Mentalization-Based Treatment for Adolescents (MBT-A)

This training is suitable for professionals working in the field of child and family mental health.  Ideally, applicants should have a mental health qualification, for example, child psychotherapy, psychology, psychotherapy, arts therapies, family therapy, counselling, psychiatry, mental health nursing, social work and have experience of working therapeutically with children and families. The course assumes prior experience of therapeutic work with children.  If you are unsure if this training is right for you contact the training team on mbtcyp@annafreud.org who will discuss your suitability with the course training tutors. 

• To understand why adolescence is a critical period and how mentalizing theory can help us to understand the developmental needs of young people.

• To learn about the key features of MBT-A and how to apply them in your work with adolescents.

• To promote practitioner abilities in employing a mentalizing stance in work with adolescents and families.

• To develop practical skills in employing MBT-A techniques in working with adolescents to support the young person in restoring and maintaining their ability to accurately represent the minds of others as well as themselves, lessening impulsivity, and interpersonal distress.

The online platform Zoom will be used to deliver the live elements of this training.  Please ensure you meet the system requirements for Zoom before booking on to any online live courses.  Before the training, please test your equipment is working by going to Zoom.us/test and follow the instructions.

The online platform, Blackboard Learn, will be used to deliver any self-guided learning and will provide access to handouts, materials and homework.  Most laptops/ PCs/ MACs/ iPads and android devices work with Blackboard.  Blackboard is best accessed through Google Chrome.

This training will assume a working knowledge of the concept of mentalization. Prior to starting this training, you must complete the self-guided online training “An Introduction to Mentalizing and Mentalization Based Treatments with Children, Young People and Families” (MBT CYP). You will be given access to the MBT CYP training one month before the training start date of your MBT-A training. 

MBT CYP is a self-directed online training and consists of a series of short videos, presentations and activities that span six hours and can be worked through at your own pace. Topics covered include what is mentalizing and why it’s important; identifying effective and ineffective mentalizing; how mentalizing develops; its relevance in childhood, adolescence and family contexts; and will introduce the mentalizing stance which underpins mentalization-based treatments. It is essential that you complete this training otherwise you will not have the theoretical knowledge to get the most out of the MBT-A training you are scheduled to attend. If, for any reason, you require access to the training sooner than one month prior to the training start date, please let us know and we will be able to grant you access.

After completing the online Introduction to MBT CYP training and the MBT-A training you will have a sound understanding of mentalizing theory, its relevance in relationships and adolescence and its importance in practice with adolescents. You’ll have developed a range of skills in assessment and case formulation for adolescents as well as having developed skills in understanding and managing self-harm. We hope you will be able to bring this knowledge to your current practice, whatever setting you are working in. 

For those who want to be registered as an MBT-A practitioner, ongoing support and supervision will be important. This will help you to continue to develop your skills in implementing MBT-A techniques and support your ability to hold a mentalizing stance in working with adolescents. If you’d like to be recognised as an MBT-A practitioner, supervision with an MBT-A approved supervisor on two cases is essential.  

You can access individual or group supervision with an approved MBT-A Supervisor through online supervision groups with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families. Email the training team on mbtcyp@annafreud.org with the following information: your name; preferred language; and the MBT- model you would like supervision in. A member of the training team will email you back with upcoming dates, times, and fees for any current and future online supervision groups you might join.  Alternatively, you can arrange your own supervision by accessing the approved register of MBT-A supervisors:

UK

Alan Larney, alan.larney@gmail.com, Clinical Psychologist/Group Analyst, language(s): English

Daiva Barzdaitiene, daivab150@gmail.com, Consultant Psychiatrist in General Psychiatry (eating disorders), language(s): English

Gerry Byrne, byrnegerry@mac.com, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist language(s): English

Fiona Duffy, fiona.duffy@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English

Dr Hannah Kate Williams, hannah.williams@swlstg.nhs.uk, Psychiatrist and Medical Psychotherapist, language(s): English

Holly Dwyer Hall, dwyerhall@btinternet.com, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, language(s): English

Ioanna Vrouva, i.vrouva@ucl.ac.uk, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English

Judith Thorp, judith.thorp@blueyonder.co.uk, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, language(s): English

Kim Wyatt-Brooks, dr.kwbrooks@gmail.com, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English

Lisa Shaverin, lisa.shaverin@icloud.com, Therapist, language(s): English

Louise Duffy, louise.duffy@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English

Lucy Robertson-Ritchie, lucy.robertson-ritchie@nelft.nhs.uk, Systemic Family Therapist, language(s): English

Lynne Conway, lynne.conway@ggc.scot.nhs.uk, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, language(s): English

Sarah Harmon, sarah.harmon@nhs.net, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English, French

Sheila Redfern, sheila.redfernpsychology@gmail.com, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English

