Tenacious Absurdity: Obsessional Phenomena, the Therapeutic Alliance and Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)

Abstract

The following dissertation explores the dynamics of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. It utilizes a voice-centered, phenomenological approach to investigate the lived experience of clinicians addressing obsessive-compulsive symptoms within the therapeutic alliance using the method of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). It attempts to “bridge the gap” between clinical research and treatment recommendations (Goldfried et al., 2015) by soliciting the experience of therapists directly. Further, it seeks to investigate these phenomena in the context of ISTDP, an active, experiential method of therapy with a growing evidence base. It hopes to better understand the under-researched interpersonal dynamics at play in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, connecting the research to current neurobiological findings and attachment research. An updated clinical model and therapeutic application of the data is ultimately put forward as a means of advocating for future research utilizing ISTDP to treat this population.