Minding Emotions: Cultivating Mentalization in Psychotherapy

Mentalization is the process of making sense of our own and others' actions, behavior, and internal states. This book offers an overview of mentalization in psychotherapy, focusing on how to help patients understand and reflect on their emotional experiences. It integrates cognitive science research and psychoanalytic theory and includes clinical vignettes and discussions of memoirs by various authors.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 17 May 2018
Publisher: Guilford Publications

Mentalization, the process of comprehending our own and others' actions, behaviors, and internal states, is a fundamental aspect of human cognition. It is a capacity that all psychotherapies strive to enhance, as it contributes to resilience and flexibility. This concise and engaging book provides a comprehensive overview of mentalization in psychotherapy, with a particular emphasis on helping patients gain insight and reflection into their emotional experiences. Elliot Jurist, a renowned cognitive scientist, integrates cognitive science research with psychoanalytic theory to dissect mentalized affectivity into discrete processes that therapists can cultivate during sessions. The book seamlessly weaves clinical vignettes with discussions of memoirs by notable figures such as comedian Sarah Silverman, poet Tracy Smith, filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, and neurologist Oliver Sacks. Additionally, a reproducible assessment instrument (the Mentalized Affectivity Scale) is available for download and printing in a convenient 8 1/2 x 11 size.

This book has garnered significant recognition, including the American Board and Academy of Psychoanalysis Book Prize (Theory). Its insightful approach and practical applications make it an invaluable resource for therapists, psychologists, and anyone interested in understanding the complexities of human cognition and emotional development. By fostering mentalization, individuals can enhance their ability to navigate relationships, cope with stress, and achieve greater self-awareness and emotional well-being.

Weight: 438g
Dimension: 163 x 237 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781462534999