What is ISTDP?

Intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) is the therapeutic approach that we primarily use at Lucid Psychotherapy and Counselling. It's proven to be effective with treating a vast range of clinical problems, and can led to rapid change in clients due it's focused technique. In this model we engage in therapy with our clients in an active collaborative relationship to help the client to overcome their problems by seeing the things that happen inside them (defences) that contribute to their current problems. By seeing how this happens in the present moment we can work together to find new, more beneficial ways of being. 

ISTDP is a relational, engaged therapy where we work together to identify the ways you relate to and experience your emotions, and the ways in which feelings may be getting blocked, which can lead to a range of symptoms and difficulties such as anxiety, feeling numb/flat or medically unexplained physical symptoms. 

ISTDP was founded by Habib Davanloo who developed a clear way of understanding how psychological problems arise. Essentially by being alive we experience difficulties with others and ourselves, this gives rise to feelings. Feelings are designed to help us to connect with ourselves and others, to know what we do or don't want, and what actions will help us to lead a better life. Without access to feelings, we often feeling lost and struggle to find a direction in life (feelings are like our internal compass). Many people come to therapy with difficulties in accessing feelings and taking appropriate action, they instead feel anxious or use behaviours or psychological defences that are not helpful for them or their relationships. 

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