MERIT PSYCHOTHERAPY
A recovery-oriented psychotherapy for individuals living with schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses.
WHAT IS MERIT PSYCHOTHERAPY?
MERIT (Metacognitive Reflection and Insight Therapy) is a manual-based psychotherapy developed by Paul Lysaker, PhD, and colleagues. It offers a flexible treatment model that clinicians from diverse backgrounds can use to help clients strengthen recovery-oriented metacognitive capacities.
UNDERSTANDING METACOGNITION
Metacognition is often described as “thinking about thinking.” It refers to the mental processes people use to reflect on themselves and others, make sense of challenges, and decide how to respond. For individuals with severe mental illness, strengthening metacognition is key to recovery and improved quality of life.
ROLE OF RECOVERY IN MENTAL HEALTH
Recovery in severe mental illness is both a process and an outcome. It includes personal growth, improved mental health and wellness, and measurable results such as reduced symptoms, higher levels fo functioning, and enhanced well-being. MERIT is a recovery-oriented psychotherapy, meaning it emphasizes both the inner journey and the tangible outcomes that define recovery.
HOW MERIT SUPPORTS RECOVERY
MERIT helps individuals make sense of their experiences, regain personal agency, and build self-determination. During therapy, clinicians assess a person’s metacognitive capacities and adapt interventions to enhance them. This reflective approach leads to a deeper understanding of difficulties and supports more effective ways of addressing them.
EVIDENCE BEHIND MERIT
A substantial body of research supports the effectiveness of MERIT for individuals with serious mental illness. Data comes from randomized controlled trials, clinical studies, qualitative research, and detailed case reports. Additionally, an extensive research literature documents the role of metacognitive impairments in serious mental illness, highlighting the importance of MERIT’s focus on metacognition.
