This guide investigates how the failure of mentalizing—the capacity to understand the mental states of oneself and others—drives the pathology of personality disorders and how clinical intervention can restore this function. Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy, both prominent figures in the development of this therapeutic model, synthesize clinical theory with practical application. The text provides a structured framework for clinicians to identify deficits in mentalizing and implement specific techniques to stabilize patients with borderline and antisocial personality disorders.

Clinicians and students of psychotherapy frequently cite this work as a foundational manual for implementing MBT in clinical settings. Experts highlight the clarity of the authors' methodology and the direct applicability of the techniques to high-acuity patient populations.