ISTDP (Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy) is an evidence-based, emotion-focused form of psychotherapy that helps uncover and address the underlying emotional patterns contributing to anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and other psychological challenges.
Difficult or conflicting emotions can sometimes feel uncomfortable, overwhelming, or unsafe to experience.
We may unconsciously avoid uncomfortable emotions through behaviours such as withdrawing, overthinking, minimizing, or self-criticism.
When difficult emotions arise, the body and mind may respond with anxiety, tension, or other symptoms.
Over time, these responses can contribute to emotional distress, relationship difficulties, and patterns that feel difficult to change.
ISTDP is an active and collaborative approach to therapy. Rather than focusing only on managing symptoms, your therapist works with you to identify emotional patterns, understand how anxiety and avoidance may be affecting you, and address the underlying emotions contributing to your difficulties.
Explore how anxiety appears in your mind and body and how it may be connected to difficult emotions.
Learn to recognize and understand emotions as they arise rather than automatically avoiding or suppressing them.
Identify automatic coping strategies that may once have been helpful but are now contributing to distress or keeping you stuck.
Understand recurring emotional and relationship patterns and begin developing healthier ways of responding.
Work through underlying emotions and unresolved experiences to support meaningful and lasting psychological change.
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