Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) Online

What is MBT?

Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that focuses on enhancing an individual’s ability to understand their own mental states and the mental states of others. It is particularly effective in treating people with borderline personality disorder and other conditions characterised by difficulties in emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships.

MBT aims to help you develop and strengthen your capacity for mentalization. Mentalization is to the ability to understand and interpret the thoughts, feelings, intentions, and motivations behind one’s own behaviour and the behaviour of others. By improving mentalization skills, you can gain a better understanding of yourself and your relationships, leading to improved emotional well-being and more effective interpersonal interactions.

MBT aims to:

1. Focus on self-reflection: MBT encourages you to explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours in a non-judgmental and curious manner. It helps you develop a greater awareness of your internal experiences and gain insight into how these experiences influence your relationships and daily functioning.

2. Understanding relationships: MBT recognises the significant impact of interpersonal dynamics on mental health. It helps you understand how your thoughts and emotions affect your interactions with others, and vice versa. By enhancing your ability to mentalize, you can develop healthier and more satisfying relationships.

3. Balancing emotions: Many individuals with emotional difficulties struggle with intense and overwhelming emotions. MBT can assist you in identifying, labelling, and regulating your emotions more effectively. By learning to mentalize your emotional experiences, you can find healthier ways to express and manage your feelings.

4. Empathy and perspective-taking: MBT emphasises the importance of empathy and understanding others’ perspectives. It can help you develop the capacity to consider alternative viewpoints, which can improve communication and reduce conflict in relationships.

5. Therapeutic relationship: The therapist-client relationship is a crucial aspect of MBT. Therapists provide a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their thoughts and feelings openly. Through the therapeutic relationship, you can experience firsthand what it feels like to be understood and validated, which can enhance your ability to mentalize in other contexts.

6. Time-limited and structured: MBT is typically conducted within a time-limited framework, often ranging from six months to two years. The therapy follows a structured format. The structure helps us stay focused and allows for consistent progress and learning.

For individuals struggling with emotional regulation, relationship difficulties, and a desire for self-understanding and personal growth, MBT can offer significant benefits and long-lasting positive changes in your life.

Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) has been used to treat borderline personality disorder and other conditions characterised by difficulties in emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships.

Here at Counselling Psychology Online, we are trained counsellors in MBT with many years experience. We are based throughout the UK in Surrey, Kent, Somerset and Stoke, and service clients throughout the UK and internationally online.