Mentalization-based psychotherapy (MBT)
Mentalization is the ability to recognize and understand both one’s own feelings and those of others, to be in touch with these feelings, and communicate them effectively. Hence, mentalizing is central to understanding oneself in relation to others, and a helpful skill for regulating one’s emotions and navigating relationships.
Many individuals have difficulty identifying, communicating and managing their emotions, often due to early adverse experiences in which caregivers provided insufficient emotional containment or support.
MBT encourages an individual to focus on how their mental states affect their own behavior, as well as that of others. It is a focused therapeutic approach, limited in time to 1-2 years, which focuses on emotions, their regulation and relationship to others, with a present-focused perspective. In my practice, MBT is offered in both a group or one-on-one setting.