top of page
Icefield

ISTDP: A Unique Approach

Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy

As your therapist, I would work in partnership with you to address the problems you face. One way we could do this is by using a unique approach known as ISTDP.[1]

ISTDP is an emotion-based therapy method in which we address your goals and difficulties in an active and focused way.

Compared with traditional psychotherapy, ISTDP often provides much faster relief. Research has shown that ISTDP can address a wide spectrum of issues, including:

  • depression

  • anxiety

  • relationship difficulties

  • stagnation and procrastination

  • personality disorders

  • trauma and abuse

 

ISTDP has also proven effective in treating medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS), including headaches, backaches, body aches, and IBS. (See MUPS page for more information.)

What Should I Expect From Our First Meeting?

Our first meeting would usually be an extended session of two to three hours. In this initial meeting, we work together toward five key objectives:

  1. Understand the difficulties that are bringing you to treatment.

  2. Clarify your most important goals.

  3. Pay close attention to you and your emotions.

  4. Practice regulating anxiety as we explore the problems you have come to address.

  5. Pay close attention to mental habits that may be contributing to your difficulties.

By the end of this initial session, we usually have some idea about what’s causing your symptoms and suffering. 

Research has shown that many people experience symptom relief from this initial session alone.[2] For 25% of people who complete an initial 2–3-hour session, these improvements are moderate to large.

______________________

 

[1] ISTPD = Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy.

[2] Abbass, A., Town, Ogrodniczuk, J., Joffres, M., Lilliengren, P. (2017). Intensive Short-term Dynamic Psychotherapy Trial Therapy: Effectiveness and Role of “Unlocking the Unconscious,” The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 205, pp. 453-457.

 

For more information about ISTDP, visit the ISTDP Institute.

References
fn1
fn2

Listing

  • Psychology Today

Stuart Andrews, Ph.D. and associates provide psychotherapy to individuals, couples, children, and adolescents. Dr. Andrews and his team specialize in ISTDP and PACT counseling. They can help with concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, procrastination, personality disorders, trauma and abuse, and Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUPs), also called Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) or Psychophysiologic Disorders (PPD). Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic phase, he and his associates have been seeing clients remotely via telemedicine/telehealth (video and phone calls) as well as in person. Their office is located in Reston, VA (near Alexandria, Arlington, Ashburn, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Fairfax, Great Falls, Herndon, McLean, Oakton, South Riding, and Vienna, VA; Silver Spring and Bethesda, MD; and Washington, DC).

 

© 2018–2025 by Stuart Andrews, Ph.D.  Site-developed and maintained by Your Attention, Pleasecommunications

bottom of page