#22: MBT Group Therapy > Between Trust and Protection

🎙️ Special Episode – “Between Trust and Protection”

Welcome to this special episode of the MBT podcast.

In this group session, an intense conversation unfolds about trust, dependency, and the way old patterns become activated when someone feels unseen or not taken seriously.

What makes this session powerful is how clearly it shows that anger, control, and distance are often not the core issue — but protection against vulnerability..

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🧠 What this episode explores

Dependency and control

For some group members, depending on others immediately creates tension.

As soon as someone else has influence over work, recovery, or personal choices, the urge arises to regain control — or to push people away.

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The hedgehog as protection

A powerful image in this session is that of the hedgehog.

Not attacking to hurt others,

but using spikes to protect yourself.

Because connection feels unsafe.

Because criticism hurts.

Because not being seen cuts deep.

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Feeling misunderstood

Several group members recognize the same painful feeling:

I am not truly heard

I am not understood

And when someone finally becomes vulnerable, a response from another person can feel rejecting — even when that was never the intention.

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Old patterns and new responses

The group explores how old survival patterns automatically return under stress:

people-pleasing, fighting, shutting down, or trying to stay in control.

But at the same time, something new begins to emerge:

slowing down, asking questions, and staying curious about the intentions of others.

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🌟 The common thread

The central theme of this episode is the tension between protecting yourself and still wanting connection.

Mentalizing helps people pause instead of reacting automatically from old survival patterns — and to reflect on what is really happening within themselves and others.

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💬 Closing

This episode shows how complex group sessions can become when trust, dependency, and vulnerability come together.

And sometimes, change does not begin with finding the right answer,

but with asking yourself:

“What am I actually trying to protect myself from?”