Mentalizing is the process by which we make sense of each other and ourselves, implicitly and explicitly. It is a profoundly social construct, describing how we attend to the mental states of those we are with, physically or... [ view full abstract ]
Mentalizing is the process by which we make sense of each other and ourselves, implicitly and explicitly. It is a profoundly social construct, describing how we attend to the mental states of those we are with, physically or psychologically. ( Bateman & Fonagy )
Why MBT and Psychosis?
Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT) draws upon attachment theory in understanding how early life experiences can impact on our ability to mentalize. In BANES, we have become interested in how MBT and attachment theory can help us understand and work with the individual's attachment strategy in approaching distressing and isolating psychotic experiences. We wanted to find ways of working at each individuals pace while also gently challenging insecure attachment strategies such as ‘avoidance’.
Why Art Therapy?
In art therapy the shifts between implicit and explicit thinking are integral to the process of art making, looking together and talking. We argue that Art Therapy and Mentalizing practices combined can offer an accessible and practical structure within which to build up trust and mentalizing practice. This way we can begin to help individuals take the risk of expressing and understanding themselves better and feeling more easily understood by others.
What's happening in BANES?
A multidisciplinary group of mental health clinicians have been developing Art & MBT Courses to provide psychoeducation and mentalizing practice within the Early Intervention Psychosis and Recovery Services. We adapted the MBT introductory course adding art making to teach and share our understanding of mentalizing; what gets in the way of mentalizing; basic emotions; attachment and psychosis.
Workshop
This workshop will show short films made by service users reflecting on their experiences of the courses and lead you through a psychoeducational session which will include projected images, a warm up drawing exercise, artwork and discussion.
We will provide art materials and equipment.
Art therapy , Early intervention , Other group therapies
