An integrative-relational approach in schizophrenia

from philosophical principles to mentalization-based practice

pp. 193-207

in: Inês Hipólito, Jorge Goncalves, João Pereira (eds), Schizophrenia and common sense, Berlin, Springer, 2018

Abstract

In this paper, we explore psychosis and schizophrenia as prototype disturbances, where mentalizing failures are widely seen. We attempt to describe how the process of rekindling mentalizing within attachment relationships (here, the patient-therapist relationship) can have a protective effect not just on the onset of the disturbance, but also when psychosis is already actively installed. We start by discussing mentalizing in training, practice and supervision. We also try to understand it contextually, as a relational concept, within the history of psychological therapies.