Mentalisation-Based Therapy (MBT) helps you strengthen your capacity to understand your own and other people’s thoughts, feelings, and intentions, especially in moments when strong emotions make this difficult. This ability to “hold mind in mind” is something we all rely on, but it can become harder under stress or in the context of difficult early relationships.
By building this capacity, MBT helps you make better sense of yourself and others, respond more flexibly in relationships, and feel less overwhelmed by misunderstandings and emotional reactions.
How MBT Works
MBT focuses on noticing and exploring states of mind , yours and other people’s , particularly where these become confused or lost under emotional pressure. Working with your therapist, you might focus on:
- Noticing what’s happening in your own mind, moment to moment
- Considering other possible explanations for others’ behaviour
- Recognising when strong emotions switch off your ability to reflect
- Rebuilding understanding after misunderstandings or ruptures
- Developing a steadier, more coherent sense of yourself
The therapist takes a curious, not-knowing stance, exploring your experience alongside you rather than offering fixed interpretations.
What MBT Can Help With
This approach can be helpful for:
- Difficulties with emotional regulation and impulsivity
- Relationships that feel unstable or confusing
- A fragile or shifting sense of self
- Patterns rooted in early attachment difficulties
- Feeling frequently misunderstood or misreading others
We will discuss together whether MBT, or elements of it, would suit your needs and goals.
