11th July 2013
How we stop non-mentalizing may take many forms, but the principle is that once we have spotted non-mentalizing we don't let it run on and on.
This is a rather Teleological approach - to "kick start mentalizing", and in relation to this Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy have referred to the "mentalizing hand"... (dramatic "Stop! Stop!" interventions such as you can see at Simmering Down), but obviously such dramatic interventions are only deployed if gentler attempts have not succeeded.
Here is a rather gentler approach to terminating non-mentalizing, that leads into efforts to start to Notice and Name a common pathway for mentalizing to break down in this family:
Here is a response in a situation of higher Affect. For a more dramatic version of this see Simmering Down.
Other techniques that may fulfil this role include: the Therapist's use of Self, Circular interviewing or Careful and concerned CURIOSITY.
Mentalizing theory presumes that non-mentalizing interactions are unlikely to produce significant changes in family interactions, so simply allowing these interactions to occur is unlikely to be therapeutic.
Once the therapist has:
This is a rather Teleological approach - to "kick start mentalizing", and in relation to this Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy have referred to the "mentalizing hand"... (dramatic "Stop! Stop!" interventions such as you can see at Simmering Down), but obviously such dramatic interventions are only deployed if gentler attempts have not succeeded.
Here is a rather gentler approach to terminating non-mentalizing, that leads into efforts to start to Notice and Name a common pathway for mentalizing to break down in this family:
Here is a response in a situation of higher Affect. For a more dramatic version of this see Simmering Down.
Other techniques that may fulfil this role include: the Therapist's use of Self, Circular interviewing or Careful and concerned CURIOSITY.
Why terminate non-mentalizing?
Mentalizing theory presumes that non-mentalizing interactions are unlikely to produce significant changes in family interactions, so simply allowing these interactions to occur is unlikely to be therapeutic.
Once the therapist has:
- A clear idea of the nature of the core mentalizing problems
- A good example of such an interaction to work with
- Intervenes and shifts attention away from "preferred non-mentalizing narratives" (or "Fillers" for short)
- The practical application of this intervening is explained in greater depth in the Mentalizing Loop.
- The overarching aim is to highlight the missing perspective for each person in the family that leads to the behaviour of others not being fully understood. It is the therapist’s task is to help create new and different perspectives.