Service Description

Have you ever wondered why your loved one misinterprets your motivations, clings to cognitive distortions as if they were facts, or insists that you must agree with their unique perspective (which is, in your opinion, wrong)? Their ability to mentalize has probably gone offline. Mentalizing is perceiving and interpreting behavior based upon a person's intentions and inner experiences. It is trying to understand another's needs, wants, thoughts, goals, purposes, feelings, and reasons with an open and curious mind. Mentalizing makes meaning out of behavior and is the basis for mutual trust. Unfortunately, this ability often collapses in BPD and NPD, especially in close relationships. Personality disorders are increasingly viewed as having common impairments in self and interpersonal function in four areas: a sense of self (identity), a sense of agency (capacity for self-direction), the ability to understand the internal experiences of others (cognitive and emotional empathy) and the capacity for closeness and trust (intimacy). These four areas involve mentalization. People with BPD can mentalize effectively, however, it seems to go offline with emotional activation from close interpersonal interactions, self-relevant situations, or increased cognitive complexity of a task. Mentalizing impairments in a person with BPD can result in rigid and distorted interpretations of the words and actions of family members. For families this can be the most frustrating aspect of the relationship. Learning the basics of Mentalization and Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) will give family members a greater understanding of a loved one with a personality disorder, as well as more effective responses to improve their own mentalization as well as their loved ones. MBT was developed for BPD and it is being used to treat other personality disorders, including pathological narcissism, the most severe form of NPD. This 4-week course offers an opportunity for family members to learn how to create conditions for more effective mentalization with a loved one with symptoms of BPD or NPD. Developed in England by Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy to treat borderline personality disorder, Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) offers families hope for improved understanding and better communication. Classes scheduled for 90 minutes on Wednesdays at: 10 am PT | 11 am MT | 12 noon CT | 1pm ET | 6 pm London.