Mentalizing as a framework for integrating therapeutic exposure and relationship repair in the treatment of a patient with complex posttraumatic psychopathology.
The concept of mentalizing-attending to mental states in oneself and others-provides an integrative conceptual framework to characterize the psychotherapeutic treatment of a patient with a history of attachment trauma and a comorbid schizoaffective disorder. The authors construe mentalizing failures in childhood attachment relationships as integral to the trauma and the promotion of mentalizing in the psychotherapy relationship as the cornerstone of healing. They employ mentalizing to conceptualize both the exposure-based interventions and the equally essential interruption of a problematic pattern of reenactment that continually fueled the patient's posttraumatic symptoms.
Stein
Helen
H
Private Practice, 135 Central Park West, Suite 1N, NY, NY 10025, USA. hb_stein@earthlink.net
Allen
Jon G
JG
D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D016896:Treatment Outcome