Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT)

One of the most powerful tools I use when working with complex trauma is Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT)—a way of understanding how our minds operate and how we perceive the minds of others. When trauma occurs, especially in childhood, it can fracture our sense of self and disrupt our ability to connect with those around us. We may feel confused, overwhelmed, or perpetually “on guard,” never quite sure how to navigate our inner world or interpret the intentions of others.

MBT helps rebuild those bridges, guiding you to observe your thoughts, feelings, and reactions with greater clarity. It’s not just an intellectual exercise—it’s about learning to feel your emotions in real time, identify where they come from, and sense how they shape your relationships. By attuning more deeply to yourself and others, you can begin to move beyond survival-mode coping strategies that might be keeping you stuck.

Through our work together, you’ll learn to:

• Recognize and Regulate Emotions
  Understand where your feelings come from and how to manage them, instead of being swept away.
• Build Fulfilling Relationships
  Gain insight into other people’s perspectives and intentions, creating a foundation for healthier connections.
• Develop Self-Awareness
  Become attuned to your own patterns—particularly those rooted in childhood survival needs.
• Respond with Resilience
  Face stressors (internal or external) with greater composure and a sense of control.

In our therapeutic relationship, we create a safe space where you can practice mentalization. I’m here with genuine curiosity and empathy, helping you piece together your past experiences and the beliefs or emotions that flow from them. This is especially vital for people with complex trauma, where old coping methods—though once life-saving—might now be limiting your growth.

Traumatic experiences often lead us to develop protective strategies that become ingrained over time. These may have kept you safe during childhood or in difficult life circumstances, but in your present reality, they can morph into barriers—preventing you from truly feeling and connecting. By improving your mentalizing skills, you can gently untangle yourself from these old patterns and replace them with healthier ways of relating—to yourself and to others.

I integrate MBT with other therapeutic approaches, including attachment-focused therapy, dream analysis, and emotional processing techniques, so that your path to healing feels comprehensive and uniquely tailored to your history, personality, and goals. Our sessions might also involve exploring how early attachment patterns, family dynamics, or unresolved traumas inform your current challenges—and dreams can often offer profound insight into these layers.

You might benefit from a mentalization-based approach if you:

• Feel overwhelmed by intense or confusing emotions.
• Struggle to trust others or interpret their actions accurately.
• Notice recurring relationship difficulties or a sense of disconnection.
• Experience a fragmented sense of self, not fully understanding who you are or why you feel as you do.
• Want to break free from trauma-related behaviors or emotional patterns.

I approach this work with warmth, authenticity, and a genuine commitment to your well-being. Together, we’ll proceed at a pace that respects your boundaries and honors your experiences. My role is to offer the expertise, empathy, and slightly eccentric spark that can help you discover a deeper self-awareness—one that ultimately empowers you to transform pain into growth and reclaim a sense of safety and wholeness.

If this resonates with you, reach out and let’s discuss how mentalization-based therapy (integrated with other modalities) might support your journey. You deserve a life that feels more connected, intentional, and true to who you are.