ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Mentalization based treatment

Mentalization based treatment (MBT) is a type of therapy that helps people understand and talk about their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It's like going to the doctor to talk about how you feel physically, but instead of your body, it's about your thoughts and feelings!

In MBT, the therapist teaches you how to think about your own thoughts and feelings, and how to better understand the thoughts and feelings of others too. It's like learning a new language, so that you can communicate better with yourself and other people.

You might play games or do activities with your therapist to help you learn this new language, and they might ask you lots of questions to help you look closer at your thoughts and feelings. This will help you develop an awareness of what you're thinking and feeling in different situations.

The goal of MBT is to help you develop healthy relationships with other people, and to be able to manage your feelings in a healthy way. You'll learn how to communicate better with others, have more empathy and better connections with those around you.

MBT also helps you build resilience, so that you are better able to cope with stressful or difficult situations. You’ll learn coping strategies, to notice when things start to feel difficult and reach out for support.

It's really important to remember that MBT isn't a magic cure, and it can take time and effort to learn this new language and develop healthier ways of thinking and communicating. But with practice and persistence, it can help you feel more in control and more connected to those around you.