Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
An Overview of Key Techniques
A Thursday Nov 7th meeting of the London Neuropsychoanalysis Group will be held from 6-8pm in Room G03 of the UCL Department of Experimental Psychology at 26 Bedford Way, Bloomsbury, London, WC1H 0AP. The talk is free to attend and open to the public.
The speaker
Dr Sharon Lewis, Clinical Psychologist and a founder and director of ISTDP-UK.
About the topic
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is an emotion-focused, accelerated form of psychodynamic psychotherapy. This approach combines theoretical aspects of psycho-dynamic therapy, developmental neuroscience, and attachment styles to provide a framework for intensifying emotion and accelerating the course of treatment. The central tenet is to establish an ‘earned-secure’ state of mind.
The ISTDP therapist takes an active approach and uses a set of techniques to provide symptom relief in as short a time period as possible. The presentation will give a brief overview of key techniques including:
- monitoring unconscious signalling in the body
- working actively with maladaptive defences
- intensifying the somatic experience of emotions
A clinical video presentation entitled ‘Toxic Shame’ will illustrate the method in action. The case illustrates how development of a punitive superego can be viewed as primarily the result of early broken bonds of attunement, compassion and empathy and presents effective interventions for working with this patient group.
About the speaker
Dr Sharon Lewis is a chartered clinical psychologist registered with the British Psychological Society and the Health and Care Professions Council. She is an IEDTA accredited supervisor and trainer, and a founder and director of ISTDP-UK. She has published books and journal articles on the subjects of trauma and ISTDP. Dr Lewis has a particular interest in working with clients with anxiety difficulties and treatment-resistant depression, as well as those diagnosed with physical health conditions such as auto-immune disorders, fibromyalgia and chronic pain. Her therapeutic approach is based in the attachment-based model of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy and she has trained extensively with senior clinicians in ISTDP, including Dr Robert J. Neborsky, MD and Professor Allan Abbass. Currently in private practice in Amersham, Buckinghamshire she offers ISTDP training from introductory to advanced level in London. www.drsharonlewis.com
About the location
The UCL building at 26 Bedford Way WC1H 0AP is at the corner of Gordon Square and Bedford way, just between Gordon Square and Tavistock Square Gardens.