🎙️ Special Episode – “Between Being Yourself and Finding Your Place in the Group”

Welcome to this special episode of the MBT podcast.

In this episode, you are given a unique insight into a group session within Mentalization-Based Treatment — a space where multiple people come together, and where thoughts, emotions, and patterns become visible through interaction with others.

What makes this session powerful is how one person’s sharing can set the entire group dynamic in motion. Different perspectives, emotions, and reactions begin to intertwine. And within that complexity, it becomes clear how challenging it can be to stay true to yourself — while also being part of a group.

Today, we listen to a group session where themes such as loneliness, adapting, not feeling understood, and searching for connection come to the surface.

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🧠 What this episode explores

Sharing something vulnerable

When a group member speaks about personal struggles and dark thoughts, the group immediately begins to move.

There is engagement.

Questions.

A desire to help.

But also confusion and tension:

how do you respond to something this vulnerable?

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Giving support… and receiving support

This session clearly shows that giving support is not the same as receiving it.

Group members try to help by asking questions or offering solutions.

But sometimes, this can make someone feel even less understood.

This creates an important tension:

when does something help… and when does it not?

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The feeling of not belonging

The group also reveals how different inner worlds can be.

When someone cannot relate to another person’s experience, distance can arise.

And beneath that distance is often a deeper feeling:

I don’t belong

I am different

I am alone

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Adapting versus being yourself

A recurring theme in this session is adaptation.

Many group members recognize the pattern:

adjusting to others

being considerate

putting yourself in the background

But what happens when you stop doing that automatically?

Then uncertainty arises.

Tension appears.

And sometimes resistance —

within yourself and in others.

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The role of the group

The power of the group session becomes clearly visible here.

Not only do the therapists guide the process,

but the reactions of group members to each other reveal deeper patterns.

* someone withdraws

* someone tries to help

* someone becomes irritated

* someone feels alone

And that is exactly what gets explored.

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Mentalizing in interaction

While one-on-one therapy often focuses inward,

this session shows how mentalizing happens in real time between people.

Not only: what do I feel?

But also:

* what is happening for the other person?

* what does my reaction do to them?

* where does misunderstanding occur?

The therapists help to slow things down, put words to emotions, and invite a different perspective.

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🌟 The common thread

The central theme of this episode is the tension

between being yourself

and connecting with others.

The need to be understood

exists alongside the fear of not being understood.

The desire for connection

exists alongside the urge to withdraw.

Mentalizing helps you not to react immediately,

but to pause and reflect on what is happening —

within yourself, within the other, and within the group.

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💬 Closing

This episode shows how complex — and at the same time how valuable — group sessions can be.

It is not a structured conversation with a clear line,

but a living process where everything overlaps:

emotions, thoughts, reactions, and misunderstandings.

And within that complexity, growth takes place.

Sometimes, the most important step is not finding the right answer,

but staying present in what is happening.

“This is what is happening right now… and I stay with it.”

🎙️ Special Episode – “Between Caring, Letting Go, and Staying True to Yourself”

Welcome to this special episode of the MBT podcast.

In this episode, you are once again given a unique insight into a one-on-one therapy session — a space where thoughts, emotions, and patterns become visible as they unfold in everyday life.

What makes this session unique is the combination of multiple layers at once: physical fatigue, caring for a parent, tension in relationships, and a growing awareness of self.

Today, we listen to a conversation where someone is trying to find balance between caring for others and caring for themselves — while life continues to move forward.

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🧠 What this episode explores

Fatigue and physical signals

Sometimes your body gives signals you can no longer ignore.

Fatigue, resistance, physical discomfort — it asks you to slow down.

And in those moments, a deeper question arises:

am I really taking care of myself?

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Caring for a parent

When a parent begins to decline, something fundamental changes.

Not only practically — organizing, supporting, making decisions —

but emotionally as well.

You begin to feel that you are slowly losing someone,

even though they are still there.

And that is what makes it so complex.

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Allowing or avoiding emotions

This session highlights how difficult it can be

to truly allow feelings like sadness.

The urge to stay busy, to distract, or to fix things

is always close.

But underneath that is a deeper question:

can I allow myself to feel what is there?

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The role of responsibility

A recurring theme in this episode is responsibility.

Responsibility for the situation.

For others.

For solving things.

But gradually, a shift begins to take place:

what do I do because it is needed —

and what do I do because it is truly mine?

