Overview

Fundamentals of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

Date: 6 June

Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

This full-day workshop offers a structured introduction to the theory, research, and clinical practice of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). The day will begin with an overview of the theoretical foundations and research evidence underpinning ISTDP, including outcome research and emerging findings related to the mechanisms of therapeutic change.

Participants will be introduced to core psychodynamic principles central to ISTDP, including unconscious processes, affect regulation, anxiety pathways, and defensive operations. Building on this foundation, the workshop will explore the key mechanisms of change in ISTDP, such as moment-to-moment tracking of affect, systematic clarification of defences, restructuring maladaptive patterns, and graded capacity building to support emotional processing.

Throughout the day, contemporary research findings including attachment theory and neuroscience will be integrated, positioning ISTDP within broader evidence-based psychotherapy frameworks and highlighting its relevance to modern clinical practice.

Participants will also have the opportunity to observe clinical video-recorded material from real therapy sessions (used with appropriate consent). These examples will demonstrate technique, therapist stance, case conceptualisation, and realtime therapeutic process work. The workshop will emphasise practical application, clinical decisionmaking, and adapting ISTDP principles across a range of client presentations.

The event will be held at Mantra Legends. All are welcome to attend. This workshop will be particularly relevant for psychologists, mental health clinicians, counsellors, social workers, and other professionals working in the mental health field who are interested in expanding their therapeutic skills.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this event, participants should be able to:

• Develop a clear understanding of the theoretical foundations and empirical support for ISTDP
• Identify core affective, anxiety, and defensive processes within clinical sessions
• Apply key ISTDP interventions, including defence clarification and anxiety regulation strategies
• Integrate ISTDP principles into their existing therapeutic framework, regardless of primary modality

Presenter(s)

Dr. Pejman Hoviatdoost

About the presenter(s)

Dr. Pejman Hoviatdoost is a Clinical Psychologist based on the Gold Coast, Queensland, with over 15 years of clinical experience practicing Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). He has completed both core and advanced ISTDP training and continues to engage in ongoing international supervision and professional development. He completed his Master of Psychology (Clinical) at Griffith University and his PhD at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). His doctoral research focused on understanding the mechanisms of change in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, with particular attention to affect regulation, defensive processes, and therapeutic process variables. Dr. Hoviatdoost’s clinical work focuses on complex and treatment-resistant presentations, including chronic anxiety and depression, personality disorders, somatic symptom disorders, and relational difficulties. He has presented previously for the Australian Psychological Society Gold Coast Branch and has extensive experience designing and delivering professional workshops for psychologists and mental health practitioners. He combines theory, research, and clinical cases in his teaching. His workshops use video from real therapy sessions (with consent), allowing participants to closely observe clinical processes and strengthen applied learning.

Notes

Registration includes 7 hours of CPD, along with morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea provided for all attendees throughout the day.

Target Audience

This event is aimed at psychologists, mental health clinicians, social workers, counsellors, occupational therapists, and other professionals working in the mental health field who are interested in learning about ISTDP and psychodynamic approaches to therapy.

Please note:

• The event will be held at Mantra on View Hotel. Please allow sufficient time for travel and parking. Attendees are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start time to allow for registration and sign-in. Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea will be provided for all registered participants.
• This is a Member Groups event. All communication will be sent to the registrants’ registered email address. This includes event reminders with details (such as the Venue details) and any pre-event or post-event resources, if provided by the facilitators.
• A post-event email will be sent within two weeks of the event’s completion to each registrant’s registered email address. This email will include the CPD certificate, and any additional resources shared during the session.

Duration of Access

This event will not be recorded.

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.