Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT): Basic Training
Discover Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) and explore innate mentalizing skills for diverse disorders, from BPD to families and adolescents.
Last date to book
Please note that the final date to book onto this course is 12pm (BST), 11 July 2025.
About this training
This is a knowledge and skills-based course in Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) for Adults. The course provides trainees with the knowledge and conceptual understanding of mentalizing, its relevance to clinical problems associated with EUPD/BPD/ASPD/Complex Trauma and other mental health problems, and the clinical skills to deliver MBT to a defined standard of competency.
MBT, an evidence-based therapy for BPD, offers a stepped system from basic to practitioner, progressing to supervisor levels. There are three core training components:
Basic Training Course
Supervision with an MBT Supervisor
Certificate Course for Practitioner Level
More details about these three components can be found here.
This course consists of 18 hours of live training over 3 days. Participants on this course are also expected to undertake offline study and prepare materials for discussion at the online days. Please allow time for these requirements in your timetable – approximately 21 hours is needed prior to live training days.
Aims of this training
At completion of this MBT Basic Training course, participants will:
understand the developmental origins of mentalizing, its research base and its relevance to personality and psychological functioning in the context of higher order sociGal cognition
apply mentalizing in clinical practice for further skill development
develop skills to implement a programme of MBT and its underlying research base.
Who is this training for?
This training is ideal for mental health and allied professionals interested in personality disorder treatment. Our workshop requires applicants to meet specific criteria:
qualification as a mental health professional (e.g., mental health nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers)
completion of relevant studies, such as KUF for personality disorder, showcasing a solid grasp of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, biological, systemic, and social theories
minimum 1-year therapeutic experience with personality disorder individuals in team, individual, or group settings
supervised practice and commitment to ethical standards
Personal experience in psychotherapy or counselling is also desirable.
Attendees must finish the ‘Mentalizing and Mentalization Based Treatment with Adults (MBT Adult) – An Introduction’ online course before the training. This online course covers essential theory in four hours, providing foundational knowledge.
Full payment grants access and completion ensures optimal training engagement. Access can be granted earlier upon request. Payment is required for training place confirmation.
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Professor Anthony W. Bateman consults with Anna Freud on MBT training. He is a Visiting Professor at University College London and an Honorary Professor in Psychotherapy at the University of Copenhagen.
Alongside Peter Fonagy, he developed MBT for borderline personality disorder and co-authored the manual on Structured Clinical Management of Personality Disorder for mental health professionals.
His contributions to the field have been widely recognised, including the Senior Scientist Award from the British and Irish Group for the Study of Personality Disorder (2012), the BPDRC Award for Achievement in the Field of Severe Personality Disorders (2015, USA), and the Gunderson Distinguished Career Contribution Award from the International Society for the Study of Personality Disorder (2023).
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"Amazing workshop. I've learnt so much! Can’t think of what more I would have wanted." Participant, March 2023
"Course was as expected, very informative and insightful." Participant, March 2023
"It encouraged me to dive deeper into MBT, Dr Anthony Bateman is an incredible therapist/teacher. Workshop was so interesting and engaging. He is inspirational in the way he understands and manages patients...Thank you Dr Bateman for your time to lead such a stimulating workshop!" Participant, March 2023
"Anthony and Rory delivered in an eloquent and very competent manner, and it felt safe to bring questions for discussion. I think MBT for BPD is a highly complex treatment approach in terms of its implementation, but one that, in my own experience, is effective and of great relevance in the field of BPD. Thank you!" Participant, November 2023
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£1,000 – includes access to MBT Adult: An Introduction Online training
£900 – for those who have already completed MBT Adult: An Introduction Online Training
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All bookings must be made online; we do not accept phone reservations.
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The online platform Zoom will be used to deliver this training. Prior to booking on, please ensure you meet the system requirements so you're able to join this training. Before the training, please test your equipment is working by going to Zoom.us/test and follow the instructions.
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Upon booking, you will be asked to confirm that you have read and accept our terms and conditions and our privacy notice. Please read these documents before booking:
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MBT Narcissism Training
This MBT Basic equivalent training introduces clinicians to a streamlined, common-sense treatment approach to treating these patients: mentalization based treatment for pathological narcissism, or MBT-N. The training reviews the deficits in mentalizing associated with pathological narcissism, describes how to give the diagnosis of narcissism to patients, outlines how to structure therapy sessions, and offers step-by-step techniques about “what to do and say” when sitting with these patients.
Pleaseclick here for more information on this training.
MBT ASPD Training
MBT has been adapted for the treatment of people with antisocial personality disorder (MBT-ASPD).This MBT Basic equivalent training will be useful for participants wishing to gain insights into ASPD as a mentalizing disorder and acquire practical clinical skills for effective application in healthcare and criminal justice settings. Join us to articulate ASPD as a mentalizing disorder, discuss developmental insights, clinically formulate ASPD clients, and deliver basic mentalizing interventions.
Please click here for more information on this training.
MBT Practitioner Training
The new MBT Certificate course - practitioner level one-month course is madeup of two days of live, instructor-led content (10am-4pm, with breaks) and 21 hours of self-guided content. You will also be required to do various tasks before, in-between and after the live, instructor-led sessions. This may require you to demonstrate your own use of basic MBT interventions via video/audio and other role play exercises.
Please click here for more information on this training.
FACTS
The Families and Carers Training and Support Programme (FACTS) is a short course designed to support the friends and families of people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or Emerging/Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD).
For further information about FACTS please click here.
If you are a mental health professional and would like to deliver FACTS in your service, please click here.
SCM Basic
Structured Clinical Management (SCM) is an evidence-based approach that enables generalist mental health practitioners to work effectively with people with borderline personality disorder.
SCM provides generalist mental staff with a coherent systematic approach to working with people with borderline personality disorder. It is based on a supportive approach with case management and advocacy support. There is an emphasis on problem-solving, effective crisis planning, medication review and assertive follow-up if appointments are missed.
The new SCM Basic Training consists of 18 hours of instructor-led content over 3 days, and 21 hours of self-guided content.
Please click here for more information on this training.
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