THERAPY APPROACH
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy
ISTDP is a short-term psychodynamic therapy that pays close attention to emotions, anxiety, and the protective patterns that can appear when difficult feelings are approached.
ISTDP at a glance
Emotion-focused
Attention to feelings as they emerge in the session.
Anxiety-aware
The therapist monitors anxiety and adjusts the pace of exploration.
Active and collaborative
Client and therapist examine patterns together around a clear focus.
WHAT IS ISTDP?
Understanding emotion, anxiety and protective patterns
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is a form of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy developed by Dr. Habib Davanloo. It brings attention to emotions, anxiety, and defensive patterns that can emerge in the present moment.
In sessions, therapist and client work together to notice what happens when difficult feelings are approached, regulate anxiety, and examine patterns that may block emotional experience or connection.
In the therapy room
- Focus: a concern or pattern the client wants to understand and change
- Observation: emotions, anxiety responses and avoidance
- Collaboration: active discussion of what is happening in the session
- Pacing: attention to the client’s capacity and anxiety level
HOW IT WORKS
A collaborative process, paced to the person
ISTDP does not follow one identical sequence for every person. A session may include these overlapping parts.
1. Clarify the focus
Identify the concern and what change would be meaningful.
2. Notice patterns
Observe emotions, anxiety responses and ways difficult experience may be avoided.
3. Regulate and explore
Adjust the pace while feelings and underlying conflicts are explored.
4. Review and integrate
Connect new understanding to patterns outside therapy and discuss it together.
FIND A PRACTITIONER
Explore ISTDP practitioner profiles
Compare location, online availability, languages, professional background and contact options. Publication in the directory is not a clinical endorsement.
Piotr Szmyt, MA
- Portugal
Michael Pietersen
- Netherlands
Nat Kuhn, MD
- United States
Hamed Aliaghaii, PhD
- Iran
Scott Campbell, LMFT
- United States
Alex Mirman, MD
- United States
Michelle Salois, RN, LCSW
- United States
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