Beyond Symptom Management: Working with the emotional roots of depression

For many patients the underlying cause of depressive symptoms is emotional dysregulation. Attachment-Based Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (AB-ISTDP) offers highly effective and innovative techniques to diagnose and treat the emotional factors underlying depressive symptoms.

The focus of this one day workshop will be on the distinct set of maladptive defences and anxiety patterns that lead to emotional blockages in patients with depressive disorders. Clinical video will demonstrate the treatment in action.

AB-ISTDP is an emotion-focused, accelerated form of dynamic psychotherapy with an excellent evidence base. It is is an active approach consisting of a targeted set of powerful and innovative techniques, and incorporates insights from neuroscience and attachment theory.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the theoretical framework of ISTDP as it applies to depressive disorders

• Interview techniques to diagnose emotional factors underlying depressive symptoms

• Understand the different neuro-physiological unconscious anxiety pathways that guide treatment format

• Understand the way in which unconscious maladaptive defences impact on and create depressive symptoms

This event is suitable for registered clinicians working in mental health or allied fields. No previous training in ISTDP is required.

This is an in-person, interactive seminar and the number of places is limited so that there is opportunity for questions and discussion.

Lunch is included in the fee. Morning and afternoon coffe and snacks will also be provided.

Presenters:

Dr Sharon Lewis is a chartered clinical psychologist registered with the British Psychological Society and the Health and Care Professions Council in the United Kingdom. She presents nationally and internationally at workshops and conferences on Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy and is a certified teacher/supervisor with the IEDTA. Her approach is based on the attachment-based model of ISTDP developed by Dr Robert Neborsky, MD.

Dr Lewis has experience both in private practice and in the NHS and has a particular interest in working with clients with anxiety difficulties and treatment-resistant depression, as well as those diagnosed with physical health conditions and functional neurological disorders.

Eila Saarinen is a psychologist and psychotherapist/psychoanalyst (IPA). She has completed an IEDTA certified core training and her approach is based on on the attachment-based model of ISTDP. She has experience both in public and private mental health services. Currently she is also a trainer for Finnish tunnefokusoitu psykoterapia -model which is partly based on the ISTDP appoach. She also offers individual supervision for psychotherapists.