ISTDP is an accelerated form of psychoanalytic psychotherapy which aims to provide rapid access to the unconscious conflicts and feelings that drive our suffering. It is an attachment based therapy that views our defenses against feeling and relationships as adaptive at some point in our history. You may have a sense that you are repeating old relationship patterns, or that your way of relating to yourself and the world is not working for you. ISTDP is an active and focussed form of therapy which is effective at restructuring these patterns. It is an effective treatment option for anxiety, depression, personality difficulties and a variety of other presenting issues. It can be very helpful for those who have not responded well to skill based therapies.

Skills based therapies include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT_EN) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to name a few. This type of therapy views many presenting difficulties as a gap in the skills required to function in today’s world. They focus on educating you about your suffering, including any diagnoses, and give specific, targeted homework exercises to consolidate what you learn. This could include using schedules/planners, keeping thought dairies, practicing mindfulness exercises, or performing behavioural experiments.

Psychodynamic therapy focuses on the psychological roots of emotional and psychological distress. In addition to providing a space for safe self-reflection and the development of insight, the relationship between the therapist and the patient becomes a window into problematic relationship patterns and past attachment difficulties that may affect your sense of self and your life. For many patients, it can provide a corrective and healing alternative relationship experience. Psychodynamic Therapy not only alleviates presenting symptoms but helps people to lead happier and healthier lives.