Mentalization-Based Treatment for Children

Transform the way children understand themselves and others. Mentalization—the ability to make sense of one’s own mind and the minds of others—is fundamental to developing emotional resilience, self-regulation, and successful relationships. Now in its second edition, this book presents mentalization-based treatment for children (MBT-C), a transdiagnostic, time-limited therapeutic approach designed to help children and their parents navigate emotional and behavioral difficulties, from anxiety and depression to interpersonal struggles. MBT-C blends psychodynamic principles, attachment theory, and empirical research on mentalization to provide practical, evidence-based strategies for clinicians. Written by an international team of pioneering clinician-researchers, this fully updated second edition guides practitioners through the entire process of MBT-C, from assessment and case formulation to therapy termination. This edition contains a promising new assessment tool, new theory and research on the interrelated aspects of trauma and culture, and groundbreaking findings from the first clinical trial of time‑limited MBT‑C for children with emotional and behavioral difficulties.

Transform the way children understand themselves and others. Mentalization—the ability to make sense of one’s own mind and the minds of others—is fundamental to developing emotional resilience, self-regulation, and successful relationships. Now in its second edition, this book presents mentalization-based treatment for children (MBT-C), a transdiagnostic, time-limited therapeutic approach designed to help children and their parents navigate emotional and behavioral difficulties, from anxiety and depression to interpersonal struggles. MBT-C blends psychodynamic principles, attachment theory, and empirical research on mentalization to provide practical, evidence-based strategies for clinicians. Written by an international team of pioneering clinician-researchers, this fully updated second edition guides practitioners through the entire process of MBT-C, from assessment and case formulation to therapy termination. This edition contains a promising new assessment tool, new theory and research on the interrelated aspects of trauma and culture, and groundbreaking findings from the first clinical trial of time‑limited MBT‑C for children with emotional and behavioral difficulties.

This book is the first comprehensive clinical introduction to using Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) with children, 5- 2 years old, who experience emotional and behavioral problems including anxiety, depression, and relational difficulties. Mentalization--based treatment (MBT) promotes clients amp rsquo ability to interpret the meaning of others amp rsquo behavior by considering their underlying mental states and intentions, as well as clients amp rsquo capacity to understand the impact of their own behaviors on others. Written by an international team of clinician--researchers who are pioneering the MBT model with children, the authors begin by exploring the significance of mentalization and then devote the core chapters to the process of conducting short-term (9-- 2 sessions) MBT for children, including problem assessment and case formulation in terms of mentalizing techniques, the therapist amp rsquo s stance, and treatment termination. The approach draws on traditional psychodynamic principles, but integrates them with findings from attachment theory, the empirical study of mentalization, and features of other evidence--based approaches. This book includes a chapter-length case illustration and an appendix that lists measures of reflective functioning in children and their parents, as well as validation articles.

This book is the first comprehensive clinical introduction to using Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) with children, 5- 2 years old, who experience emotional and behavioral problems including anxiety, depression, and relational difficulties. Mentalization--based treatment (MBT) promotes clients amp rsquo ability to interpret the meaning of others amp rsquo behavior by considering their underlying mental states and intentions, as well as clients amp rsquo capacity to understand the impact of their own behaviors on others.Written by an international team of clinician--researchers who are pioneering the MBT model with children, the authors begin by exploring the significance of mentalization and then devote the core chapters to the process of conducting short-term (9-- 2 sessions) MBT for children, including problem assessment and case formulation in terms of mentalizing techniques, the therapist amp rsquo s stance, and treatment termination. The approach draws on traditional psychodynamic principles, but integrates them with findings from attachment theory, the empirical study of mentalization, and features of other evidence--based approaches. This book includes a chapter-length case illustration and an appendix that lists measures of reflective functioning in children and their parents, as well as validation articles.