Learning the subtle dance: The experience of therapists who deliver mentalisation-based therapy for borderline personality disorder.

Gardner, Kathryn Jane; Wright, Karen M.; Elliott, Alison; Lamph, Gary; Graham, Simon; Parker, Lucy; Fonagy, Peter

Abstract

Objectives
This study aimed to understand therapists' lived experiences of delivering mentalisation-based therapy (MBT), including their experiences of service user change.

Method
One-to-one semi-structured interviews or focus groups were conducted with 14 MBT therapists and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).

Results
Four superordinate themes were identified: (1) experiencing the challenges and complexities of being with service users during MBT; (2) being on a journey of discovery and change; (3) being an MBT therapist: a new way of working and developing a new therapeutic identity; and (4) being a therapist in the group: seeing it all come together.

Conclusion
Our findings highlight the complexity, challenges and individualised experience of working therapeutically with service users with a diagnosis of BPD. The study provides a perspective of service use change that is enriched by idiosyncrasies within the therapeutic encounter. We conclude with a consideration of implications for MBT research and clinical practice.

Citation

Gardner, K. J., Wright, K. M., Elliott, A., Lamph, G., Graham, S., Parker, L., & Fonagy, P. (2022). Learning the subtle dance: The experience of therapists who deliver mentalisation-based therapy for borderline personality disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 105-121. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23208

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 15, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jul 12, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Deposit Date: Feb 26, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 26, 2024
• Journal: Journal of clinical psychology
• Print ISSN: 0021-9762
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 78
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 105-121
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23208
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/756601
• Related Public URLs: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10129662/; https://clok.uclan.ac.uk/38323/
• PMID: 34252977