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Learning the subtle dance: The experience of therapists who deliver mentalisation‐based therapy for borderline personality disorder
Author(s) -
Gardner Kathryn Jane,
Wright Karen M.,
Elliott Alison,
Lamph Gary,
Graham Simon,
Parker Lucy,
Fonagy Peter
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.23208
Subject(s) - superordinate goals , borderline personality disorder , psychotherapist , psychology , interpretative phenomenological analysis , perspective (graphical) , therapeutic relationship , identity (music) , qualitative research , social psychology , aesthetics , social science , philosophy , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science
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.