MBT Training Steps
The training programme for Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) aims to equip mental health and other professionals with the necessary skills and qualifications to implement MBT in the treatment of personality disorder. Individuals can be trained to a basic or practitioner level. There are currently three components to training in MBT.
1. MBT Basic Course
Attendance at an Anna Freud Basic Training course or Anna Freud accredited basic training course is required to progress onto other components of the MBT training programme. Anna Freud cannot assess the adequacy of trainings, skills workshops, seminars, and educational events offered by other organisations or individuals unless they are held in conjunction with Anna Freud. Anna Freud therefore does not accept attendance at other training events as evidence for progression to the other components of training. They do not form part of the formal training programme to become a recognised practitioner in MBT.
2. Supervision
Following attendance at the three-day basic course, clinicians can participate in supervision to embed their newly acquired mentalizing skills whilst using them in everyday work. Participants should receive supervision from an approved MBT Supervisor, a list of Anna Freud approved supervisors can be found here.
3. MBT Practitioner Course
Once mentalizing skills are embedded in daily practice and clinicians have received ongoing supervision, clinicians can attend the MBT certificate course for practitioner level training. This programme focuses on MBT for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but training programmes are now available for MBT for antisocial personality disorder, MBT for families, and MBT for adolescents.
As a member of the Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) team you are eligible to work towards becoming a certified MBT Practitioner. This pack aims to summarise this process and support you towards submitting the evidence required.
Quality Assurance and Training Document
Organisations, service managers and clinicians who want to develop MBT services may find the following document useful.
This outlines standards for MBT services and training requirements for MBT Practitioner status, MBT Supervisor status and MBT Trainer status.