Commentary: The role of mediational devices in promoting mentalizing

Comments on an article by Sharp et al. (see record 2020-26830-001). Sharp et al. discuss how the mediational intervention for sensitizing caregivers (MISC) can be incorporated into MBT workshops and training, supervision for MBT therapists, and into direct client mentalizing interventions. As Sharp et al.stated, the reliability of the trainer, as well as of any caregivers or adults to learn from, is fundamental in generating a mediational learning experience (MLE), that is, an intentional and reciprocal interaction focused on conveying meaning. Recognizing the trainer as trustworthy allows the trainee to give relevance to the interactions and the experiences. Undoubtedly further studies are needed, and it will be necessary to imagine and develop various adaptations due to the variability in settings. However, we believe that considering mentalizing as a competence will allow us to integrate in a gradually more-refined way the use of reflective intervention devices with a variety of objectives and contexts.