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Old patterns returning

Even when you are growing and changing,

old patterns can still reappear.

Tension.

Irritation.

Short reactions.

And then the question arises:

is this my old pattern…

or is this simply me?

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Connection and vulnerability

A powerful moment in this episode is the connection with someone from the past.

Where silence once existed,

space is now created for emotion and acknowledgment.

It shows how sharing experiences — even painful ones —

can lead to connection and reduce loneliness.

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Choosing yourself

Slowly, something new begins to emerge:

creating space,

feeling boundaries,

and allowing your own needs to exist.

Not instead of others —

but alongside them.

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🌟 The common thread

The central theme of this episode is the tension

between caring for others

and creating space for yourself.

What once felt natural — adapting, continuing, fixing —

is now being questioned.

And in its place, something new is forming:

awareness, choice, and emotional presence.

Mentalizing helps with this:

not reacting immediately,

but first understanding what is happening —

within yourself and within others.

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💬 Closing

This episode shows how intense and meaningful

personal change can be.

It is not a straight path,

but a process of searching, feeling, and choosing again.

And sometimes, the most important step is not what you do —

but what you allow:

“This touches me… and that is allowed to be there.”

🎙️ Special Episode – “Between Who You Were and Who You Are Becoming”

Welcome to this special episode of the MBT podcast.

In this episode, you are given another unique insight into a one-on-one therapy session — a space where thoughts, emotions, and patterns become visible as they unfold in everyday life.

What happens in this session goes a step deeper. Not only do tension and patterns emerge, but also a deeper question: who am I, now that I am changing?

Today, we listen to a conversation where old certainties begin to shift. Where questions arise about work, relationships, and identity. And where it becomes clear that change does not only happen within you — but also affects the world around you.

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🧠 What this episode explores

Inner unrest and self-doubt

Sometimes unrest doesn’t come from one single event,

but from everything happening at once.

Work, relationships, expectations, choices.

And suddenly you notice:

you no longer automatically know what you want.

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The search for identity

When old patterns start to loosen,

space is created — but also confusion.

Because if you no longer respond the way you always did,

who are you now?

This episode shows what that search feels like:

uncertain, vulnerable, but also honest and necessary.

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The balance between old and new

A powerful image in this session is that of a balance —

On one side:

old patterns, safety, adapting.

On the other:

new choices, self-care, space for yourself.

And in between:

doubt, tension, and the search for balance.

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Relationships that shift

When you change,

the dynamics with others begin to shift as well.

Sometimes there is understanding.

Sometimes confusion.

Sometimes resistance.

And in those moments, it becomes clear:

not everyone grows at the same pace.

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The feeling of not being seen

In this session, a familiar and deeper feeling emerges:

I am not truly seen for who I am.

When responses from others don’t align,

it can touch something much deeper —

something that has been there for a long time.

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Setting boundaries and creating space

Slowly, something new begins to develop.

Not by trying harder,

but by doing less of what doesn’t feel right.

A boundary that holds.

A feeling that is allowed to exist.

A choice to stop moving against yourself.

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A different way of relating to emotions

What makes this episode powerful

is the shift in how emotions are approached.

They are no longer pushed away,

but explored.

Not immediately solved,

but first felt, understood, and allowed.

This is mentalizing in practice.

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🌟 The common thread

The central theme of this episode

is the transition from living through patterns

to living from within yourself.

This process is not linear.

It is uncertain, uncomfortable, and constantly shifting.

But within that movement,

growth begins to take shape.

Mentalizing helps you pause

instead of reacting immediately —

to reflect on what is happening

within yourself and in others.

And perhaps most importantly:

to tolerate not knowing.

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💬 Closing

This episode shows that change is not only about what you do differently,

but about how you begin to see yourself differently.

It is a process of discovering, letting go, and choosing again.

And sometimes, the biggest step is not finding an answer,

but allowing yourself to feel:

“I don’t know yet… but I am staying with myself.”

🎙️ Special Episode – “Between Old Patterns and New Boundaries”

Welcome to this special episode of the MBT podcast.

In the previous episode, Behind Closed Doors, you were given a rare glimpse into a one-on-one therapy session.

Today, we take you there again.

But this time… something shifts.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

But in a way that changes everything beneath the surface.

Because this session is not just about what is happening around the client —

it is about what is starting to happen within.

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🧠 What unfolds in this episode

When everything starts to build

Sometimes tension doesn’t come from one moment.

