Deconstructing Davanloo

Deborah Pollack and Maury Joseph
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Habib Davanloo was the developer of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), a type of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy that has gained popularity in recent decades. Davanloo's work is bold, original, and compelling, yet often presented with a certainty that leaves little room for reflection or alternative viewpoints. Deconstructing Davanloo offers another path: reading his cases with space open for context, critique, and dialogue about multiple levels of meaning. By engaging his ideas thoughtfully, we aim to support the evolving, creative development of the ISTDP tradition.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Episode 13 - The German Architect, part 6

    In this episode Deb and Maury continue to marvel at the range of possibilities for understanding the part 1 of the German architect case, and share several hypotheses for what could be happening in the case that go beyond Davanloo’s formulation. The discuss issues of authority, compliance, and omniscience as these emerge in the case. As they finish their read through of part 1 of the case, they begin to consider what they’ve learned, and try to couple their critique with empathy for Davanloo, for the pressures he was under as he was writing these foundational texts. New music by Danny Joseph! References: Davanloo, H. (1990). Unlocking the Unconscious. Wiley. Malcolm, J. (1981). Psychoanalysis: The Impossible Profession. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

    1h 5m

  2. 24 FEB

    Episode 12 - The Case of the German Architect, part 5

    n their continued close read of the German Architect, Deb and Maury highlight issues around suggestion and leading the witness, philosophy of science questions around creating falsifiable hypotheses, and they offer alternate lines of interpretation in the case, especially regarding the emergence of the story of the man in the bistro. Importantly, they offer the possibility that the incident with the man in the bistro is not unequivocally a “breakthrough,” but might also reflect a variation on the earlier defiant transference enactment that has become visible in the case. They finish by reflecting on the importance of revisiting and reinterpreting cases, rather than accepting any one interpretation as final. References: Apfelbaum, B., & Gill, M. M. (1989). Ego analysis and the relativity of defense: Technical implications of the structural theory. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 37(4), 1071-1096. https://doi-org.libezproxy2.syr.edu/10.1177/000306518903700410 (Original work published 1989) Davanloo, H. (1990). Unlocking the Unconscious. (Wiley). Pollack, D. (2024). On closing the frame: An existential argument for setting a time-limit in ISTDP. Journal of Contemporary ISTDP.

    54 min

  3. 11 FEB

    Episode 11 - The Case of the German Architect, part 4

    In this episode, Deb and Maury continue their exploration of the German Architect, and encounter a number of complex topics. First is the possibility of a parapraxis, a possible mishearing by Davanloo, that might reveal the meaning-making system through which Davanloo filters the patient's behavior and speech. Then, they consider a critique of the notion of a "locked" unconscious, and the ways that concept can shape a therapist's perception of the clinical process. Finally, they examine the complex interpersonal process of the transcript, considering both Davanloo's and alternate narratives of the interaction that's unfolding, leading to a discussion of the potentials and pitfalls that occur when the therapist begins to behave in a way that might reinforce, rather than challenge and resolve, the patient's transference resistance. References: Davanloo, H. (1990). Unlocking the Unconscious. Wiley. Kuhn, N. (2014). Intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy, a reference. Experient, Charleston, SC Joseph, M. (2025). The spirit of ISTDP. Journal of contemporary ISTDP, 3, 122-133 Racker, H. (1972). The meanings and uses of countertransference.  Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 41, 487-506

