Mentalization is a therapeutic approach that can help people suffering with mental health struggles. In addition, mentalization-based therapy (MBT) is helpful in treating teens and adults for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and eating disorders.
What Is Mentalization?
Mentalization-based therapy helps a person identify and understand emotions. In addition, it helps one understand the emotions of others. Thus, mentalizing refers to the intuitive process that reflects one’s sense of self. In other words, it helps one consciously perceive and understand their inner world. Furthermore, MBT therapy can help an individual foster positive connections with others. Hence this is through the development of social skills.
Mentalization is effective with hard-to-treat borderline personality disorders. Consequently, this is because people with BPD cannot picture and understand their autonomous selves. Therefore, this lack of personality definition leads to a sense of emptiness. In addition, it encourages over-attachment to others and difficulty empathizing. Furthermore, BPD can be characterized when one can’t recognize the inner lives of others. However, through MBT therapy, people with challenging mental conditions access long-term recovery.
The process of mentalizing is informed by psychodynamic therapy. Hence, this raises awareness of unconscious processes, and motivational interviewing. This empowers the individual. Additionally, MBT therapy and the term “mentalization” originated at the Ecole Psychosomatique de Paris in the 1970s. Originally, MBT therapy was developed to address and repair attachment-related childhood trauma. As a result, it is often helpful for younger populations. If you or someone you love needs support, contact us. We are here to help. Learn more about the Newport Academy approach.
Sources: World Psychiatric Association (NLM-NIH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Alliance on Mental Illness