling, psychotherapeutic intervention.

 

Sirkku Kivistö,, Lic.Psych., Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-02250 Helsinki, Finland.