ISTDP Therapy

Background

Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is an evidence-based approach shown to be effective and suitable for a broad range of psychological issues such as anxiety, panic attacks, depression, PTSD, unexplained medical symptoms, as well as personality disorders. Research indicates positive outcomes are long lasting, with improvement continuing after termination.

ISTDP was initially developed by Dr. Habib Davanloo in Montreal in the 1960’s and his empirical discoveries were based on extensive videotaping of psychotherapy sessions. Dr. Davanloo subsequently collaborated with Dr. David Malan, the renowned psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, at the Tavistock Clinic in London.

Dr. David Malan and his wife Jennie, an educational psychologist, were instrumental in introducing ISTDP to the UK. In 2006, the Malans convened the first ISTDP conference in Oxford where leading clinicians presented video recordings of their work. At this conference, a great deal of interest in ISTDP was generated and a core training in ISTDP began in London later that year.

About

Whilst ISTDP is based on psychoanalytic theory and psychodynamic principles, in practise it differs significantly from these approaches. There is an understanding that long term effective change cannot come about by intellectual insight into one’s difficulties alone. ISTDP works at a profoundly experiential level and transformative change can come about relatively swiftly. 

We all build unconscious defences when we are young, in order to protect ourselves from what might feel like overwhelming feelings or trauma. These defences might have been vital for us at one time, but if we continue to use them into adult life they can get in our way, cutting us off from our feelings, cutting us off from loving relationships, leaving us feeling depressed or anxious with no conscious idea why. The feelings we have pushed down constantly press for expression and, as well as leading to emotional difficulties, can often lead to physical symptoms such as headaches or digestive problems.

ISTDP practitioners are active rather than passive in the face of defences and resistance. The ISTDP therapist will help you identify your defences and experience the feeling behind the defence in the here-and-now of the session, relying on non-interpretive techniques such as: encouragement to feel; challenge to take responsibility for healthy change; and confrontation of resistance to change.

 ISTDP treatment is video recorded to facilitate supervision as well as to further research into psychotherapy process and outcomes.

What to look for in an ISTDP practitioner

Each ISTDP therapist will have a background qualification in either psychotherapy or psychology before they are accepted on to a three year core training. Once they have completed this, they are then registered with the International Experiential Dynamic Therapy Association.

Trial Therapy

When you contact an ISTDP therapist, you will initially be invited to come along to a two to three hour ‘trial’ therapy. This will give you the opportunity to fully experience ISTDP therapy, so that you may make a choice as to whether it’s a good fit for you. It also allows for a full diagnosis of what is troubling you as well as providing a therapeutic experience in itself.

Ongoing work

If you decide to continue with the therapy, the preferred length of session is ninety minutes. If that is not possible then you will be offered a shorter session of sixty minutes. The frequency of sessions would be up to you and your therapist. ISTDP therapists are flexible in their approach so will not expect you to come weekly unless that is something you choose for yourself.

Many ISTDP therapists offer block therapy of two to three hour sessions as and when required.

An extensive body of published research evidence supports the efficacy of ISTDP as a treatment for a wide variety of emotional problems.

To access some of the research literature, follow the link to www.istdp.org.uk