Atlanta DBT Center

Atlanta DBT Center now uses the concepts of MBT in conjunction with the concepts and skills taught in DBT to implement a truly unique program that has been shown to be immensely helpful in people with Borderline Personality Disorder and other personality disorders.

How does MBT work for people with BPD?
Interpersonal effectiveness is one of the four modules of DBT. By developing the skills to interpret perceived behaviors in a social context, communication skills and emotional states are greatly improved. This form of therapy, developed by Peter Fonagy and Anthony Bateman, is very effective in stage two, three, and four DBT clients, especially when used along with general dialectical behavior therapy.

How is the lack of mentalization detrimental?
When a person is able to accurately perceive the emotions of others, they can communicate better with the people around them and form healthy attachments to others. People with BPD are thought to struggle with this skill, which helps explain the fact that their relationships are often intense, unsatisfying, and even abusive.