What is Intensive Short -Term Dynamic Psychotherapy ?
Intensive Short- Term Dynamic Psychotherapy is a form of modern psychoanalysis in a shortened format. It is practiced by Psychiatrists and licensed mental health Professionals around the world . What sets it apart is its effectiveness in treating complex symptomatology. Its effectiveness has been extensively researched and published in Medical journals and Psychiatry textbooks . Psychiatrists and other mental health Professionals trained in Intensive Short- Term Dynamic Psychotherapy work primarily on conflicts and the emotions experienced due to those conflicts ,not only in the current life situations but also the past.
For example a lady experiences anger towards her husband for cheating on her ,but as soon as she feels anger she notices an unconscious pattern where tears come up to cover her anger followed by helplessness . These tears function in an unconscious way as a defense against experiencing her true feelings towards her husband for cheating, because she also loves him and is anxious about losing him. As a result she may present with complaints of helplessness and constant crying. This may deplete her of energy and productivity.
After paying close attention to her unconscious pattern with the help of the Therapist ,she may want to face her real emotions in the presence of the therapist ,so that she can consciously take healthy steps to address the problem in her relationship, and not suffer from constant crying and helplessness and feel stuck and drained.
In another example ,a young man may be flooded with self critical thoughts and feel depressed and demotivated. Together the therapist and he would look at what triggers these thoughts leading to his depression.
Another person may find that whenever there is a conflict he experiences symptoms of anxiety ,like gastritis, headaches, nausea, ringing in the years, diarrhea, blood pressure changes, tension headaches and other anxiety symptoms. These symptoms are then regulated together with the therapist in the session using ISTDP and underlying emotions linked to the conflicts worked through
For most people this therapy can be intense and transforming
What happens in a session?
Every session is driven by the want of the Individual. During each session current problem, a trigger and the psychological shifts in the individual are closely observed by both the psychotherapist and the individual. Throughout the session emotions are the focus . Any rise of symptoms of anxiety and any use of unconscious self defeating behaviors are also observed. If anxiety is too high it is regulated, so that all work is done in the most comfortable way. This is because inevitably in life we will experience conflicts with others. When conflicts occur, we experience feelings. These feelings, make us aware of what we want. However, most patients seek therapy because they cannot channel their feelings into effective action. Instead, they may experience Anxiety and use unconscious defenses.
How is ISTDP different from other therapies?
- CAPACITY BUILDING……. This Psychotherapy is non Directive, though the therapist and client actively work together towards achieving therapeutic goals . Whereas in most therapies the person is guided to think or behave in certain ways, in this therapy advice or interpretations are avoided and the client assisted to build his own capacity to be the driver of his actions based on his emotions and wants.
2.IT IS AN ADVANCED FORM OF ANALYTIC THERAPY REQUIRING HIGH MOTIVATION In intensive short Term Dynamic psychotherapy emotions are felt, experienced and mastered unlike most other therapies where there is passive listening and thinking.
3.THE FOCUS IS ON CONFLICTS AND EMOTIONS The maximum focus being on how a person responds to conflicts and situations including relationships which bring up emotions.
4. GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP IS ACTIVELY WORKED UPON BY THE CLIENT AND THE THERAPIST TO GET MAXIMUM BENEFIT OUT OF THERAPY The other key difference is that as therapy progresses both the client and the psychotherapist constantly work on the emotions and reactions in the therapy room as well ,including reactions towards the therapist. These reactions are also worked upon to build a good working relationship with the therapist to get the maximum out of therapy.
PROBLEMS WHERE ISTDP WAS FOUND USEFUL TROUGH RESEARCH
ISTDP AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PAIN OR PSYCHOSOMATIC DISORDERS
People who have been suffering from long standing physical symptoms like headache, migraines, backaches with no identifiable medical cause
Watch this video on Chronic Pain to know more
ISTDP AND ANXIETY SYMPTOMS
watch this video to understand Anxiety Symptoms
- Headaches
- Bladder urgency and frequency
- Irritable bowel
- Ulcerative colitis
- Asthma
- Sleep disturbance
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Jelly legs
- Losing track of thoughts, scattered thinking, dissociation, confusion, drifting,
- Visual blurring, tunnel vision, blindness
- Tinnitus
- Fainting, freezing, dizziness
- Sudden loss of feeling in areas of the body
SELF
- Lack of motivation
- Disturbance in thoughts, repetitive thoughts
- Behaviour causing harm to oneself or others
- Addictions
- Guilt
- Excessive fear without real cause
- Phobias – of heights, crowds, open spaces etc
- Sadness, moodiness
- Anger and aggression
- Sexual difficulties
WORK
- Poor motivation
- Reduced efficiency
- Poor concentration
- Restlessness
- Feeling incapable
- Helplessness
- Hopelessness
- Poor interactions
RELATIONSHIPS
- Several intimacy issues
- Several orientation issues
- Distancing
- Stagnation
- Infidelity
- Loss of relationship
- Disappointment
- Trust
Confidentiality: You can rest assured that utmost confidentiality is maintained to protect any information that you share with us during your therapy.