Trauma-Focused Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT-TF)
Develop the skills to support adults with personality disorder, complex trauma and CPTSD with Trauma-Focused Mentalization-Based Treatment.
About this training
Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) is an evidence-based treatment for adults with borderline and antisocial personality disorder. It helps people understand their own thoughts, feelings and behaviour, as well as those of other people. MBT can also help with difficulties in relationships and emotion regulation.
Many people with personality disorder have experienced significant developmental trauma. A substantial proportion also meet the criteria for complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD).
MBT has been adapted to address the impact of trauma in people with personality disorder. This approach can be integrated into standard MBT or used as a standalone treatment for people with symptoms of CPTSD.
This training introduces Mentalization-Based Treatment: Trauma-Focused (MBT-TF) as a standalone treatment. MBT-TF is a phased approach that is mainly delivered in a group setting.
Intervention structure
The first phase consists of a series of individual sessions. These sessions cover assessment and formulation, managing anxiety and dissociation, and identifying trauma-related experiences.
Clients then join a group with other people who have CPTSD. Together, they explore and process their experiences of trauma. The group follows a structured programme and ends with a final phase focused on completing treatment and looking to the future.
The training covers the knowledge and skills needed to deliver each phase of MBT-TF.
Aims of this training
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
understand trauma from a mentalizing perspective
develop a clinical formulation linking trauma experiences with mentalizing difficulties
prepare clients with CPTSD to take part in an MBT-TF group
deliver structured MBT-TF interventions in a group setting
recognise and respond to the clinical processes involved in ending a treatment group
Who is this training for?
This training is suitable for clinicians who:
have completed MBT Basic training
have experience facilitating groups
can assess and manage clinical risk
We would still welcome bookings from clinicians who do not yet meet all of these criteria. If there is sufficient interest, we will provide an additional introductory MBT Basic training day (day 1) to help ensure all participants are ready to take part.
Please see our booking process section below for more information.
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Professor Anthony W. Bateman
Professor Anthony W. Bateman consults with Anna Freud on MBT training. He is a Visiting Professor at University College London.
Alongside Peter Fonagy, he developed MBT for borderline personality disorder and co-authored the manual on Structured Clinical Management of Personality Disorder for mental health professionals.
His contributions to the field have been widely recognised, including the Senior Scientist Award from the British and Irish Group for the Study of Personality Disorder (2012), the BPDRC Award for Achievement in the Field of Severe Personality Disorders (2015, USA), and the Gunderson Distinguished Career Contribution Award from the International Society for the Study of Personality Disorder (2023).
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Option 1: Two-day MBT-TF training
For clinicians who:
Have completed MBT Basic training
have experience facilitating groups
can assess and manage clinical risk
Option 2: Three-day MBT-TF training
For clinicians who have not yet completed MBT training, or would benefit from a refresher. This option includes:
One-day introductory MBT Basic training
Two-day MBT-TF Training
Please select the option most appropriate to your experience when registering.
All bookings must be made online; we do not accept phone reservations.
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This is a knowledge- and skills-based course in Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) for adults. It provides participants with a solid conceptual understanding of mentalizing, its relevance to clinical problems associated with EUPD, BPD, ASPD, complex trauma and other mental health difficulties, alongside the clinical skills required to deliver MBT to a defined standard of competency.
MBT is an evidence-based therapy for BPD and offers a stepped training pathway, progressing from basic training to practitioner and supervisor levels.
This MBT Basic equivalent training introduces clinicians to a streamlined, common-sense treatment approach to treating these patients: mentalization based treatment for pathological narcissism, or MBT-N. The training reviews the deficits in mentalizing associated with pathological narcissism, describes how to give the diagnosis of narcissism to patients, outlines how to structure therapy sessions, and offers step-by-step techniques about “what to do and say” when sitting with these patients.
MBT has been adapted for the treatment of people with antisocial personality disorder (MBT-ASPD). This MBT Basic equivalent training will be useful for participants wishing to gain insights into ASPD as a mentalizing disorder and acquire practical clinical skills for effective application in healthcare and criminal justice settings. Join us to articulate ASPD as a mentalizing disorder, discuss developmental insights, clinically formulate ASPD clients, and deliver basic mentalizing interventions.
The MBT Certificate course - practitioner level one-month course is made up of two days of live, instructor-led content (10am-4pm, with breaks) and 21 hours of self-guided content. You will also be required to do various tasks before, in-between and after the live, instructor-led sessions. This may require you to demonstrate your own use of basic MBT interventions via video/audio and other role play exercises.
The Families and Carers Training and Support Programme (FACTS)
FACTS is a short course designed to support the friends and families of people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or Emerging/Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD).
Structured Clinical Management (SCM) - Basic
SCM is an evidence-based approach that enables generalist mental health practitioners to work effectively with people with borderline personality disorder.
SCM provides generalist mental staff with a coherent systematic approach to working with people with borderline personality disorder. It is based on a supportive approach with case management and advocacy support. There is an emphasis on problem-solving, effective crisis planning, medication review and assertive follow-up if appointments are missed.
The new SCM Basic Training consists of 18 hours of instructor-led content over 3 days, and 21 hours of self-guided content.
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If you are interested in this training but no dates are available, please complete this expression of interest form. Once dates become available, we will contact you with more information and a booking link.
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We are committed to making our training and events accessible and inclusive for all participants. During the booking process, you will be prompted to share any additional requirements or reasonable adjustments you may require. If you would prefer, you can also contact us directly at training@annafreud.org.
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The online platform Zoom will be used to deliver online training. Prior to booking, please ensure you meet the system requirements so you can join this training session. To test your equipment visit Zoom.us/test and follow the instructions.For self-guided learning, materials, and homework, you will receive access to the Anna Freud Learning Hub. This is compatible with most devices. For optimal access, please use Google Chrome.
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Upon booking, you will be asked to confirm that you have read and accept our terms and conditions and our privacy notice. Please read these documents before booking:
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