Mentalizing Imagery Therapy: Theory and case series of imagery and mindfulness techniques to understand self and others
Felipe A Jain, P. Fonagy
Mindfulness May 31, 2018 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-018-0969-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Mentalizing imagery therapy |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Proposes that mentalizing imagery therapy (MIT) may improve mentalization and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety through guided imagery and mindfulness practices targeted at attachment relationship challenges. |
Abstract
Facilitating mentalization, or the ability to understand mental states and their link to behavior, is increasingly viewed as a common mechanism of action across effective psychotherapies. Here, we present an overview of a new set of contemplative psychotherapeutic techniques, mentalizing imagery therapy (MIT), which uses guided imagery and mindfulness practices to facilitate mentalization. MIT aims to reduce negative psychological symptoms by stimulating an understanding of mental states and their links to behavior in self and others, including in challenging interpersonal situations. Case discussions of MIT in personality disordered and depressed patients are used to illustrate theoretical points and the specific practical benefits of MIT. We conclude that there are promising indications that the imagery and mindfulness practices of MIT, which are specifically targeted to facilitate insight in the context of attachment relationship challenges, may help to improve mentalization and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Both in practice and with respect to its articulated goals, MIT promotes a distinct set of capacities from other mindfulness or compassion-based therapies. Further research is required to determine the clinical efficacy of MIT in controlled trials.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Brief mentalizing imagery therapy reduces stress and enhances positive psychological traits in family dementia caregivers: mediation by mindfulness. Aging & Mental Health June 24, 2025
- A Lived Experience of Mindfulness-Based Mentalizing Training Program for Parents (MBMP). A Phenomenological Study. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry February 23, 2026
- Using chills-inducing music to augment self-transcendence, emotional breakthrough, and psychological insight during mindfulness and loving kindness meditation. Frontiers in Psychology 2026
- Family dementia caregivers with suicidal ideation improve with mentalizing imagery therapy: Results from a pilot study Journal of Affective Disorders Reports 2024
- Virtual mentalizing imagery therapy for Spanish language Latino family dementia caregivers: A feasibility and acceptability study Frontiers in Psychology February 16, 2023
and 3 more in the library
Cites 7
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology October 27, 2008
- Metacognition The MIT Press eBooks April 7, 1994
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Implicit Age and Race Bias Social Psychological and Personality Science November 24, 2014
and 2 more in the library