ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the mentalizing level of organisation and the prefrontal compass, that is, the neural structures and stages of maturation associated with this level. It presents the Norwegian psychologist Haldor Ovreeide’s description of the dialogue-based method of developmentally supporting conversations with children, which targets this level of organisation. The chapter describes the demonstration video that Haldor Ovreeide presented at the conference and comment on some of his reflections based on the some compass models. In the prefrontal compass, the two axes relate to need management and mentalization. Haldor Ovreeide acted in the role of “caravan leader”, clearly expressing a sense of calm and authority. As in the autonomic and limbic compasses, the some quadrants in the prefrontal compass may become fixated, take on extreme expressions, or cause an unregulated fluttering from one self-protection strategy to the next that might reflect neurotic states in this compass.
