Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is an experiential therapy approach that aims to free individuals from the suffering caused by unconscious defense mechanisms.

The tragedy of trauma is that what the very same thing that saved us in the past (defenses) harm us in the present.

By first identifying and then releasing peel back the defenses and facades we’ve developed to cope with life’s challenges, we find an inner strength and get to know who we really are.

Research has shown that ISTDP can help treat a wide range of mental health problems, from relatively straightforward issues to more complex, treatment-resistant conditions such as personality disorders and medically unexplained physical symptoms.

ISTDP therapists are highly active and engaged, especially compared to other psychoanalytic approaches.

As one patient said, “I thought my way through my first therapy. Now I am feeling my way through it.”

ISTDP sessions tend to be more focused, structured, and intensive than most depth-oriented approaches. For those accustomed to more open-ended, free-flowing sessions, this can feel a bit strange.

Many patients, however, appreciate the directness and sense of focus that characterized the ISTDP approach.

What makes ISTDP an intensive approach is the therapist’s active and engaged stance and the fact that chit-chat

While ISTDP may not be a fit for a minority of people, most people who’ve tried ISTDP appreciate the the experiential nature of the therapy process.

As one patient said, “I thought my way through my first therapy. Now I am feeling my way through it.”