Services
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)
ISTDP is scientifically supported treatment that focuses on treating the source rather than the symptoms, where the practitioner and patient engage in active dialog. Most importantly, ISTDP is known to be quick and effective. In the initial sessions, the patient and counsellor work to uncover internal conflicts and painful feelings that have been pushed away due to the difficult nature of the feelings. The patient and practitioner work together (this is a key component of ISTP) with the therapist listening and providing immediate feedback. Working together, similar to a two-way conversation, the therapy becomes a collaboration, where both patient and practitioner establish the direction to changing harmful habits, replacing them with strategic healthy behaviors. This relationship involves a lot of work for both parties, with the result of deeper change compared to other therapies.
Medically Unexplained Symptoms/ Traumatic Symptom Disorder
Typically when someone experiences physical pain, the cause is discovered by a professional, and it is treated. However, when this is unable to happen, a patient may experience physical symptoms despite treatment, or the cause is not discovered. It’s possible in these cases that there is a psychological component. But how can this be? Well, science has established that the mind and body are connected. Sometimes emotional trauma thus begets physical pain. The greater issue is, even when the trigger is not present, the pain may continue and a pattern is established. The physical symptoms can flare up when environmental stresses are present, such as noise or emotional triggers. For many, these symptoms go unexplained, despite the patient looking for a cause and treatment, even for years. Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy(ISTDP) (link to above) has been used to treat Medically Unexplained Symptoms including (but not limited to): concussion, hyperventilation, paralysis, sweating, migrain, nausea, acid reflux, IBS symptoms, dizzy spells, dry mouth, numbness or tingling, cold extremities, fainting or fatigue.
Dissociative Seizures
For some people who have experienced seizures, they may discover the seizures are dissociative seizures. Dissociative seizures are non-epiletic, but may look and feel a lot like epileptic seizures. They are often misdiagnosed, however, when treatment for epileptic seizures isn’t effective, it may be the case that the cause of the seizure activity is psychogenic. The seizures are unconscious and caused by emotions or memories, rather than a physical cause, but the seizures are not less distressing or problematic. In fact, the body is attempting to drown out the noise of a distressing memory, and in doing so, creates a physical response (the seizure) that becomes its own distressing occurrence. Using ISTP treatment (link to above), the patient and the psychologist can uncover the core experience that is leading to the seizures. By addressing the cause, the symptoms (seizures) are often reduced or eliminated.
Treatment Resistant Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are common, but unfortunately, so are treatment resistant anxiety disorders. For those who have been treated for an anxiety disorder without success, or have had a reduction of symptoms only for the anxiety symptoms to reappear, traditional treatment may not be the answer. Many patients have experienced anxiety in response to an event. Whether noticed or not, uncovering the core of the symptoms of anxiety, can then help patients recognize their anxiety and learn to regulate the symptoms of anxiety. ISTDP (link to above) can be effective where psychotherapeutic approaches to treating anxiety have not produced a lasting reduction in the patient’s anxiety symptoms. Through ISTDP, patients learn to develop a healthy relationship with anxiety, freeing themselves from the control anxiety once had on their wellbeing.
Treatment Resistant Depression
For patients who have been treated for depression symptoms, only to have little to no improvement or to have the depression symptoms return, these patients might have treatment resistant depression. These patients often feel the compounded symptoms of depression and exasperation from being unable to find relief. There is good news. Though standard treatments may not alleviate the symptoms of treatment resistant depression, ISTDP (link to above) is known for being able to get to the core of the depression, thus reducing the symptoms. Patients who have undergone other treatments for their depression work with the practitioner to unearth experiences that have contributed to the depression. They then replace unproductive habits with new habits that create positive emotional experiences, thus, reducing suffering and pain associated with depression.
Emotion Focused Couples Therapy
Couples working to fulfil needs within the relationship (intimacy, emotional support, shared parenting, etc.) require habits and choices. Sometimes though, unproductive habits and choices can arise, without either party being aware of it. These become patterns that become destructive to relationships and family. Through therapy, couples learn to recognize the habits and choices, and if it's the right fit for the couple, decide to work together to create healthier patterns. This leads to healthier relationships and a stronger ability to fulfil each other's needs within the relationship.