Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
ISTDP is an attachment focused evidence based psychotherapy founded upon neuroscience and psychodynamic principles. ISTDP comprises of a set of interventions to relieve emotional distress and to promote mental wellbeing, by identifying and treating the root cause of an individual’s problems. ISTDP is a highly focused interactive psychotherapy, where the client and psychologist work collaboratively to identify, understand, and shift the automatic maladaptive subconscious patterns and defence mechanisms comprised of thoughts, emotions, sensations, and behaviours that underlie psychological disorders. This process builds an individuals capacity to tolerate and integrate previously avoided unconscious emotions. ISTDP works at a neural level, altering the implicit memory experiences which perpetuate anxiety and distress.
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Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples offers a compassionate and transformative approach to relationships, rooted in understanding the emotional bonds that shape our interactions. At the heart of EFT is the idea that our attachment needs drive the patterns we engage in with our partners. This therapy helps couples uncover the deeper emotional dynamics at play, fostering a safe environment where vulnerability and connection can flourish.
With a psychodynamic lens, we explore how past experiences—early attachments, unresolved conflicts, and unconscious patterns—can influence the present. This approach allows couples to not only address current relational challenges but also gain insight into the emotional wounds and defense mechanisms that might be perpetuating distance or misunderstanding. Through EFT’s structured, emotionally attuned interventions and psychodynamic exploration, couples can work toward healthier, more secure bonds, achieving lasting emotional growth and intimacy.
Prolonged Exposure
Prolonged Exposure (PE) is a highly effective evidence based cognitive therapy, shown to be efficacious across a wide range of presentations. PE gradually helps the client approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations they have avoided since experiencing trauma, while also shifting the maladaptive beliefs that continue to trap them. This allows a person to process and gain control over their memories and experiences. Prolonged exposure is typically provided over a period of about three months with weekly individual sessions, resulting in eight to 15 sessions overall. 60-90 minute sessions are often needed to facilitate effective processing of traumatic experiences early in treatment.