MBT Psychological Education

Our MBT psychological education service is designed for neurodivergent children, teens, adults, carers, and partners. This programme offers a supportive and neuro-affirmative space for fostering positive relationships, enhancing emotional regulation, and promoting a deeper understanding of neurodiversity through the lens of Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT). Whether you experience communication differences, emotional dysregulation, or seek to better understand others’ perspectives, MBT psychological education provides valuable tools for self-awareness and relationship-building. Our sessions are tailored to meet the needs of each individual in a supportive, neuro-affirmative environment.

Pathway information

What is psychological education?

For neurodivergent individuals and their allies, psychoeducation serves as a crucial resource to promote understanding and skill development in a relational context. Psychological education equips individuals, families, and caregivers with the knowledge needed to understand and manage psychological challenges, empowering them to navigate life with greater awareness and control. In the context of neurodivergent populations, such as autistic individuals or individuals with ADHD, and other neurological differences, psychoeducation can be a highly relevant and therapeutic approach.

Pathway information

What is MBT psychological education?

Mentalisation-based treatment (MBT) is an approach that encourages understanding one’s own and others’ thoughts, emotions, and intentions. MBT psychological education focuses on providing individuals with knowledge and strategies to apply these principles in everyday life, empowering participants to enhance relationships, improve emotional insight, and respond more effectively to social challenges.

What are the benefits of MBT psychological education?

Fosters greater self-awareness and emotional understanding.

Strengthens communication and connection in relationships.

Develops effective emotional regulation strategies.

Increases social confidence and resilience.

To better understand their behaviours, thoughts, and emotions, building a sense of self-identity.

Our offer

Our sessions are tailored to meet the needs of each individual in a supportive, neuro-affirmative environment. We have developed two packages for MBT psychological education. These focused therapy blocks provide intensive support for enhancing emotional regulation, improving mentalisation (understanding of self and others), and building stronger, healthier relationships. Each block is designed to build on previous sessions, offering practical strategies and tools for sustained growth.

Core MBT psychological education (6 Sessions)

The 6 Core Sessions provide a foundational overview of MBT principles, focusing on improving relationships and understanding the MBT stance. It introduces emotional regulation strategies to manage stress and difficult emotions. Following this, service users, are able to access the MBT therapy or continue with advanced MBT psychological education.

Session 1: What is mentalising?
Session 2: What are the consequences of poor mentalising?
Session 3: Mentalising and neurodiversity
Session 4: Recognising emotions in self and others
Session 5: Emotional regulation and mentalising
Session 6: How to use mentalising in everyday life

Advanced MBT psychological education (6 Sessions)

The 6 advanced sessions cover the core topics, expanding on their basic overview, offering a comprehensive programme covering emotional regulation, relationship-building, and a thorough exploration of neurodiversity through the MBT lens.

Session 1: What are the poles of mentalising?
Session 2: Mentalising and attachment
Session 3: Mentalising and anxiety
Session 4: Mentalising and low mood
Session 5: Mentalising at school or work
Session 6: How to sustain mentalising

Next steps

After completing the Core MBT psychological Education, you can then proceed onto the advanced or start MBT therapy.

What are the differences between MBT psychological education and MBT therapy?

The key difference between MBT psychological education and MBT therapy lies in their structure and focus. MBT psychological education is more structured and focused on teaching individuals’ specific skills and knowledge about mentalisation, emotional regulation, and relationships. It involves a more didactic approach, where participants are guided through key principles of MBT and taught practical strategies to apply in their daily lives. The focus is on learning and training, empowering individuals to understand how to interpret their own and others’ emotions and mental states more effectively. This process is goal-oriented, with a clear agenda of teaching and practicing skills to help improve relationships and emotional regulation.

On the other hand, MBT therapy has a more flexible and client-led approach. While it also focuses on mentalisation and emotional regulation, it allows the individual to bring their own experiences and issues to the session. In therapy, the agenda is softer and led by the client’s needs and emotional state at the time, offering a space for reflection and exploration. The client can discuss what is most important or pressing to them, and the therapist supports them in applying MBT principles to these personal concerns. Rather than being structured like an educational program, therapy provides a more open-ended, supportive environment for personal growth and insight.

MBT Comparison Table

Aspect MBT psychological education MBT therapy

Focus Structured learning and skill-building Client-led exploration of personal issues

Approach Didactic and goal-oriented Flexible and adaptive to the client’s needs

Agenda Clear agenda focused on teaching MBT skills Softer agenda, led by what the client wants to discuss

Format Educational, with specific lessons and tools Therapeutic, with room for reflection and discussion

Client role Active learner, practicing skills in a structured manner Participant who brings their personal concerns

Therapist role Instructor or guide, teaching key concepts Supportive therapist, offering guidance and reflection

Outcomes Knowledge and skill development in mentalisation and emotional regulation Emotional insight, personal growth, and improved relationships

Structure Fixed number of sessions with set goals More open-ended, client determines session focus

Example Learning how to recognise and understand emotions in self and others Exploring personal emotional struggles and applying MBT to them

Aspect	MBT psychological education	MBT therapy
Focus	Structured learning and skill-building	Client-led exploration of personal issues
Approach	Didactic and goal-oriented	Flexible and adaptive to the client’s needs
Agenda	Clear agenda focused on teaching MBT skills	Softer agenda, led by what the client wants to discuss
Format	Educational, with specific lessons and tools	Therapeutic, with room for reflection and discussion
Client role	Active learner, practicing skills in a structured manner	Participant who brings their personal concerns
Therapist role	Instructor or guide, teaching key concepts	Supportive therapist, offering guidance and reflection
Outcomes	Knowledge and skill development in mentalisation and emotional regulation	Emotional insight, personal growth, and improved relationships
Structure	Fixed number of sessions with set goals	More open-ended, client determines session focus
Example	Learning how to recognise and understand emotions in self and others	Exploring personal emotional struggles and applying MBT to them

MBT psychological education FAQs

Who can benefit?

Our MBT psychological education service is available to adults, children, carers, and partners looking to enhance emotional well-being, strengthen relationships, and better understand neurodiversity. Whether navigating communication differences, seeking tools for emotional regulation, or supporting a neurodivergent loved one, this programme offers practical guidance for personal growth and meaningful connections in a neuro-affirmative way.

Logistics

The MBT psychological education packages are delivered remotely, over Microsoft Teams. Please note that you will need a device with a strong Wi-Fi connection, and a working camera and microphone to participate.

Pre-requisites

The 6 Core MBT psychological education sessions are a prerequisite to the 6 advanced psychoeducation sessions and accessing MBT therapy. There are no prerequisites for the CORE MBT package following a successful referral into our service.

Fees

The fee for MBT psychological education is £420 (6-sessions) or £840 (12-sessions). If you would like to see our full-service price list, please refer to our fees and payment page.

MBT therapy

From £420

Per 6 sessions
Per client

020 4579 6380

MBT Psychological Education

What is psychological education?

What is MBT psychological education?

What are the benefits of MBT psychological education?

Fosters greater self-awareness and emotional understanding.

Strengthens communication and connection in relationships.

Develops effective emotional regulation strategies.

Increases social confidence and resilience.

To better understand their behaviours, thoughts, and emotions, building a sense of self-identity.

Our offer

Core MBT psychological education (6 Sessions)

Advanced MBT psychological education (6 Sessions)

Next steps

What are the differences between MBT psychological education and MBT therapy?

MBT psychological education FAQs

MBT therapy

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