The Lighthouse MBT Parenting Programme
The Lighthouse Parenting Programme is an evidence-based intervention, underpinned by research in the fields of attachment, child development, trauma, neuroscience and by core psychoanalytic concepts that offer insight into how our minds and relationships work.
About this training
The training draws on advances in Mentalization Based Treatment for adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The Programme aims to improve parental reflective functioning and strengthen the parent-child relationship by means of a unique combination of psychoeducation, individual and group-based psychotherapy. It was developed to promote mentalizing and sensitive parenting in the high-risk, clinical population of parents who have caused or pose risk of severe harm to their children.
It aims to enhance parents’ capacity to mentalize and in particular their children, to enhance attunement in parent-child relationships, promote secure attachment and reduce risk of harm and risk of trans-generational transmission of psychopathology including BPD traits and attachment difficulties. In addition to using MBT treatment interventions (group, individual and adapted MBT-Parenting techniques), images and metaphors of the lighthouse, sea, sea journeys and the shore etc., help parents grasp hold of key mentalizing, attachment and psychoanalytic concepts.
We suggest that the parent may see themselves as a lighthouse, providing a gentle, attentive light for their child’s journey and guiding the child back to a safe harbour (safe haven) for support, help, or comfort when rough seas are encountered. The programme aims to enhance parents understanding and responsiveness to the needs of their children, to facilitate the development of epistemic trust in the parent-child relationship, and to reduce the risk of harm.
The programme’s great strength in engaging parents who are high-risk, ‘hard to reach’ and who typically do not benefit from other parenting programmes. It has undergone adaptations for different populations (e.g. LH Family for multi-family work, Lightship outreach for Social Care) and different cultures (e.g. Chile). The programme is undergoing research in a number of studies in the UK, Germany, Denmark, Lithuania, Portugal, Chile, Spain and Ireland.
Aims of this training
The training will give participants:
An understanding of the centrality of mentalizing to the parent-child relationship and recognise how mentalizing failures and deficits contribute to risk to children.
An overview of the Lighthouse and Lightship programmes and the various adaptations for different cultures and populations.
Training in how to establish epistemic trust and practice this in role plays in a small group setting.
Training in how to enhance a parent's capacity to mentalize, and in particular, to mentalize their children.
Who is this training for?
This is an introductory training and will benefit all professionals working with children, adolescents, and their families. Elements of the Programme can be used individually with a child, adolescent or a parent, and some practitioners have found Lighthouse materials useful in working with individual adults as part of an ongoing therapy.
It will be especially beneficial for professionals working with parents who have caused or pose risk of severe harm to their children.
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"An extraordinary training that provides inspiring and valuable knowledge. A great balance between theoretical and clinical issues which helped me expand my understanding of mentalization, attachment and trauma. I really liked the metaphors used in the programme, which translate difficult psychoanalytic concepts into ones that can be understandable by parents. However, what I appreciate the most and what makes this training unique is the opportunity to learn through self-experience because participants have the chance to reflect on their own attachment background. Great, inspiring trainers who are also very attentive to the group and ensure a great atmosphere. I'm very grateful for the possibility to discover this powerful programme to support parents."
- 2023 delegate, Psychotherapist at Empowering Children Foundation
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This training will assume a working knowledge of the concept of mentalization. Prior to starting this training, you must complete the self-guided online training “An Introduction to Mentalizing and Mentalization Based Treatments with Children, Young People and Families” (MBT CYP). You will be given access to the MBT CYP training one month before the training start date of your MT-CYP training.
MBT CYP is a self-directed online training and consists of a series of short videos, presentations and activities that span six hours and can be worked through at your own pace. Topics covered include what is mentalizing and why it’s important; identifying effective and ineffective mentalizing; how mentalizing develops; its relevance in childhood, adolescence and family contexts; and will introduce the mentalizing stance which underpins mentalization-based treatments. It is essential that you complete this training otherwise you will not have the theoretical knowledge to get the most out of the MBT-CYP training you are scheduled to attend. If, for any reason, you require access to the training sooner than one month prior to the training start date, please let us know and we will be able to grant you access.
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What happens after this training in An Introduction to The Lighthouse MBT Parenting Programme
After completing the Introduction to MBT CYP and the Introduction to The Lighthouse/Lightship MBT Parenting Programmes you will understand the importance of establishing epistemic trust to engage and promote mentalizing in vulnerable, hard-to-reach parents and families and developed skills in creating conditions to invite epistemic trust and to promote mentalizing of the child. You will have revised the mentalizing stance (Illuminating Beam) and directly experienced or witnessed one exercise (real-play) from the programme. You will be able to bring elements of the programme to your work with individual parents and families.
Research
We strongly encourage evaluation and research of all Lighthouse and Lightship programmes and Solas Oxford have a small research team in collaboration with ChAPTRe at the Anna Freud/UCL who will be keen to support you if you are interested in running a study or wishing to research some aspect of the programme. Please register your interest on Solas Oxford.com research page
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We have a team of supervisors offering supervision in English, Polish, Spanish, Lithuanian, and German; please contact us at https://solasoxford.com/.
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For those aspiring to fully implement one or more group versions of the Lighthouse MBT-Parenting Programme (e.g. 20 session version for high-risk families, or 12 session for moderate risk) you will need to complete the first level training (5 day training, online or in person delivered by Solas Oxford.com) and receive supervision while facilitating the group programme.
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Lighthouse practitioners can apply to be on the supervisor and trainer pathways. Participation in the 3 day advanced training and experience of delivering the programme under supervision are pre-requisites. For more information, please contact us on https://solasoxford.com/.
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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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This training can be delivered live online or face-to-face. Dates and times will vary according to format so please carefully check the dates and times for individual courses before booking.
Before signing up for a live online training, be sure to check the system requirements. Please follow this link to view our upcoming trainings.
If you’d like to commission this training for your team or organisation please complete our Commissioner Enquiry Form.
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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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