Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)

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• Overview

  ISTDP is a clinician-led, psychodynamic therapy model that helps patients rapidly access and release suppressed emotions believed to drive physical or psychological symptoms. It works by breaking through defence mechanisms that block emotional expression, with the aim of resolving internal conflict and reducing symptoms. ISTDP has been studied in relation to chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and somatic conditions.

• How It Works

  • Delivered 1:1 by trained psychotherapists or psychologists

  • Uses structured techniques such as pressure, clarification, and challenge to help surface avoided emotions

  • Focuses on identifying unconscious emotional drivers of symptoms

  • Often includes videotaped sessions to help clinicians refine delivery and observe moment-to-moment defences

• Worth Knowing

  • ISTDP is grounded in psychoanalytic theory but aims for faster results than traditional talk therapy

  • Evidence supports its effectiveness for medically unexplained symptoms, treatment-resistant conditions, and chronic pain

  • Sessions can be emotionally intense and are most often delivered in a clinical setting

• What People Find Useful

  • Research has shown ISTDP to be effective for chronic functional symptoms and somatisation disorders (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

  • Some TMS-informed practitioners integrate ISTDP principles when working with chronic pain patients (drshubiner.com)

  • Therapists using ISTDP report that patients often experience emotional breakthroughs that correlate with symptom relief (istdpinstitute.com)

• Typical Costs

  • Costs vary depending on location and practitioner

  • Most clinicians charge between £90 - £180 per session in the UK, or $100 - $250 in the US

  • Not usually offered as a package or self-guided format

• Discounts + Affordability

  • Not typically discounted, but some therapists offer sliding scale sessions or student rates

  • ISTDP training clinics or early-career practitioners may offer reduced-cost sessions

• Links

  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intensive_short-term_dynamic_psychotherapy

  • ISTDP Institute: https://istdpinstitute.com

  • Research example: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28423798

  • For therapists: https://www.iedta.net