Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is an evidence-based, emotionally oriented, intensive form of psychodynamic therapy that assists individuals in identifying and addressing unhelpful ways of coping with their emotions and relating to others. It is highly effective in treating a variety of mental health conditions, life issues, and some physical health conditions that are not ameliorated by typical medical interventions. With the latter, through the process of ISTDP it is necessary to explore possible emotionally related underpinnings to the physical symptoms that are presenting. What this means is that individuals who are, for example, struggling with medically unexplained muscle pain (e.g., non-cardiac chest pain, tension headache), gastrointestinal issues (e.g., IBS), chronic migraine and so forth might find symptom relief through engaging in ISTDP.

You can expect that sessions will involve the exploration of your emotions, interpretations of your experiences, and a collaborative examination of the ways in which you respond to those emotions and interpretations in the session. The goal of this process is to help you gain an awareness of your learned coping responses that were once helpful but are no longer effective. Ultimately, the aim is for you to discover new ways of relating to yourself and others that are more consistent with your wants, needs, and values in life.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, also called DR for Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of psychotherapy. It was originally designed to treat traumatic memories, including PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and OSI (Operational Stress Injury). EMDR can also be helpful for problems other than PTSD.

EMDR uses some elements of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) as well as Exposure Therapy. A typical EMDR session may last from one to two hours and involves identifying a specific memory along with the feelings, thoughts, and behaviours associated with the memory. Following this the therapist helps the client to engage in bilateral stimulation of some sort (e.g., side-to-side eye movements, right and left side tapping, etc.). Throughout the therapy session there are periods of bilateral stimulation with breaks to see what changes have occurred with the client, and to adapt and customize the therapy as appropriate. There has been a lot of research on EMDR and it is found to be as effective as other evidence-based forms of therapy, such as CBT.

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