What then, are the components of MBT used to treat someone with BPD? What indeed is meant by the word "mentalization"?
Mentalization
Mentalization is a term coming from research and discussion regarding Theory of the Mind. The word itself means the ability to understand the mental state of oneself and others, underlying our behaviours. It is recognizing "my mind" in the mind of others and that there are differences between the two.
Mentalization is imaginative mental activity allowing individuals to perceive and interpret human behaviour; in terms of intentional mental states such as needs, desires, feelings, beliefs, goals, purposes or reasons.
Individuals without secure attachment have greater difficulties in mentalization and therefore, in social/relationship interactions.
In some cases the disconnect is so strong or the mentalization so inaccurate, such people cannot hold down jobs, complete their educations, or form relationships of any duration. Consequently, their lives become very unstable.
This results in a huge sense of failure, disconnection, alienation, emptiness and depression, all of which lead to self-destructive behaviours.
The Components of MBT
So what then, can be done to treat this inability to "mentalize" prevalent in those of us with BPD?
Bateman and Fonagy suggest the following:
1) Creation of the secure attachment undeveloped in childhood, through therapy transference.
2) Encouraging the ability to generate multiple perspectives regarding any situation, freeing the person from getting stuck in the "reality" of one's own view; the rigidity of one thought pattern, assumption, or explanation.
I will explore these two prongs of Mentalization Therapy in my next posts.
Mentalization
Mentalization is a term coming from research and discussion regarding Theory of the Mind. The word itself means the ability to understand the mental state of oneself and others, underlying our behaviours. It is recognizing "my mind" in the mind of others and that there are differences between the two.
Mentalization is imaginative mental activity allowing individuals to perceive and interpret human behaviour; in terms of intentional mental states such as needs, desires, feelings, beliefs, goals, purposes or reasons.
Individuals without secure attachment have greater difficulties in mentalization and therefore, in social/relationship interactions.
In some cases the disconnect is so strong or the mentalization so inaccurate, such people cannot hold down jobs, complete their educations, or form relationships of any duration. Consequently, their lives become very unstable.
This results in a huge sense of failure, disconnection, alienation, emptiness and depression, all of which lead to self-destructive behaviours.
The Components of MBT
So what then, can be done to treat this inability to "mentalize" prevalent in those of us with BPD?
Bateman and Fonagy suggest the following:
1) Creation of the secure attachment undeveloped in childhood, through therapy transference.
2) Encouraging the ability to generate multiple perspectives regarding any situation, freeing the person from getting stuck in the "reality" of one's own view; the rigidity of one thought pattern, assumption, or explanation.
I will explore these two prongs of Mentalization Therapy in my next posts.
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