Beyond Symptom Management: Working with the emotional roots of depression

Wed Mar 25 2026 at 09:00 am to 04:30 pm UTC+02:00

Hotel Lilla Roberts | Helsinki

ISTDP London
Publisher/HostISTDP London
Beyond Symptom Management: Working with the emotional roots of depression
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Using Attachment-Based Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy to treat depression: Lectures and clinical video presentations
About this Event


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.


Matti Pesola is a psychologist and supervising psychodynamic psychotherapist with IEDTA certified core training in ISTDP. He has worked extensively in both public and private mental health settings. Currently, Matti works as a trainer for the Finnish tunnefokusoitu psykoterapia -model and at Nuorisopsykoterapiasäätiö, an institute providing psychodynamic training focused on adolescent therapy and developmental challenges. He is passionate about experiential learning approaches. He also offers clinical supervision for psychotherapists


Event Photos
Agenda

🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:20 AM
Registration & Morning coffee

Info: Registration


🕑: 09:20 AM - 10:45 AM
Lecture: AB-ISTDP Metapsychology & the psychodynamics of depression

Info: Metapsychology, Attachment Trauma, and Malan's triangles. Depressive symptom patterns.


🕑: 10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Morning coffee break
🕑: 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
Identifying and working with depressive Defences
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Lunch Break

Info: Lunch served in Krog Roba


🕑: 01:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Maladaptive Defences and Somatisation

Info: Clinical Case 2:


🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:20 PM
Afternoon Break
🕑: 03:20 PM - 04:15 PM
Breakthrough to unconscious complex emotion

Info: Clinical Case 3


🕑: 04:15 PM - 04:30 PM
Discussion and close
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Hotel Lilla Roberts, 1 Pieni Roobertinkatu, Helsinki, Finland

Tickets

GBP 125.30 to GBP 276.97

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