This text is in the form of a discussion, based on a transcript of a talk that was given at the International Congress on Mentalization-Based Treatments with Children and Young People, in Barcelona, on 29th June 2023. As the topic of the conference was the dialogue between clinical practice and research, we took the decision to present our project in the form of a conversation. In doing so, we hoped to show the value of bringing different perspectives together, in the spirit of the mentalizing stance. As the clinical lead for the Reflective Fostering Programme, Sheila Redfern reflected on her perspective together with Nick Midgley, as the Principal Investigator on the Reflective Fostering Study. The two speakers have a mentalizing conversation about the main themes arising from integrating clinical practice with research. The talk began with an introduction from the chair, Nicole Muller.