About this Event
Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is an accelerated, active form of
psychodynamic therapy with an excellent evidence base. ISTDP is rooted in the research and
clinical innovations of Dr Habib Davanloo, and focuses on safely and efficiently accessing
unconscious affects or “unlocking the unconscious” early in the course of psychotherapy, in
order to accelerate and deepen the therapeutic process and increase favorable outcomes.
ISTDP has a robust evidence base and has been shown to both relieve symptoms and bring
about character change with clients e.g. with anxiety difficulties, depression, different kinds
of personality disorders, complex PTSD.
This conference will present an introduction to ISTDP techniques and theory
and will then go on to look at innovations to this model that have been
introduced by Dr. Robert Neborsky in his model of Attachment Based-ISTDP
(AB-ISTDP).
AB-ISTDP applies the clinical insights and techniques of Davanloo's ISTDP
but is further informed by research on attachment and emotion regulation. This
approach emphasizes the importance of maintaining a secure attachment bond
between client and therapist and on identifying and challenging internalised
working models which are based on earlier insecure or pathological attachment
bonds. Effective techniques for identifying and working with the pathological
superego early on in the treatment process is a unique focus of AB-ISTDP.
Dr Neborsky will present lecture material and video-filmed vignettes from AB-
ISTDP psychotherapy sessions (subtitled in English) and demonstrate how
therapists can help their clients improve their attachment styles and move from
insecure states toward secure forms of adult attachment. Dr Sharon Lewis and Betina Søbirk
Svane, who trained with Dr Neborsky in AB-ISTDP, will present additional case material.
Lead speaker:
Robert J. Neborsky, M.D.
Robert J. Neborsky, M.D., is a psychiatrist in private practice in Del Mar,
California, and a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCSD School of Medicine
as well as UCLA School of Medicine (Hon). He was a founding member on
the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Short-Term Dynamic
Psychotherapy and served as guest editor of the Ad Hoc Bulletin of Short-Term
Dynamic Psychotherapy. In 2003, Dr. Neborsky was honored by the UCLA
School of Medicine clinical faculty association as the Distinguished Psychiatric
Lecturer of the year for 2002.
In 2001, he co-authored Short-Term Therapy for Long Term Change (Norton)
and is a contributing author in the 2003 book, Healing Trauma (Norton). In
2011 along with Josette ten Have de Labije he authored Roadmap to the
Unconscious: Mastering Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, Karnac
Books (translated and published in Polish in 2017) In 2013 he published
Predicting Attachment Status from Observation of a Clinical Intensive
Psychotherapy Interview which was nominated for Progress in Psychology as
one of the top articles of that year.: Recently the Second edition of The
Collected Writings of Robert J. Neborsky was published by Itasca Books.
(2018)
Dr. Neborsky’s professional activities include training students in the
techniques of his unique Attachment-Based variety of Intensive Short-Term
Dynamic Psychotherapy (AB-ISTDP), presenting at local, national and
international symposia and seminars. His current research interests include
examination of the interface between attachment theory, neuroscience, and
psychotherapy. He is also exploring the application of ISTDP techniques to
enhance recovery from traumatic brain injury and post concussive syndrome
associated with post traumatic stress disorder.
Co-speaker:
Dr Sharon Lewis
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 is an IEDTA accredited supervisor and trainer in ISTDP
and provides individual supervision and training for clinicians wishing to
develop skills in this model. Her approach is focused on the attachment-based
ISTDP model developed by Dr Robert Neborsky (USA), where the clinical
insights and techniques of Davanloo's ISTDP are further informed by research
on attachment and emotion regulation.
Dr Lewis has experience both in private practice and in the National Health
Service 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 such as auto-immune disorders, fibromyalgia and
chronic pain.
Dr Lewis is of the most senior ISTDP practitioners in the UK, and has been at
the forefront of the development of conferences and teaching programmes to
introduce this method to clinicians in this country. She has also been a visiting
lecturer on the clinical doctorate programmes in psychology, presented
nationally and internationally at workshops and conferences and currently a
series of training courses for clinicians interested in learning this method
(www.istdp.london)
Co-speaker and organizer:
Betina Søbirk Svane
Betina Søbirk Svane has an MSc in psychology and social studies and is a certified
psychodynamic psychotherapist MPF graduated from the Institute for Gestalt Analyses in
Denmark and further trained in ISTDP by Robert Neborsky, Patricia Coughlin, Allan Abbass and
Joel Town.
Betina has 14 years of experience as a psychotherapist in prisons and private organizations
like "Dialogue against Violence". Since 2018, she has been a full-time practitioner in her own
psychotherapeutic clinic in Denmark where she offers individuel therapy, teaching/group
therapy and supervision and she currently training at advanced level to become a certified
ISTDP teacher and supervisor.
She is deeply passionated and very experienced in working with clients with more complex
and difficult challenges such as different kinds of personality disturbances, anxiety
difficulties, and complex trauma reactions. She is ambitious and persistent in teaching and
ongoing learning how you best and most effectively can learn this method and get
better at what you are doing. Right now, she is particularly focused on the topic of staying
empathic attuned, and in sync with the client, and how you work concretely with your
countertransference without harming the client
(www.betinasoebirksvane.dk)
Organizer:
Pernille Hytte Bisgaard
Pernille Hytte Bisgaard has an MSc in pedagogical psychology and is a certified Couple and
Family psychotherapist MPF . She is a specialist in Clinical Sexology from the University of
Gothenburg, Sweden. She has been trained in AB- ISTDP in London by Dr. Robert Neborsky,
Alexandra Knowles, and Dr. Sharon Lewis. Since 2007, she has been a full-time practitioner in
her psychotherapeutic clinic in Copenhagen. And since 2022 she also has had a part-time
praxis in Aarhus.
She is an ISTDP therapist with a lot of experience working with clients with different kinds of
challenges, e.g. attachment injuries and traumas. She is right now, particularly interested in
how to integrate advanced ISTDP skills in Couple Therapy
(www.hyttebisgaard.dk)
Bookings and Eligibility to attend:
The seminar is suitable for registered professionals working in mental health and allied fields
including psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists. And when you arrive on the day
you will be asked to confirm and sign the following confidentiality statement:
"I understand the importance of confidentiality and I will make no mention of what I see and hear, in any circumstances including social media, outside of this observational room. Additionally, I agree not to make recordings through, photographs, video, or audio. I confirm that if I recognize, or know a client I observe, I will remove myself from the conference room and first come back when the session is over"
This is a live, in-person event and online attendance is not possible. The entire event is in
English, but it will be possible to ask questions in Danish if that is more convenient for you.
Full catering is included in the fee.
Bookings are final and refunds are not available. If, for circumstances beyond our control, the
conference is canceled, we will refund ticket fees but we will not be responsible for any
additional costs (e.g. travel or accommodation) incurred.
Do not hesitate to book - it is a conference with live, in-person attendance only, and therefore
limited seating.
Please email us if you have any questions: [email protected] or
Warmly, Pernille and Betina
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Bygning C, Ceres Allé, Aarhus, Danmark, 1 Ceres Allé, Arhus, Denmark
DKK 3450.00
