This forum is a place for therapists to share their personal reactions in their journey to learn more about EDT. We have much to learn from the thoughts and reactions of those who attend EDT conferences, workshops, seminars and trainings. What was enlightening? How has their work been impacted as they return to their practices? Was there something learned of particular significance to their patients or to themselves?
Experienced, highly trained EDT psychotherapists teach with a passion for sharing their expertise with other professionals. This desire is fueled when we see real and lasting change in the lives of people we seek to help, often occurring in an accelerated fashion. Many of our presenters have published significant work and are prominently known in universities, training institutes and on the seminar circuit.
Members of IEDTA who are planning an EDT conference, seminar or workshop are invited to contribute verbatim, unedited quotations from the Comments section of your evaluation forms. If the person is identified, permission to use the quotation must be obtained. Include the title, speaker, location and date of the event. Please email these comments to Susan Warren Warshow, LCSW, at
. Thank you.
So, what do our conference goers have to say about their experiences learning about EDT? Below are some reactions in their own words:
Quotations
Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy: Advanced Workshop
RINO Noord-Holland, November 26 2008 with Kristin A. R. Osborn.
“ Thank you very much for your enthusiasm, for teaching me the idea of self-compassion that you showed in your tapes and in the course. You made me very enthusiastic for E-STDP.”
Dutch Psychotherapist
"Two Roads to Syria: A Time and A Place to Grieve".
Robert Neborsky, M.D. and Josette ten Have-de Labije, PsyD
Syria, Virginia: nestled in the beautiful Shenandoah Mountains
June 4-9, 2006.
“Our summer school experience for me was what we want for our patients: the ability to be fully human, fully alive, and fully open to new experiences. The generosity of spirit, and especially by Rob and Josette, in sharing themselves with such gusto made it a magnificent time of learning and a time to experience an extravagent range of emotions. Most of all, the fun, laughter, and caring were as incrediblly beautiful as the setting. If its true that we can't help our patients grow beyond where we are, I would say this group has done some mighty powerful work themselves and are well on their way to making their teachers proud!”
Pam Doser Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Cabin John, Maryland, USA
The Oxford Experiential Dynamic Therapy Conference
May 11th & 12th 2006, St John's College, Oxford.
"I thought that Patricia's well chosen in-depth all-day presentation made it easier to follow the stages of EDT/ISTDP than the shorter presentations at UCLA last September. I liked Ferruccio's willingness to show a presentation that opened up an interesting debate among the panel of presenters as to 'effectiveness' of different strategies within the EDT umbrella.
Robert did a wonderful job in demonstrating regulation of affect within the dyad. I recognized this as having a two-fold benefit in the interaction shown this time: a) the in-the-moment permission to feel the full extent of the emotion and b) the role-modeling of affect regulation to be integrated by the patient.
I was glad to have been present."
Canadian psychotherapist
The Oxford Experiential Dynamic Therapy Conference
May 11th & 12th 2006, St John's College, Oxford.
“David's (Malan)eloquent introduction set the stage nicely providing detail, reason and history also peppered with summary insights as to the key differences that make this approach so successful by comparison with more traditional approaches.
It seemed to me that these ideas - "don't interpret: ask", the blocking of the tactical defenses often so unconsciously put in place by people that hinder progress, the importance of not just cognitizing but experiencing, the idea that experience is truth, to exhaust these defenses in an appeal to the ego to rescue the self from the super-ego's perpetration of suffering, all seems just as applicable to the drive towards freedom and fulfillment in life that we all partake of in our interactions with others to greater or lesser degrees every day.
The presentation of this as self-evident and simple truth which can be extended and applied to such severe cases as were then presented seemed to bring hope to the audience. What was presented provoked a lot of thought as well as some
significant reasoned yet emotional responses that evolved into an organic discussion between the audience and the presenters…
In summary, a very thought provoking, reasoned set of presentations with much interaction. Many thanks to the resenters for sharing of the video sessions, which illustrated the process so well”
Canadian psychotherapist
The Oxford Experiential Dynamic Therapy Conference
May 11th & 12th 2006, St John's College, Oxford.
"One of the finest conferences I've ever attended"
"Excellent conference - interesting, usefual and inspiring"
"Stimulating, useful and enlightening - paritularly appreciate the priveledge of being able to watch therapy in progress.
"Enormously important to provide a "voice" for research in dynamic therapy as a counterweight to the ever more prevalent CBT approach."
"The clarity fo each presentation was excellent. I appreciate the generosity in such an open presentation where we were invited to observe what they DO as well as listen to what they SAY."
"Thought-provoking and engaging"
"I enjoyed it more than Iexpected and it opened my eyes to a whole world of therapy I'd previously denied."
"Probably the best conference I've ever attended"
On Dr. Patricia Coughlin:
"I enjoyed this experience immensely and feel priveledged to have been able to share this journey of therapeutic alliance and proven outcome. Please express my heartfelt gratitude for this experience."
On Dr. Robert Neborsky:
"An outstand explanation of what we viewed on video - able to show us what he's doing. A Phenomenon!"
On Dr. Osimo:
"Excellent, emotive, informative."
"Two Roads to Syria (Virginia): A Time and A Place to Grieve".
A summer ISTDP immersion program sponsored by the Washington School of Psychiatry
June 4 – 9, 2006, Gravesâ Mountain Lodge near the Shenandoah Valley
Taught by Robert Neborsky, MD and Josette ten Have-de Labije, Psy.D.
"There are many ways to learn. But this experience of immersion and play hit all the senses and finally made its way to both hemispheres in my brain.
Rob Neborsky has written that proof of successful treatment can be seen by:
Improvement in interpersonal relationships
Increase in emotional IQ
Greater capacity for empathy
Greater capacity for intimacy demonstrated by greater capacity for mutuality, empathy and play (see Neborsky slides at www.istdp.com)
The immersion experience in Syria with Josette and Rob is proof that learning takes place best as an emotional, experiential process not only for our patients, but for us as therapists, too!"
Conference Goers Speak
