On Structure and Leadership in Mentalization-based Group Therapy and Group Analysis

Abstract

Mentalization-based group therapy (MBT-G) has its roots in group analytic psychotherapy. Modifications were made in order to suit the needs of more disturbed personality disordered patients, and to avoid the chaotic and destructive processes often encountered in groups dominated by these patients. In this article I outline the kind of leadership, structure and authority that MBT proscribes and discuss these principles in comparison with group analysis. I also comment upon a study of a MBT group that failed to establish a good mentalizing culture, with reference to Bion’s concept of ‘attack on linking’. This study reminds us that strong professional support and competent supervision is necessary in order to achieve sound communicational ideals, when the group is composed of members who easily resort to prementalistic modes of thinking.