Mentalization-Based Treatment: Reflective Parenting

Prior to the MBT-Parenting: Reflective Parenting training, ensure you have a foundational understanding of mentalization. Complete the self-guided online training, “An Introduction to Mentalizing and Mentalization Based Treatments with Children, Young People and Families” (MBT CYP), accessible one month before your Reflective Parenting training begins. This six-hour training covers essential topics, including the importance of mentalizing, effective and ineffective mentalizing, and the mentalizing stance underlying Mentalization Based Treatments. Completion is crucial for maximising your Reflective Parenting training. For early access or queries, please inform us. 

After completing the online Introduction to MBT CYP training and the MBT-Reflective Parenting training you will have a sound understanding of mentalizing theory and its practice with parents utilizing the Reflective Parenting model.  You’ll have developed a range of skills in establishing an alliance and working collaboratively with parents and will have developed skills in the use of the Reflective Parenting tools; Emotional Thermometer, Professional APP, Parenting App, Two Hands and Parent Map.  We hope you will be able to bring this knowledge to your current practice, whatever setting you are working in. 

For those aspiring to fully train as an MBT-Reflective Parenting practitioner, ongoing support and consultation are crucial. Registration provides access to the manualized 8-week group approach, aiding continuous development of MBT-Reflective Parenting techniques and maintaining a mentalizing stance with parents. Recognition as an MBT-Reflective Parenting Practitioner requires consultation during the delivery of an 8-10-week Reflective Parenting Group. 

After completing the online Introduction to MBT CYP training and MBT-Reflective Parenting, if you plan on running a parenting group, you will need to sign up for consultation calls (over Zoom) and in return you will receive the manual.

Please be aware that the RP group manual and slides will only be shared once two group facilitators have signed a supervision contract to ensure model adherence whilst facilitating their first RP group. You can contact mbtcyp@annafreud.org for further information on supervision fees. The group manual and group slides will not be made available to RP practitioners working with individual parents. We do, however, share a free resource pack covering the psycho-educative RP mentalizing tools for professionals working with individual parents which every delegate will receive following the training.

The model of consultation and pathway to registration as a Reflective Parenting Group practitioner are as follows:

• Only trained Reflective Parenting practitioners who run groups can become registered RP practitioners once they have received supervision whilst facilitating their first RP group. There is no registration pathway for RP practitioners working with individual parents.

• State your intention to run a group and decide with your line manager who will co-facilitate the group with you (should there not be two trained RP facilitators in your service). It is recommended that you start with a group of parents with children aged 4-13y with mild to moderate behavioural difficulties.

• Arrange with one of the RP trainers and/or the Reflective Parenting clinical lead (Theresa Schwaiger) to meet with a RP consultant after signing the supervision contract.

• Arrange to have a minimum of 6 meetings (5 consultations, plus one video clip review) with a RP consultant at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families.

• Once you have signed the supervision contract, you will be given access to the manual and all materials, including slides, to help you in running a RP psychoeducation group.

• You will need to ask your parents for consent to be filmed for the consultation calls – the minimum requirement is one videotaped group session. Group facilitators, working in pairs, select five clips from this one group session to send to their RP consultant for review before one of the five consultation meetings.

• Each group facilitator will complete a Reflective Parenting Wheel after each session where you will self-assess your mentalizing skills in each group – this will inform the consultations.

• You will administer a battery of measures pre and post group to the parents to evaluate outcomes from the group. This data will be shared with the RP clinical lead at the Anna Freud Centre to contribute towards gathering an evidence base. The measures will be shared with you by the RP clinical lead prior to you starting a group.

• At the end of the group and following 5 consultation sessions, your group consultant will register you as a Reflective Parenting practitioner if you have been sufficiently adherent to the model. This is not only to ensure adherence, but the consultation is to ensure good governance of the Reflective Parenting intervention.

"Very good training. Relaxed but informative, plenty of experiential learning and time for discussion. I left feeling I had learned a great deal which we are keen to put into practice." - Participant

"It was great to be able to access the training online. I was glad the days were shortened as the online work does seem to be a lot more tiring. I had a very good experience. I found the material was well presented and thought provoking." - Participant

"Very helpful framework to consider- applicable to a large number of families. Will be very useful in my work going forward, the course was engaging!" - Participant

"I hope many other people have the opportunity to go to this course. Excellent teachers that added a very good atmosphere." - Participant

For the live training segments, we'll be using Zoom. Ensure your system meets Zoom's system requirements before enrolling. Test your equipment at Zoom.us/test before the training to address any technical issues. 

For self-guided learning, materials, and homework, we'll use Blackboard Learn. It's compatible with most devices. For optimal access, use Google Chrome.