Skirma Povilenaite, skirma.povilenaite@nelft.nhs.uk, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, language(s): English

Zoe Given-Wilson, zoe.given-wilson@nelft.nhs.uk, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English

Austria

Kathrin Sevecke, kathrin.sevecke@tirol-kliniken.at, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, language(s): Austrian, German

Bulgaria

Martin Kolev, martin.koleff@gmail.com, Psychotherapist, language(s): Bulgarian

Canada

Karin Ensink, karin.Ensink@psy.ulaval.ca, Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Psychology, language(s): English, French

Mark Nicoll, mark.Nicoll@albertahealthservices.ca, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English

Chile

Paula Lobos Sucarrat, paulalobs@gmail.com, Psychologist, language(s): Spanish

France

Mario Speranza, msperanza@ch-versailles.fr, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, language(s): French, English Germany

Svenja Taubner, svenja.taubner@med.uni-heidelberg.de, Professor for Psychosocial Prevention, Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst, language(s): Austrian, German

Carolina Bindt, bindt@uke.de, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, Adult Psychoanalyst (DPG), language(s): German

Miriam Haagen, praxis@miriam-haagen.de, Psychotherapist for Children, Adolescents and Adults, Family Therapist, language(s): German

Marie-Luise Althoff, marie-luisealthoff@web.de, Psychoanalyst, Supervisor and Lecturer, language(s): German

Norway

Cilje Sunde Rolfsjord, rolfsjord@gmail.com, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English, Norwegian

Fredrik Cappelen, cappelen@gmail.com, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English, Swedish, Norwegian

Jennie Richard, garderup@hotmail.com, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English, Norwegian, Swedish

Line Indrevoll Stänicke, line.stanicke@gmail.com, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English, Norwegian

Line Brotnow, line.brotnow@gmail.com, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English, Norwegian

The Netherlands

Eva Raedts, ejomraedts@hotmail.com, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): Dutch

Haiko Jessurun, jhjessurun@tweemc.nl, Clinical Psychologist/Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, language(s): Dutch

Marianne Noten-Collet, m.collet@pantea.nl, Psychotherapist, Healthcare Psychologist, Family Therapist, Youth Therapist, language(s): Dutch

Mary Elfring, mary.elfring@upcmail.nl, Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist and Family Therapist and Supervisor, language(s): Dutch

Nicole Muller, nic_0408@hotmail.com, Psychotherapist and Family Therapist, language(s): Dutch, English

Noij Yvonne, y.noij@mbttraining.nl, Psychotherapist, language(s): Dutch

Panama

Louise Alkabes de Esquenazi, louise.esquenazi@gmail.com, Psychologist, language(s): Spanish

Spain

Celia Garcia de la Iglesia, cgarcia@fundacioorienta.com, Child Psychiatrist, language(s): Spanish, Catalan

Esther Urpinas Vila, eurpinas@fundacioorienta.com, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): Spanish, Catalan 

Israel Bobadilla González, ibobadilla@fundacioorienta.com, Child and Adult Psychiatrist, language(s): English, Spanish, Catalan 

Jordi Borras Galindo, jborras@fundacioorienta.com, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): Spanish, Catalan 

José Andrés Sánchez Pérez, sanchezperezjoseandres@gmail.com, www.mentescreativas.es, Child and Adult Psychiatrist, language(s): Spanish 

Maria Jesús Sais Badia, mjsais@fundacioorienta.com, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): Spanish, Catalan 

Mark Dangerfield, mdangerfield@fvb.cat, Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist and Psychoanalyst, language(s): English, Spanish 

Miguel Enrique Cárdenas Rodriguez, mcardenas@fundacioorienta.com, Child Psychiatrist, language(s): English, Spanish, Catalan 

Norka Malberg, nmalberg@gmail.com, Psychologist and Psychoanalyst, language(s): English, Spanish

Rubén Arevalo, rarevalo@fundacioorienta.com, Child Psychiatrist, language(s): Spanish, Catalan 

Sweden

Maria Wiwe, mariawiwe@gmail.com, Psychologist/Psychotherapist, language(s): Swedish

Switzerland

Martin Debbane, martin.debbane@unige.ch, Psychologist, language(s): French, English

Turkey

Ceyda Dedeoglu, ceydadedeoglu@gmail.com, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): Turkish

USA

Anna Elisabeth Middleton, elisabeth@emiddletonphd.com, Psychologist, language(s): English

Carl Fleisher, cfleisher@partners.org, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, language(s): English

Carla Sharp, csharp2@central.uh.edu, Child Psychologist, language(s): English

Jennifer Weaver, jennifer@weaverandassociates.net, Clinical Psychologist, language(s): English

After you have had some experience in delivering MBT-A along with supervision with an MBT-A approved supervisor, you might be interested in having your efforts recognised and joining a growing group of professionals internationally who have achieved MBT-A practitioner status.  Below are the requirements for achieving MBT-A Practitioner status.

