Adrian Wells stands as a preeminent figure in clinical psychology with profound contributions to understanding and treating emotional disorders. He currently serves as Professor of Clinical and Experimental Psychopathology at The University of Manchester, maintaining a distinguished academic position that has shaped contemporary psychological science for over three decades. As Director of both the ADePT Research Unit and The Metacognitive Therapy Institute, he leads pioneering initiatives that bridge theoretical research with practical clinical applications across multiple healthcare settings. His professional background includes extensive clinical experience as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust, where he integrates research findings into direct patient care. With more than thirty-five years dedicated to advancing psychological science, Wells has established himself as a world-leading authority whose theoretical insights continue to transform clinical practice.
Wells is internationally recognized as the originator of Metacognitive Therapy, a groundbreaking psychological treatment approach that has revolutionized clinical practice for anxiety disorders, depression, and trauma-related conditions. His theoretical framework, which emphasizes the role of metacognitive processes in maintaining psychological distress, has provided clinicians with highly effective tools that produce significant improvements in patient outcomes with fewer treatment sessions than traditional approaches. His seminal book 'Attention and Emotion: A Clinical Perspective,' co-authored with Gerald Matthews, received the prestigious 1998 British Psychological Society Book Award for its significant contributions to psychological science. With an extensive publication record exceeding three hundred fifty scientific papers, Wells has established himself as one of the most influential researchers in contemporary clinical psychology, with his cognitive behavioral therapy model for social anxiety disorder being recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence as the most effective treatment approach.
Currently serving as Chief Investigator on multiple NIHR-funded projects, including PATHWAY-Beacons examining Group-MCT in cardiac rehabilitation and Yo-Meta investigating MCT in young people, Wells continues to expand the application of his therapeutic approach across diverse clinical populations. His leadership extends to developing cardiac rehabilitation programs for young people through the Cardio Active project, demonstrating the versatility of his theoretical framework across medical conditions. As a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and through his direction of the Metacognitive Therapy Institute, Wells has cultivated a global community of practitioners trained in his evidence-based approach, with training programs now established worldwide. His ongoing research focuses on elucidating the underlying mechanisms of therapeutic change and developing more accessible delivery formats for Metacognitive Therapy, ensuring his work continues to set the standard for future generations of clinical psychologists and researchers worldwide.