It builds.

A conversation that doesn’t sit right.

A body that reacts in ways you don’t fully understand.

A situation you can’t control.

And suddenly… you’re not where you thought you were.

You feel it —

but you can’t fully explain it yet.

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The invisible pressure

There is something many people will recognize here.

You try to do the right thing.

You think things through.

You take others into account.

And still… it doesn’t land that way.

And somewhere inside, a question quietly starts to grow:

Am I doing this right… or am I losing myself again?

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The moment things start to shift

There is a point in this session where something changes.

Not because the situation changes —

but because the response does.

For the first time, the client doesn’t immediately adjust.

Doesn’t fix.

Doesn’t move toward the other.

Instead… he pauses.

And stays.

And that’s where it becomes uncomfortable.

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When old feelings resurface

Because when you don’t adapt anymore,

something else shows up.

Something older.

A feeling that isn’t just about now —

but feels much deeper than the moment itself.

A feeling that says:

Do I matter here… or not?

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A different kind of choice

And slowly, something new begins to emerge.

Not as a decision.

Not as a strategy.

But as a different way of being.

A boundary that doesn’t collapse.

A moment that isn’t rushed.

A reaction that doesn’t take over.

And maybe, for the first time:

the space to stay with what is actually felt.

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And then… the outside world responds

Because change doesn’t happen in isolation.

When you shift,

the people around you feel it.

Sometimes they understand.

Sometimes they don’t.

And sometimes…

they push back.

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🌟 The thread running through it all

This episode lives in the tension between two forces:

What feels familiar.

And what is starting to change.

Between adapting…

and staying.

Between keeping the connection…

and not losing yourself in the process.

Mentalizing happens exactly here.

Not in certainty.

But in the moment where you pause —

and don’t immediately act.

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💬 Closing

What you’re about to hear is not a solution.

It’s a process.

A moment where something could go in many directions —

but doesn’t.

Because instead of reacting…

there is a pause.

And in that pause, something shifts.

Not on the outside.

But on the inside.

And sometimes, that’s where real change begins.

🎙️ Special Episode – “Between Adapting and Staying True to Yourself”

Welcome to this special episode of the MBT podcast.

In this episode, you are once again given a unique insight into a one-on-one therapy session — a place where thoughts, feelings, and patterns become visible as they emerge in everyday life.

What happens in this session is recognizable for many people: tension that builds through work, family, relationships, and expectations. But beneath these practical situations lies something deeper — the search for staying true to yourself while the world around you asks something different of you.

Today, we listen to a conversation in which it becomes visible how old patterns, insecurity, and the need to do things right come together with a growing awareness: what do I actually need?

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🧠 What is central in this episode

Loss of control and tension

When situations do not go as expected, this can immediately trigger tension.

The feeling of losing control touches deeper layers: insecurity, perfectionism, and the need to do things right.

The pressure of expectations

In work, family, and relationships, a pattern can develop in which expectations — from yourself and from others — become heavy.

The question becomes: am I doing this well enough? And for whom am I actually doing it?

The role of the other versus yourself

An important theme in this episode is the shift in focus:

from constantly attuning to others to learning to recognize your own needs.

Where is the boundary between being involved and losing yourself?

The feeling of not mattering

When feelings are not seen or acknowledged, an old, deep feeling can be triggered:

I do not matter.

This moment is vulnerable, but also essential to recognize and reflect on.

The transformation toward self-care

Gradually, a movement toward yourself begins to emerge:

taking space, setting boundaries, and acknowledging what you need.

Not by shutting yourself off, but by staying consciously present with what you feel.

The reaction of the environment

Change within yourself often evokes something in the people around you.

When you stop adapting, it can create confusion, resistance, or insecurity in others.

This makes the process not only personal, but also relationally complex.

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🌟 The common thread

The common thread in this episode is the tension between adapting and staying true to yourself.

Long-established patterns pull you back toward what feels safe: taking others into account, placing yourself in the background.

But at the same time, there is a growing awareness that true calm and stability only arise when you also make space for yourself.

Mentalizing helps with this:

not reacting immediately, but pausing to reflect on what is happening — within yourself and within the other.

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💬 Closing

This episode shows how complex and at the same time valuable personal change is.

It is not a straight line, but a process of searching, feeling, doubting, and choosing again.

Sometimes growth is not found in big steps,

but in the moment when you say:

“This is what I feel… and that is allowed to be there.”

