Mentalization-Based Treatment for Developmental Trauma A Casebook for Working with Children and Their Families

Introduction: A mentalization-based approach to working with children

Nicole Muller, Emma Morris and Nick Midgley  
  

Part I: Introduction and Theoretical Overview

1. The impact of developmental trauma on children: A mentalizing perspective

Nicole Muller and Emma Morris 

Part II: The assessment of children who have experienced developmental trauma

2. Drawing the picture: The assessment of children as scaffolding for treatment in the context of developmental trauma    

Nicole Vliegen and Norka Malberg

3. The assessment of parents and carers of traumatized children

Karin Ensink and Jordan Bate

Part III: Direct work with the traumatized child

4. Working with a toddler: The case of Isidora

Marcia Olhaberry

5. Working with school-age children (I): The case of Taro

Momoko Nakanishi and Junko Yagi

6. Working with school-age children (II): The case of Pamir

Sibel Halfon, Hazal Çelik and Dilara Güvenç

7. Unravelling traumatic "luggage" and paving the way to mentalization-based treatment:  The case of Yurko 

Natasha Dobrova-Krol and Nicole Muller

8. Working with children in groups

Maria Højer Nannestad

PART IV: Work with parents, carers, and the systems around traumatized children

9. Working with traumatized children and parents together: The case of Sara

Saara Salo

10. Working with parents who have experienced adverse childhood experiences: The challenge of blocked care

Masja Juffermans and Hanneke van Aalst

11. A parent's perspective on the mentalization-based treatment of a traumatized child: An interview with C. Evans

Emma Morris

12. Youth protection services: Working with those who care for traumatized children

Vincent Domon-Archambault and Miguel M. Terradas

13. The Reflective Fostering Programme:  A psychoeducational mentalizing group for foster and kinship carers 

Sheila Redfern and Nick Midgley

14. Concluding remarks: Clinical adaptations of the mentalization-based treatment model for children in the context of developmental trauma

Emma Morris, Nick Midgley and Nicole Muller

Biography

Nicole Muller is a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and family therapist at Centrum Hecht Opleidingen in Holland, a specialist centre for training of professionals and treatment centre of children, youth and their families, specialized in attachment and trauma disorders. She is a MBT-CYP practitioner, supervisor and trainer. 

Emma Morris is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and MBT-CYP practitioner, supervisor and trainer based in the UK. She is the founder and co-director of the Multi-Family Project and co-director of the Trauma Recovery Space, a specialist trauma clinic. She is co-author of High Conflict Parenting Post Separation: The Making and Breaking of Family Ties (2020) and Systemic Multi-Family Therapy: Concepts and Interventions (2024).

Nick Midgley is a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and Professor of Psychological Therapies with Children and Young People at UCL and Anna Freud, London, UK. His books include Therapeutic Work for Children with Complex Trauma: A Three-Track Psychodynamic Approach (2023), Short-term Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for Adolescents with Depression: A Treatment Manual (2016), and Minding the Child: Mentalization-Based Interventions with Children, Young People and their Families (2012).

‘I highly recommend this book to clinicians working with children and families affected by developmental trauma. Its practical application of the MBT-C model and its theoretical depth and commitment to inclusivity make it an invaluable resource for practitioners seeking to enhance their clinical practice. Whether you are a seasoned clinician or new to the field, this book offers a wealth of insights and tools to support your work with traumatized children and their families. By engaging with the book's multidimensional approach—spanning assessment, treatment, and systemic interventions—readers will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of developmental trauma and the transformative potential of mentalization-based treatment. Above all, this book serves as a testament to the power of compassion and understanding in fostering healing and connection in the lives of children and their families.’ 

 Francine Conway, Ph.D., Chancellor, Distinguished Professor, Rutgers University-New Brunswick

‘This outstanding book brings the mentalization-based clinical approach to children and young people fully up to date, significantly broadening its scope and showcasing a vibrant array of interventions. Rich in techniques and practical insights, it offers invaluable guidance for all practitioners working from a developmental perspective—whether with children, adolescents, or adults.’

Professor Peter Fonagy CBE FMedSci FBA FAcSS, Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences