Learning ISTDP has been one of the most rigorous and transformative experiences of my career. It asks therapists to stay deeply present and to continually refine both skill and self-awareness. I consider myself a lifelong student of this approach because at its heart, ISTDP is not just a technique; it’s a way of seeing people with truth, courage, and respect.

If you’re someone who tends to think your way through life - analyzing, achieving, and staying in control, you’re not alone. Many of my clients come to therapy exhausted from holding everything together while quietly feeling disconnected, anxious, or unsure why old patterns keep repeating.

Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is a powerful method designed to help you reconnect with the emotional truths that live beneath the surface. I often take the ‘short term’ out of the name because it can be misleading. Timelines are subjective. ISTDP is based on the understanding that unprocessed feelings such as anger, grief, love, and longing don’t just disappear. They live in the body, creating tension, anxiety, self-doubt, and even physical symptoms when they’re blocked or avoided.

In ISTDP, we pay close attention to both your mind and your body. Together, we notice what happens when difficult emotions start to arise such as the subtle shifts in breath, muscle tension, or the urge to change the subject, explain, or shut down. These are the defenses we’ve all learned to protect ourselves from pain, but they often come at the cost of aliveness and connection.

The work is focused, experiential, and deeply human. It’s not about endlessly talking about your past, but about feeling through what was once too much to bear: safely, fully, and with compassion. Over time, you learn to face emotions directly, rather than being run by them. The result is a greater sense of inner strength, clarity, and freedom.