What is the theory behind this Metacognition therapy worksheet?

This worksheet is based on a self regulatory executive function model, according to which people with emotional issues develop a certain pattern of thinking known as the Cognitive Attentional Syndrome (CAS). This thinking pattern is a result of one’s positive or negative metacognition beliefs  i.e beliefs about one’s thinking. 

People with CAS tend to cope with emotional distress through thinking strategies that they believe are helpful when they actually aren’t. These include worry, rumination, threat monitoring, thought control strategies, avoidance, and reassurance seeking. Treatment is meant to target the way they think about their ‘thinking’  and modify it to be helpful. 

How will the worksheet help?

The worksheet will help clients who have a habit of worrying excessively. Instead of addressing the cause of their worry they focus on the content of the worry giving it the power to cause significant distress. This exercise will help them identify and challenge their beliefs about worry.

How to use the worksheet?

The worksheet can be used in session during discussion about positive and negative beliefs about worry that the client has. The therapist can explain the vicious cycle that develops as a result of it. In the second part, instruct the client to practice writing down their worries about a situation and then giving it a reality check. 

Metacognition therapy worksheet

Positive beliefs about worry make us think it is the correct way to deal with our problems. However when this worry increases it leads to negative emotions such as anxiety. This activates our negative beliefs about worry leading to further emotional distress as we feel like we are losing control. What are your positive and negative beliefs about worrying?

Positive beliefs about worryWhy do I think worrying about a situation is a good thing?	Negative beliefs about worryWhy do I think worrying about a situation is a bad thing?
E.g ‘Worrying helps me solve problems’	E.g ‘Worrying makes me feel like I have no control’

Use this exercise when you notice you are worrying about a situation. Analyse the situation sometime later to see what actually happened. Do your worries match what actually happened?

What situation is causing you to worry?
Worry scriptList down your worries about the situationWrite down what you think might happen?.	Reality scriptWhat really happened?

References

Wells, A. (2009). Metacognitive Therapy for Anxiety and Depression. New York, NY; London: Guilford Press.

Wells, A., and King, P. (2006). Metacognitive therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: an open trial. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 37, 206–212. 

You can download this worksheet here.