1st Edition

Mentalizing in Arts Therapies

By Marianne Verfaille Copyright 2016
    250 Pages
    by Routledge

    250 Pages
    by Routledge

    This book describes the use of therapeutic art, music, and dance interventions against a background of mentalization, thus forging a link between arts therapies and mentalization-based treatment. This book has its roots in the theory of Mentalization Based Treatment by Antony Bateman and Peter Fonagy, and combines the broad experience of many art therapists with art, music and dance/movement therapy in psychiatric settings in the treatment of adults and adolescents both individually and in groups, as well as children with disorganised attachment. As a treatment concept, mentalization is quite straightforward because mentalizing is a typically human ability. As Bateman and Fonagy (2012) say: "Without mentalizing there can be no robust sense of self, no constructive social interaction, no mutuality in relationships, and no sense of personal security". On the other hand, it is not so simple to fully grasp the significance of mentalization. Mentalization-based therapy is a specific type of psychotherapy designed to help people reflect on their own thoughts and feelings and differentiate them from the perspectives of others.

    Foreword , Introduction , Theory , What is mentalizing? , We learn from the outside in, through the mind of another person , First we learn the how, and later we learn the what , Attachment , Terms , “Techniques” , Practice , Mentalizing in arts therapies , The art therapist and the mentalizing stance , A case history: Ellen in art and music therapy , Thumbnail sketches using art as reverse mirroring: the imagination of the artist touches something in the client , A case history: psychomotor therapy and dance and movement therapy , A case history: Ted’s creative process , Forms of group work that promote mentalizing

    Biography

    Marianne Verfaille