FAQ’s about ISTDP
INTENSIVE SHORT-TERM DYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
(ISTDP)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISTDP?
ISTDP is a form of one-on-one therapy that is unique in helping target and resolve both physical and emotional problems. At times, I myself utilize a variety of therapeutic approaches.
The treatment approach I use most predominately and frequently is based in the ISTDP modality.
What problems can ISTDP-style therapy help relieve and resolve?
Research has shown ISTDP to be a uniquely effective treatment for depression, anxiety, and a broad spectrum of emotional problems and self-defeating behaviors. It can also help with physical problems that your doctor has not been able to find an explanation for, including digestive problems, neck, shoulder and back pain, other types of body pain, dizziness, mental fogginess and difficulty with concentration. It helps with ailments that are worsened by stress, such as migraine or tension headaches, tension-myositis syndrome (TMS), chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and overactive bladder.
What can ISTDP-style therapy do for me?
ISTDP is designed to help you become healthier in the shortest amount of time. In fact, many ISTPD patients report feeling calmer, empowered, emotionally and physically lighter, more capable of handling the challenges of everyday life – and happier – often after the first few weeks of therapy – or sooner.
Successful treatment usually results in a significant (or complete) reduction of symptoms, greater success in work and relationships, and the restoration of emotional vibrancy.
It is very efficient, and research shows the people often keep improving even after finishing therapy, so many people have found it well worth their time.
How Does ISTDP Work More Quickly?
ISTDP often succeeds where other therapies fail because it specifically targets and removes the barriers that interfere with progress in therapy – habits and defenses that patients are often unaware of, and that the therapist confronts head-on at the beginning of the therapy.
Also, an ISTDP approach integrates the some of the most powerful aspects of:
- Psychodynamic psychotherapy
- Cognitive-Behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness and the mind-body connection
- Neuroscientific research
For these reasons, ISTDP is frequently used to treat people whose persistent symptoms have not resolved in the course of other therapies or with medication.
How does ISTDP feel different from other therapies?
ISTDP is not typical “talk therapy.” In this unique model, therapist and client work together in a structured, purposeful way. The therapist plays a much more active role than in typical therapy.
Initially, this may seem strange for people accustomed to using their therapy hour to discuss whatever they wish in an open-ended or free-flowing manner. But most people soon come to appreciate the power of this directed approach. People typically know after one or a few sessions whether ISTDP-style therapy is the right therapy for them.
What can I expect when I get into the treatment room?
Treatment usually begins with a detailed inquiry into the precise nature of your problem and your goals for therapy.
Once goals are set, you and I will work closely together to investigate your difficulties. While doing this, I will help you learn to monitor your feelings and body sensations moment-by-moment, which will expose any habitual ways of functioning that may be holding you back.
The ultimate goal is to help you replace suffering and pain with healthy emotional regulation so you can achieve your full potential in all areas of life.
What exactly do you mean by “Short-Term” therapy?
My experience is that, for the most part, using an ISTDP-style foundation and approach typically cuts to the chase much faster, and therefore shortens the length of a course of therapy, and also deepens the impact, in comparison with other therapeutic modalities I know.
However, as mentioned on the Homepage, sometimes my therapy is not short-term. Some traumas start very early in life or in a primary relationship, and require a longer course of treatment. Or problems can be very complex. Struggles with mind-altering substances or habitual self-sabotaging behavioral patterns can further complicate emotional difficulties. I may not see what is happening quickly, despite my best efforts. And sometimes smaller chunks of therapy spread over longer periods of time are more effective.
What will you be doing in our sessions?
In your sessions I will carefully attend to your current life and what brings you to therapy, as explained on Homepage and repeated here. I will also focus on what is happening in the moment between us, and between you and your partner in couples counseling:
- How are you conveying feelings?
- What is not being said or said indirectly?
- What is happening with your anxiety?
- What patterns are emerging in your interactions with me that are also prevalent in your life?
- To what extent and in what circumstances are you aware of your feelings?
- Are certain feelings more difficult for you than others?
I will share my observations in real time. My observations could be inaccurate and you can tell me what I missed or misinterpreted. You may like what I say or be annoyed or feel sad or have mixed feelings.
We can learn about you very quickly by observing together how you handle your feelings with me, which is most likely how you handle the same feelings outside of therapy. This focused immediate experiential component is essential to getting to the bottom of your problems and shortening the duration of therapy. While intellectual knowledge is important, it will be these in-vivo experiential therapy experiences that are most important to achieving deep and profound change.
How can I fit longer sessions into my schedule?
- An initial longer 3-hour “Trial Session” is highly recommended as it is very helpful in evaluating if we are a good fit, if the therapy style is a good match for you, giving you a full experience of the therapy, and getting off to a strong start. The initial 3-hour session is scheduled to start in the morning or early midday.
- You can choose to come in initially for a complimentary (no charge) 30-minute pre-therapy “Meet and Greet” meeting, where you can meet me and ask any questions….
- Or you can take advantage of a discount I offer on the 3-hour initial Trial Session.
- Then, because of the complex nature of treatment, I sometimes recommend follow-up sessions of 90-minute length, but if 90 minutes is not feasible, I typically recommend 60-minute ongoing weekly sessions, depending on the individual. Some commuting patients prefer two-hour or longer block sessions. But weekly 60-minute ongoing follow-up sessions typically provide enough opportunity for your therapy to flourish. We can assess what works for you and your situation.
- I start at 7 or 7;30 in the morning, so if you can snag one of those in-demand early-morning spots, you could possibly come in before y0ur work day. I’ve even been known to start at 6:45 am!
- As you experience recovery, you may cut back to biweekly or monthly, etc. The time it takes to achieve this stage can vary greatly, depending on your goals and the severity and intensity of problems.
Research Support for the Efficacy of ISTDP
A large and growing body of research supports the effectiveness of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, including research on significant medical cost-savings related to treating common or chronic medical problems with ISTDP.
In addition to the United States, ISTDP is becoming increasingly prominent in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Iran, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
For more information on ISTDP, you can visit the following websites:
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To find out more or to make an appointment,
Call: (310) 488-5292
Email: CL@CatherineLockwoodMFT.com
CATHERINE LOCKWOOD, MA, LMFT
Office on South Barrington Place, Brentwood Village, Los Angeles, CA zip 90049, on the “Westside” of the city of Los Angeles
www.CatherineLockwoodMFT.com Tel: (310) 488-5292 CatherineLockwoodMFT@Gmail.com
