Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, or ISTDP, was developed by Dr. Habib Davanloo in Canada. Its core idea is simple: much anxiety, low mood and many repeating relationship patterns come from feelings we have learned not to notice, such as anger, grief or guilt toward the important people in our lives.
In ISTDP the therapist helps you notice, right now in the session, what you are feeling, how your body is reacting and which ways you use to move away from that feeling. The aim is to experience these feelings without fear, so that the pressure coming out as symptoms can ease.
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ISTDP pays close attention to the present moment. When you talk about a specific situation, such as an argument with your partner or how your father treated you, the therapist asks what you notice in your body right now. This focus on detail helps the real feeling surface from beneath explanations and justifications.
Another key part is recognising defences: things we do automatically so that we do not feel something painful, such as smiling when upset, changing the subject or blaming ourselves. The therapist points these out respectfully so that you can choose whether you still want to use them.
The therapist also tracks your level of anxiety and its bodily signs. If anxiety rises too high, the pace slows and the focus shifts to calming down and understanding what happened. So the work is intensive, but it is not meant to be careless.
Online ISTDP sessions usually last 50 to 60 minutes and often take place once a week. Some therapists offer a longer first session to get a clearer picture. Because the therapist watches your face and body closely, a clear video image and a quiet, private space help a lot.
The length of therapy varies; for some people a few months is enough, while long-standing difficulties may take longer. You may experience strong feelings in session and feel a little tired afterwards, which is often a normal part of the process.
Examples are fictional and illustrative.
Maryam had recurring headaches for years and doctors found no physical cause. In sessions, the therapist noticed that whenever Maryam spoke about her mother, her shoulders tightened and she changed the subject. Gradually Maryam was able to feel anger and grief she had ignored for a long time. She says she now notices sooner what has upset her.
Arash moved to Germany five years ago and from the outside everything looked fine. Yet he had insomnia and anxiety and did not know why. In online therapy in Persian, he slowly reached a guilt he carried about leaving his parents behind. Experiencing that feeling in session helped him speak more honestly with his family.
Sara noticed that every relationship of hers ended with the same arguments. The therapist helped her see that when she is hurt, she goes quiet and cold instead of saying so. Practising in session, Sara learned to express her feelings earlier and more clearly.
These therapists list this on their profile. All sessions are online and in Persian.
"Short-term" is in comparison with classical psychoanalysis. For some people a few months is enough, for others therapy takes longer. Your therapist will usually discuss the likely course with you after a few sessions.
Yes, many ISTDP therapists work by video. It matters that image and sound are clear and that you are in a private, undisturbed space.
ISTDP therapists are trained to track anxiety and slow down when needed, and you can always say you need a pause. If you are ever in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself outside sessions, contact local emergency services.
Both work with feelings and unconscious patterns. ISTDP is more active, with a strong focus on the present moment, the body and defences, while psychodynamic therapy usually moves at a calmer, more conversational pace.
This page is general information and does not replace a professional assessment. If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact your local emergency services. Urgent help
