Mentalisation is the ability to think about our own thoughts, emotions, physical feelings, and behaviours as well as thinking about other people’s thoughts, emotions, physical feelings and behaviours.

These are groups for those who would benefit from learning about and developing skills to improve their mentalisation.

Mentalisation is linked to empathy: people who struggle with mentalisation might misinterpret other people’s behaviours and intentions, which can in turn lead to strong emotions and impulsive or withdrawn behaviours.

The main aim of the group is to improve our ability to manage intense distressing emotions which can feel overwhelming at times.

MBT Groups consist of 11 sessions for 2 hours per week and they are structured closed groups (having clear tasks and agendas for each stage of the group). Need to amend this to reflect how many weeks we offer currently, and that its an open group.

Members of these groups are given an MBT workbook which provides an overview of the course content and is designed to be used as a guide for each week, as well as a place to make notes and record how they are implementing MBT outside of the group sessions.

The TA Group is designed for people who are struggling to move forward and make positive changes to their lives.

By the end of the group, members of the group will have a clearer idea of the different factors which cause them to feel stuck within their relationships and other areas of their lives.

Before leaving, group members are invited to make a plan of how to continue working on the issues they have identified in the group, which will give them the opportunity to make positive changes to their lives.

The group runs for 2.5 hours a week and is for 16 weeks.

Joining a Therapeutic Community (TC) is a big commitment, and this means that those joining these groups need to be sure that joining a TC it is right for them and that they are ready to do the work required.

Members can be in a TCEG/TCVG for up to 1 year and groups take place once a week for between one and a half hours and two hours. Being in these groups includes a number of visits to the linked Therapeutic Community (TC).

The purpose of this group is to give those attending an understanding of how a TC works, what it is like to be in one and what someone can expect if they go on to become a TC member.

It is important to acknowledge that this way of working will not suit everyone and if during their time in a group, the group member and the clinicians decide the group is not suitable, we will discuss other options.

Therapeutic Communities (TCs) are the most intensive and long term of the treatments we provide. This programme can last for up to 18 months.

There are 3 Therapeutic Communities (TCs) operating in Oxfordshire as part of Complex Needs Service:

• Adderbury TC (outside Banbury) and Abingdon TC meet once a week for up to 7 hours in total.
• Oxford TC meets 2 days a week for up to 15 hours in total.

What is a Therapeutic Community?

The primary aim of a Therapeutic Community (TC) is to help people with their emotional and interpersonal problems. This help is guided by a set of values and beliefs about the way people should treat each other and be treated, based on self-awareness, healthy dependence on one another, mutual respect, and the taking of personal responsibility.

Much of the treatment which takes place within a Therapeutic Community is based upon the different interactions which occur between community members, and these interactions are explored and revised as a means of bringing about therapeutic change.

It is by belonging to a group in an atmosphere of trust and security that an individual can become more self-aware, find different ways of relating to others, feel valued, supported, and take responsibility for themselves, others, and their environment.

TCs have a daily structure for maintaining and developing the community, as well as a varied programme of formal and informal therapeutic activity.  These may include group therapies, creative therapies, social or cultural activities, and support to find/continue work or meaningful activity when not in TC. All members of a TC are involved in the daily programme that contributes to both the individual’s needs as well as those of the community as a whole.

A strong sense of community membership and belongingness are critical to the process; in order to benefit from participation in a TC, the member must be positively motivated to change and to work within the TC’s rules.

Moving On Groups meet fortnightly in Aylesbury or online and are for those who have completed treatment in one of the Therapeutic Communities. The groups support transition to life beyond therapy.

Each member attends for a set number of sessions, usually overlapping with the end of therapy by two months.

The groups provide guidance and advice on employment, education, and training, and serves as an introduction to STARS; the organisation for people who have previously completed an intensive psychotherapeutic treatment for personality disorder.