Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT)

Mentalisation-based therapy (MBT) is a type of long-term psychotherapy, with the term mentalisation defined as the ability to think about thinking. It helps to make sense of our thoughts, beliefs, wishes and feelings and to link these to our actions and behaviours.

Mentalisation is a normal capacity that we all use in everyday life. It underpins all human relationships. However, some people find it more difficult to mentalise in certain situations than others. MBT aims to improve a person’s capacity to mentalise. At Working Minds, we focus on what is going on in their mind and in the minds of other people and link this to understand and alleviate problematic behaviours.

It can help with:

• borderline personality disorder
• depression
• drug addiction
• eating disorders
• other personality disorders
• trauma

It is particularly useful for people who suffer from long-term difficulties in relationships and who experience intense emotional distress and overwhelming feelings which may result in destructive behaviours such as self-harm or aggression towards others. It is also helpful for people who may be distrustful of other people and have difficulty in reading other people’s responses to them.

Mentalisation-based treatments can be used to help children, young people and families who suffer from psychological difficulties. A typical MBT session at Working Minds will last for 60 minutes. Group sessions last between 75 and 90 minutes depending on the treatment programme and treatment programmes can last for 12 to 18 months.

When you focus on understanding your own and other people’s thoughts and feelings, MBT can help you to better understand and control your impulses, emotions, and behaviours. This can improve your relationships with other people.