Mentalizing in Mental Health Practice: A Comprehensive Handbook

Edited by renowned expert Anthony W. Bateman, the new edition of the Handbook of Mentalizing in Mental Health Practice marks a significant milestone in the development of mentalization-based treatment (MBT). This cutting-edge resource reflects the vibrant growth of the field, showcasing the expanding range of mental disorders that can be effectively addressed using MBT, including psychosis.

Expanding Contexts and Applications

The handbook demonstrates the versatility of MBT, which has been successfully applied in various contexts, including:

• Outpatient and community settings
• Working with children, adolescents, couples, and families
• Social contexts such as schools and prisons

This broadened scope underscores the framework’s significance in understanding the social context of mental health.

Key Concepts and Approaches

The handbook clearly articulates key concepts, themes, and approaches, including:

• Mentalizing as a transdiagnostic concept, applicable to various mental health conditions, such as trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, depression, substance use disorder, and psychosis
• MBT skills acquisition and techniques for introducing mentalizing into psychotherapy
• The role of mentalizing in understanding team dynamics, systems, and services, and its impact on clinical care and service delivery

Chapters focused on mentalizing in teams and wider systems offer practical guidance on reducing negative impacts and promoting reliable pathways to treatment.

Empirical Research and Clinical Applications

The handbook incorporates empirical research on the developmental origins of mentalizing, highlighting its potential to improve patient outcomes. Improved mentalizing has been shown to:

• Increase resilience to adversity, reducing relapse risk
• Enhance therapeutic outcomes

Proven techniques for promoting resilience and trust are discussed in depth, providing clinicians with valuable insights for integrating mentalizing into their practice.

Interdisciplinary Approach

The handbook draws on a range of research strands, including neurobiology, child development, and adult psychopathology, to provide a comprehensive understanding of mentalizing and its applications.

Authoritative, comprehensive, and cutting-edge, the Handbook of Mentalizing in Mental Health Practice is an indispensable resource for clinicians and trainees seeking to learn about and incorporate MBT into their therapeutic repertoire.