What is ISTDP?
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, or ISTDP, is a type of therapy that focuses on helping individuals understand and change patterns of emotions, thoughts, and behaviours that may be causing distress in their life. It's called 'intensive' because it involves deep exploration of their emotions and 'short-term' because it aims to bring about significant change in a relatively brief period.
How does ISTDP work?
ISTDP emphasises the importance of facing and processing emotions that may have been avoided or suppressed in the past by helping an individual identify and address the root causes of their difficulties. This often involves exploring past experiences to understand how it may be influencing current emotions and defence mechanism that may be getting in the way of life. Through a supportive and collaborative approach, individuals will learn to understand their emotions in the here and now, both in sessions and in their daily life, which will allow them to learn how to overcome barriers, and to change and develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others.
How can I benefit from ISTDP?
The process of ISTDP can lead to profound insights and lasting emotional growth. ISTDP is a dynamic and focused approach to therapy that aims to help individuals break free from old patterns and live a more fulfilling life.