A Heuristic Inquiry into the therapist鈥檚 experience of developing and working with Reflective Function/Mentalising (RF/M) as an Integrative Psychotherapist

I am carrying out research for my Masters in Integrative Psychotherapy at Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute. Full ethical approval has been granted.

I am currently seeking participants for my study.

What is my research about?
Mentalising or Reflective function (RF/M) describe how our thoughts, behaviours and emotions emerge within underlying mental states. The work of Peter Fonagy Mentalisation Based Therapy was developed to support patients with BPD/EUPD since when its therapeutic application has broadened significantly.

How does RF/M help?
Our ability to mentalise is shaped by our early attachment security and where underdeveloped can be bolstered through working with the mentalising capacities of our therapist. Developing RF/M is believed to have many benefits including improving therapist wellbeing and leading to enhanced client outcomes as several studies have shown.

Why am I doing this research?
While significant quantitative research on the application of RF/M exists there is little qualitative research exploring the therapist鈥檚 lived experience of developing and working with RF/M. This will help us to better understand what it is like to engage with RF/M and where it has been used in client work. My research seeks to contribute to this field.

Who is invited to take part in the research?
I am seeking therapists who

鈥� are qualified to PG Dip Level 7 or Masters and who consider themselves Relational Integrative Psychotherapists.

鈥� Are in currently, or have undertaken, significant personal therapy

鈥� have an interest in and willingness to reflect on their own mentalising capacity

What would the research entail?
A questionnaire to reflect on your RF/M capacity and participation in a 1-2-1 semi-structured interview lasting approximately 60-75 minutes. The interview would be around a series of open-ended questions and could be either F2F or online.

The questions are a scaffold to guide a discussion and there will be space for your own reflections. I would audio-record the interview for purposes of transcribing and analysing the data. As part of data collection and analysis you would receive a transcript and summary of our discussion to ensure it captures your thoughts and reflections alongside a copy of the final research findings.

You would have opportunity to withdraw from the research process at any point up to 3 weeks after receiving the transcript of your interview. As part of consenting to participation you would receive a full briefing and debriefing process via phone conversation. If interested please contact me at tim.mitchell@spti.net

Please see the flyer here.

For further information, please see the participants information sheet here, and the informed consent form here.

Thank you for your interest

Tim