Mentalizing Promoting Therapy (MBT)

Mentalizing Promoting Therapy (MBT) is designed for the treatment of clients who find it difficult to deal with intimate relationships or unsafe situations. They react with tantrums, loss of control, substance use, self-harm and the like. They can lose the ability to imagine motives behind the behaviors and expressions of others and themselves. This happens under stress and in relationships with others. It can lead to aggression, panic, dissociation, substance abuse, self-harm and suicidality, which in turn causes a high burden of suffering for the person concerned and those around them. The NPI offers various forms of Mentalization Promoting Therapy. Increasing in the degree of intensity, these are: MBT Ambulatory and MBT Intensive.

Purpose
The goal of MBT is that you discover how you think about yourself and others, what you feel about it and how that determines your reactions to others. Of course, this also reduces self-destructive behavior, improves social functioning and reduces dependence on admissions. This is supplemented with your own treatment goals.

Duration, frequency and form
MBT Ambulatory
The therapy consists of 1.5 hours per week of group psychotherapy and 45 minutes of individual therapy, if necessary with a medication contact. The intensive phase of treatment (group therapy and individual therapy) lasts a maximum of 12 months. After that, there is a recovery phase that is tailor-made.
MBT Intensive
The therapy consists of 1.5 hours of group psychotherapy twice a week, 45 minutes of individual therapy, once every two weeks structuring counseling sessions if necessary with a medication contact. There is also the possibility to follow modules. The intensive phase of treatment (group therapy and individual therapy) lasts a maximum of 12 months. After that, there is a recovery phase that is tailor-made.

Method
All therapy components work from the mentalizing model. The ability to mentalize can still be developed to a significant extent later in life under the right therapeutic conditions, as a result of which the aforementioned symptoms and behaviors will decrease significantly.

In order to promote the mentalizing abilities, practitioners focus from a non-knowing and equal attitude on what is going on in the here and now between client and care provider, whereby work is done in the therapeutic relationship.

Factsheets
MBT Ambulant Amsterdam
MBT Ambulant Intensief
MBT Ambulant Amersfoort
MBT Introductiecursus

Proven effective
The effectiveness of MBT has been proven by the following scientific studies:

• Jørgensen C.R., Freund C., Boye R., Jordet H., Andersen D., Kjölbye M. Outcome of mentalization-based and supportive psychotherapy in patients with borderline personality disorder: a randomized trial. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 2013; 127(4):305-317. Link to the article.
• Bateman A, Fonagy P. Randomized controlled trial of outpatient mentalization-based treatment versus structured clinical management for borderline personality disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2009 Dec; 166(12):1355-1364. Link to the article.
• Bateman A, Fonagy P. 8-year follow-up of patients treated for borderline personality disorder: mentalization-based treatment versus treatment as usual. Am J Psychiatry. 2008 May; 165(5):631-638. Link to the article.