The Clinical Challenge of Mentalization-based Therapy with Children Who are in "Pretend Mode". (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Muller, Nicole; Midgley, Nick
• Is Part Of: Journal of infant, child, and adolescent psychotherapy. Volume 19:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 16
• Page End: 24
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Child psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Infant psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.891405
• DOI: 10.1080/15289168.2019.1701865
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1528-9168

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The "pretend mode" is one of the so-called "pre-mentalizing modes of thinking", which were first introduced by Target and Fonagy over 20 years ago. In a series of papers about play and reality, "pretend mode" thinking was understood as a mode of pre-mentalizing thinking which is typical in the early years, but which can reappear in a more problematic way in adults. Although the concept of pretend mode was first introduced in a developmental context, as a clinical term it has primarily been discussed in the context of adult or adolescent psychotherapy. This paper suggests that the pretend mode is a valuable clinical concept for therapists working with school-age children, but that its use in this context needs some clarification. After reviewing how pretend mode has been understood as a normal part of early development, this paper goes to demonstrate the various roles of pretend mode in clinical work with school-age children and sets out a number of clinical strategies that may be used in therapeutic work.