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| Welcome to ISTDP
Intensive Short-Term Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is a specific form of Short Term Dynamic Therapy (STDP) designed to help resolve emotional problems as rapidly as possible. ISTDP is also a form of Experiential Dynamic Therapy - a general “umbrella” term for methods influenced by the pioneering work of Habib Davanloo. Patients presenting with anxiety, depression, relationship problems and somatisation (reacting to emotional stress with physical symptoms, for example, headaches) are all suitable for this form of therapy. ISTDP is also appropriate for those with destructive behaviour patterns. |
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ISTDP is based on the belief that symptomatic or interpersonal difficulties are the result of psychological trauma, usually starting in childhood and including disrupted early attachment bonds. These failed attachments can lead to the formation of self-defeating defences against painful and anxiety-provoking feelings.
An important goal of ISTDP is to help patients overcome internal resistance to experiencing true feelings about their past and present, feelings which have been warded off because they are too frightening or painful.
ISTDP is intensive because it aims to help patients to experience these feelings. The therapy is short-term because it tries to achieve this experience as quickly as possible. It is dynamic because the therapist is active in addressing all the defence mechanisms erected to manage anxiety and keep feelings out of awareness. It is this dynamic focus that aims to result in access to long-repressed feelings, leading to freedom from symptoms.When patients experience their true feelings in the present, they spontaneously connect these experiences with their personal histories. This enable defences to be relinquishes as the historical context is clearly understood.