Third Wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Michael Mruz embraces the Third-Wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach in his quest to guide patients to improved emotional health. This approach is sometimes referred to as the Third-Generation Behavioral Therapy Approach.

“Third Wave” and “Third Generation” denote how this approach both mirrors and differs from traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approaches. Third-Wave therapies emphasize a holistic approach to health and well-being. These therapies place less emphasis on reducing emotional and psychological symptoms, but such an outcome is still considered an obvious benefit.

Key Concepts of Third Wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Third-Wave Cognitive Behavioral therapies call for strategies and interventions that are intended to enhance the effectiveness of traditional Cognitive Behavioral interventions. These interventions include Exposure Therapy – also known as Systematic Desensitization, Behavioral Activation, and Cognitive Restructuring. The goal? To help people experience a more contented, fuller and happier life.

All Third-Wave therapies abandon some key assumptions commonly associated with traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approaches. Instead, several concepts are incorporated. These concepts include:

  • Acceptance
  • Metacognition
  • Mindfulness
  • Personal values
  • Spirituality

Michael Mruz Customizes Third Wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Michael Mruz integrates four therapies into his customized approach to Third-Wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. These therapies include:

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
  • Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy (MBP)
  • Mindfulness-Informed Psychotherapy (MIP)

Words from a leading authority on Third Wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Steven Hayes is the founder and both a foremost researcher and practitioner of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He framed third-wave cognitive behavioral therapy in a comprehensive way in his landmark research project, “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Relational Frame Theory and the Third Wave of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies”

“Grounded in an empirical, principle-focused approach, the third wave of behavioral and cognitive therapy is particularly sensitive to the context and functions of psychological phenomena, not just their form, and thus tends to emphasize contextual and experiential change strategies in addition to more direct and didactic ones.

These treatments tend to seek the construction of broad, flexible and effective repertoires over an eliminative approach to narrowly defined problems and to emphasize the relevance of the issues they examine for clinicians as well as clients. The third wave reformulates and synthesizes previous generations of behavioral and cognitive therapy and carries them forward into questions, issues and domains previously addressed primarily by other traditions, in hopes of improving both understanding and outcomes.”