Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy (MIT) for personality disorders: procedures, experiential techniques and the therapy relationship.

Brisbane Australia 10 – 11 October 2023

 Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy (MIT) for personality disorders is based on a structured and manualized set of procedures aimed at guiding the clinicians’ therapeutic engagement and treatment from the very first session to the conclusion of treatment. MIT adopts a series of techniques in order to deal with symptoms, promote awareness of maladaptive interpersonal schemas, change them and promote a healthier and richer social functioning. This is delivered within a structured framework. MIT is unique, in that it does not focus on specific symptoms or behaviour and therefore does not target specific personality disorders. Rather it targets the pervasive higher-order thinking, interpersonal and behavioural patterns and increasing metacognition, that is the capacity for thinking about self and others.

A major focus of the workshop will be on assessing and reconstructing maladaptive interpersonal schemas. Procedures are described for how to first enrich the repertoire of clients’ autobiographical memories, which are the basis for understanding maladaptive interpersonal schemas. Once a shared formulation is established, the procedures will focus on how to promote change. The therapy works on promoting metacognitive differentiation or critical distance from maladaptive interpersonal schemas and in parallel to experiential access to the healthy self.

MIT procedures now include techniques such as guided imagery and rescripting, role-play, two-chair work, and sensorimotor exercises. These techniques are delivered according to a case formulation which is fine-tuned, shared with the client and continuously updated.

Examples on how to use these techniques will be provided. The role of behavioural experiments and behavioural activations in fostering agency, increasing awareness of mental states, and pursuing goals consistent with the healthy self will be outlined.

Learning objectives and outcomes:

• This workshop will contain both didactic and experiential components
• All participants will receive copies of key publications outlining the treatment
• Live and video demonstrations of MIT
• Case discussions
• Detailed analysis of core therapeutic interventions

About the Presenter:

Giancarlo Dimaggio, MD, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, is a co-founding member of the Center for Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy in Rome, Italy, and trainer for the Italian Society of Cognitive and Behaviour Psychotherapy (SITCC). His primary interest is in metacognitive processes and mental disorders. He has co-authored and edited six books on psychopathology and psychotherapy, and more than 120 papers in scientific journals.Dr. Dimaggio is an associate editor of Psychology and Psychotherapy and the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Personality Disorders.