Mentalizing is the imaginative act of making sense of the actions of oneself and others on the basis of intentional mental states such as desires, feelings and beliefs. Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) is an evidence-based framework derived from attachment and object-relations theories that promotes curiosity about oneself and others in order to increase emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. Mentalizing helps us slow down and explicitly examine and give name to what is happening in any given moment. This presentation discusses how to use mentalizing in order to build trust, help clarify confusing interpersonal interactions and start from a place of increased awareness and understanding. It also examines the basic tenets of MBT and how to recognize “nonmentalizing,” explore techniques and interventions to restore mentalization, and discusses how and why mentalizing is at the heart of AMBIT, a system of care designed to support teams who care for particularly complex clients who struggle with trust and understanding that “help” can be helpful.