🎙️ Special Episode #1 – “Behind Closed Doors”

Welcome to this special episode of the MBT podcast.

Individual therapy sessions usually remain behind closed doors. That is exactly why this episode is different. In this episode, you are given a rare insight into what happens internally during a one-on-one therapy session.

This episode reveals how old patterns, loss, grief, self-protection, and the need to care for others can all come together in a single conversation. Not as theory, but as it unfolds in real life: unexpected, raw, confusing, and deeply human.

Today, we listen to a conversation in which a current situation brings old memories and emotions back to the surface. It shows how emotions can remain stored for years behind closed doors, and how challenging it can be to create space for what you feel — without becoming overwhelmed.

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🧠 What this episode explores

When loss becomes present again

Sometimes, something in the present suddenly reconnects you with the past.

What seemed long buried or pushed away can resurface unexpectedly. Not always as an emotional outburst, but sometimes as a moment of realization: “Oh… this is still here.”

Old protective mechanisms

This episode shows how someone can learn to protect themselves by shutting down, suppressing, or distancing from their emotions.

What was once necessary to cope can later become a pattern that blocks connection with yourself.

The metaphor of the doors

A central image in this episode is that of closed doors.

Doors behind which memories, grief, and unprocessed emotions are stored. The question is not only what lies behind those doors, but also:

• Do I dare to open them?

• What happens if they open?

• And how do I make sure I am not overwhelmed?

Caring for others while forgetting yourself

A familiar pattern also emerges: being strongly focused on the needs of others, while your own needs move into the background.

Where is the line between caring and losing yourself? And how do you recognize when tension is building because you are not giving yourself enough space?

Fear of loss and rejection

This episode also highlights how future loss can already be felt in the present.

The fear of losing someone — or of no longer being seen or recognized — touches deeper themes of attachment, safety, and rejection.

Mentalizing in practice

In this one-on-one session, mentalizing becomes visible in real time.

Not jumping to conclusions, not immediately solving — but pausing together to understand what is happening, what is being touched, and what is needed to stay with it.

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🌟 The common thread

The central theme of this episode is that emotions do not disappear when you push them away.

They may remain silent for a long time, but can return unexpectedly.

This episode shows that allowing space for emotion does not mean losing control.

It can mean learning, step by step, to tolerate what is inside you — without turning away from it.

Mentalizing here means daring to stay curious about your inner experience, even when there are no clear answers yet.

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💬 Closing

This special episode offers a powerful and honest insight into how therapy can help you pause and face what has long been left untouched.

Not to fix everything at once, but to learn to feel, understand, and tolerate.

Sometimes, healing does not begin with big answers —

but with the gentle opening of one door.

🎙️ Episode 11 – Session 10: Anxiety, Attachment and Mentalizing

Welcome back.

In the previous session, we explored how opening up in relationships can feel challenging but also healing.

Today, we focus on a powerful emotion that affects us all: anxiety.

Because anxiety is not just something to get rid of —

it’s something to understand.

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📌 What this session is about

• Understanding anxiety as a basic human emotion that helps protect you from danger.

• How anxiety triggers the fight, flight, or freeze response.

• The difference between normal anxiety and anxiety that becomes overwhelming or persistent.

• How your attachment history influences the way you deal with fear and stress.

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🔎 Real-life examples

• You avoid certain situations because they make you feel anxious.

• You feel sudden panic without knowing exactly why.

• You experience physical symptoms like a racing heart, sweating, or tension.

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📚 Why it matters

Anxiety itself is not dangerous —

but avoiding it can make it stronger.

When anxiety takes over,

your ability to mentalize decreases.

This can lead to:

• overreacting

• withdrawing

• or feeling out of control

Understanding anxiety helps you respond with awareness

instead of fear.

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✨ How MBT works with this

In MBT, anxiety is explored in connection with relationships.

You learn to:

• Recognize when anxiety is building

• Understand what it might be connected to

• Stay curious about your thoughts and feelings

• Seek support and reassurance from others

Sharing your anxiety helps reduce its intensity

and brings you back into connection.

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💡 Practice from Session 10

This week, try to share something about your anxiety with someone you trust.

• What are you afraid of?

• How does it feel to talk about it?

• Does sharing help you feel more supported or understood?

Reflect on your experience.

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🌟 Core message

Anxiety is not your enemy —

it is a signal.

When you understand it,

instead of avoiding it,

you create space for calm, connection,

and control