What is ISTDP?

ISTDP stands for Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy. It was developed in the 70’s by Habib Davanloo in collaboration with David Malan. It combines a focus on paying attention to ourselves in the present moment, with particular care paid to our feelings, to address the root cause of many mental health problems. This root cause is often referred to as attachment disruption or attachment trauma. Every young person or child needs the attention of their caregiver. Inevitably this need will be frustrated at times. However, particular patterns of our needs not being attended to can result in us not being attuned or connected with important feelings as adults. It is this lack of connection that can lead to many of the mental health problems that propel us towards seeking therapy. ISTDP is an evidence-based therapy which I have found uniquely helpful in helping clients address their difficulties when other therapies such as CBT have often seemed less effective.