• Have a pre-existing professional qualification, e.g. as a counsellor, psychologist, social worker, family therapist, play therapist, arts therapist, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist working with children.

• Have read the MBT-A manual (book) and training handouts and attended an approved MBT-A introductory training (3 days or equivalent).

• Have had at least 6 individuals (or 10 group) supervisions on a minimum of two MBT-A cases . Supervision should be with someone from the list of approved MBT-A supervisors. At least one case needs to be video/audio recorded and supervision offered based on those recordings. If the supervisions are in group, the practitioner's own work needs to be presented at least 6 times.

• With the supervisor's written agreement, to forward a minimum of one tape of an MBT-A session together with a patient case formulation letter to the young person and reflective commentary on the session, to be reviewed by an MBT-A supervisor (not the same person who supervised cases) and approved as demonstrating core elements of mentalizing stance and mentalizing practice for MBT-A. Please see patient case formulation letter and reflective commentary submission guidelines here. If not approved, the reviewer will provide written feedback on areas for further development and provide recommendations re: minimum supervised practice needed before the practitioner can re-submit.

Once approved, MBT-A practitioner names will be listed on the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families list of registered MBT-A practitioners. Once you reach MBT-A practitioner status you are encouraged to continue with CPD, to maintain and promote standards. You are encouraged to carry an MBT-A caseload (at least 2 cases per year), and should receive regular supervision or join a peer-supervision group with other MBT-A practitioners, and have the opportunity to present their own work to this group at least three times per year. Practitioners are also encouraged to attend conferences, courses and read relevant papers that will help to develop their MBT-A practice.

Please see here to download a form to complete for practitioner status.  After receiving and reviewing your form, you will be issued with a certificate and your name added to the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families list of registered MBT-A practitioners.

After becoming an MBT-CYP Practitioner in MBT-A, MBT-C or MBT-F and gaining further experience in using MBT-CYP with children and parents, you might be interested in developing skills in supervising others. There are two pathways in becoming a registered MBT-CYP Supervisor.

Pathway One

For those with no previous experience in supervising therapists working with children, adolescents or families.

• Be an approved MBT-CYP practitioner with one year’s experience of using MBT-CYP (MBT-A, MBT-C, or MBT-F)

• Have attended an approved MBT CYP supervisor training (2 days or equivalent either face-to-face or online)

• Have had at least 6 individual (or 10 group) supervisions on a minimum of two MBT-CYP supervisions. Supervision should be with someone from the list of approved MBT-CYP supervisors. If the supervisions are in group, the supervisor's own work needs to be presented at least 6 times

• With the supervisor's written agreement, to forward a minimum of one tape of an MBT-CYP supervision, together with a brief reflective commentary on the supervision, to be reviewed by an MBT-CYP supervisor (not the same person who supervised cases) and have been approved as reaching the appropriate standard for MBT-CYP supervision. 

  The brief for reflective commentary submission guidelines will be uploaded here very soon

  . If not approved, the reviewer will provide written feedback on areas for further development and provide recommendations re: minimum action needed before the applicant supervisee can re-submit

• Once approved, MBT-CYP supervisors are encouraged, in addition to the CPD requirements set out above, to join a peer-supervision group with other supervisors and have the opportunity to present their own clinical work, and work as a supervisor to this group, at least three times per year. We also encourage attendance at other MBT trainings.

Pathway Two

For those with 3 years or more previous experience in supervising therapeutic practice with children, adolescents, and families.

• Be an approved MBT-CYP practitioner with one year’s experience of using MBT-CYP (MBT-A, MBT-C, or MBT-F)

• Have attended an approved MBT CYP supervisor training (2 days or equivalent either face-to-face or online)

• Forward a minimum of one tape of an MBT-CYP supervision, together with a brief reflective commentary on the supervision, to be reviewed by an MBT-CYP supervisor and have been approved as reaching the appropriate standard for MBT-CYP supervision. The brief for reflective commentary submission guidelines will be uploaded here very soon. If not approved, the reviewer will provide written feedback on areas for further development and provide recommendations re: minimum action needed before the applicant supervisee can re-submit

• Once approved, MBT-CYP supervisors are encouraged, in addition to the CPD requirements set out above, to join a peer-supervision group with other supervisors and have the opportunity to present their own work and work as a supervisor to this group at least three times per year. We also encourage attendance at other MBT trainings.

This training can be delivered live online or face-to-face. Dates and times will vary according to format so please carefully check the dates and times for individual courses before booking.

Before signing up for a live online training, be sure to check the system requirements.

Please follow this link to view our upcoming trainings.

If you’d like to commission this training for your team or organisation please complete our Commissioner Enquiry Form.