ISTDP (Sydney) 2018 Conference, Novotel Central, Sydney, Australia

with Dr MARTIN DORAHY, BERNIE McCARTHY, DR STEPHEN ARTHEY & DR HENRY LUIKER

In the last decade, the sophisticated science-based understanding of the emotional mind/brain in treatment, emerging from the work of Allan Schore, Daniel Hill, Efrat Ginot and many others, has allowed the identification of “core” aspects of psychodynamic theory. These “core” aspects pertain not only to the negative sequelae of attachment disturbance on psychological symptoms and our capacity for relationships and intimacy, but also to specific treatment techniques which promise to reverse these life-long effects.

At the same time, there is an emerging empirical literature on the “common factors” of effective psychotherapy. For example, observational studies of very effective CBT practice have identified the presence of relational and emotional factors not found in CBT theories of change but readily recognizable to dynamic psychotherapists.

More than eighty years after the publication of Freud’s therapeutically pessimistic Analysis Terminable and Interminable, this conference addresses the following questions:

1. Are we there yet? Are we now in a position to spell out in an objective manner the therapeutic techniques that have the power to heal the effects of specific types of early emotional trauma and neglect?

2. Can these techniques, and their therapeutic impact, be demonstrated in videos of work with real clients and thereby be subjected to critical study in the full light of day?

The structure of the conference represents recent Australian developments in ISTDP workshop and conference design.

LECTURES + TREATMENT VIDEOS + PLENARIES