Mentalization-Based Treatment

In Person Seminar

Smith College Campus

Northampton, MA 01060

Instructor: Joan Lesser, Ph.D, LICSW

Level: Intermediate

CEs: 6

Review CE accreditation and approvals for this course on tab above.

This course will present mentalization-based treatment (MBT), a recent psychoanalytic extension of attachment theory and research. MBT places strong emphasis on the relationship between attachment and mentalizing situated within the broader developmental gene-environment context. The multidimensional nature of mentalization will be addressed with attention to assessment of mentalizing, automatic (implicit) versus controlled (explicit) mentalizing and cognitive versus affective mentalizing. Additionally, the course will discuss mentalization and culture and address MBT principles used in the treatment of relational trauma. Finally, there will be a discussion and application of therapeutic techniques, illustrated with case examples. Course participants will be invited to share their own disguised case material, as appropriate.