    55 min

  4. 29 JAN

    Episode 10 - The Case of the German Architect, part 3

    In this episode, Deb and Maury address a listener comment about timing when sharing hypotheses with patients. They continue with their textual analysis of the case of the German Architect. They look at ways that Davanloo's words may be conveying epistemic authority, and they consider various interpretations of meaning of the patients' utterances and body language. Here is Maury's bit of writing on counterpower anxiety: For Davanloo, striated muscle anxiety is seen as a signal that confirms the effectiveness of an intervention. We assume that anxiety is a signal that defenses are failing and unconscious contents are coming closer to consciousness. Thus, anxiety in the clinical process generally suggests that the therapist’s intervention is working. There are exceptions, however, when anxiety does not point to the effectiveness of the therapist’s interventions. In certain contexts, striated muscle anxiety points instead to the therapist’s failure to listen. Here is an example: A therapist has the hypothesis that the patient is defending against feelings of anger towards him. He regards everything the patient says as an effort to avoid this anger. Meanwhile, there is no striated muscle anxiety. If the therapist were listening to anxiety, he would note this absence and begin to wonder if he is “barking up the wrong tree.” Sadly, he continues to listen to his hypothesis, but not to the absence of the patient’s anxiety. Finally, the patient takes a big sigh and says, “I feel you are not listening to me. None of what you are saying is making sense to me, and I feel like you are twisting my words to fit your theory. I need you to hear me." What happened here? Does this large sigh validate the therapist’s hypothesis about hidden anger? One possibility is that the therapist’s efforts finally broke through the patient’s defenses, triggering a rise of striated muscle anxiety and a new wave of defenses—the patient now attempts to change the therapist’s behavior or control him. Some therapists would see it this way, code the patient’s feedback as defensive, and continue to pursue the anger they believe is there. Another interpretation of the anxiety, however, is that it is triggered by the risks associated with speaking “truth to power.” The patient openly criticizes a person he depends on but who is not listening. I call this manifestation of anxiety a “counter-power sigh.” The patient is not resisting the therapist’s therapeutic efforts; he is resisting the therapist’s efforts to overpower him (Foucault, 1981; Fors, 2021). No wonder the patient becomes anxious. Who among us has not experienced the dangers that come when we stand up to someone trying to overpower us? The counterpower sigh comes when patients must make a massive and frightening effort to speak openly and truthfully to someone who is exerting power over them, here manifested as the power to interpret what is going on in the patient’s mind. The counterpower sigh occurs when the patient’s wish to save the therapy overwhelms his fear of what might happen if he speaks truth to power. I am highlighting counterpower sighs here as an important caveat. It is not true that “all signs of striated muscle tension are universally and inevitably signs that therapy is moving along in a positive way.”A counterpower sigh can arise when the patient tries to break out of a sadomasochistic enactment. If we mistake the counterpower sigh for an unequivocal sign that the work is going well, we may continue to enact a sadomasochistic power dynamic and miss the patient’s supervision. References: Davanloo, H. (1990). Unlocking the Unconscious. John Wiley.

    51 min

  5. 20 JAN

    Episode 9 - A conversation with Jon Anders Lied

    On today's episode, we welcome our first guest, Norwegian psychologist Jon Anders Lied, author of An Introduction to Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (2025). The conversation is a shared walk through the woods of ISTDP learning. We highlight complex intergenerational dynamics in the teaching of Davanloo's ideas, and the resulting polyphony of the field-- how "what ISTDP is" is something different to everyone, and the importance of avowing that. We also hear Jon Anders' thoughts about our recent discussion of the German Architect. Throughout the episode is a clear thread of empathy and concern for the experiences of trainees, and a wish to support them in learning theory, technique, and the complex practice of being with the patient even when theory and technique fall short. Jon Anders Lied is a Norwegian clinical psychologist and ISTDP therapist, working in clinical practice, teaching, and supervision. You can check out his book here: Lied, A. (2025). An Introduction to Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy: Foundations of Clinical Practice. Routledge. Also mentioned: The International Experiential Dynamic Therapy Association's biennial international conference to be held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, 7-9 Oct, 2026.

    54 min

  6. 15 JAN

    Episode 8 - The Case of the German Architect, part 2

    Deb and Maury catch up after taking some time off for the winter holidays. They share what they each have been reading and listening to, and how these relate to what they've been discussing on the podcast. They also read and respond to some listener comments and questions before delving back into the Case of the German Architect. The two attempt to look at the case from a relational perspective to account for alternative conceptualizations of what could be happening in the session. References: Davanloo, H. (1990). Unlocking the Unconscious. Wiley Dorpat, T. L. (1996). Gaslighting, the double whammy, interrogation, and other methods of covert control. Jason Aronson. Joseph, M. (2025). The spirit of ISTDP. Journal of contemporaryISTDP 2(1). Klein, E. (Host). (Jan 2, 2026). This Question Can Change Your Life (Podcast episode). The Ezra Klein Show. Raubolt, R. (2006). Power games: Influence, persuasion, and indoctrination in psychotherapy training. Other Press. Zeig, J. K. (2014). The induction of hypnosis: An Ericksonian elicitation approach (1st ed.). Milton H. Erickson Foundation Press. Why Theory podcast with Todd McGowan & Ryan Engley

    56 min

  7. 24/12/2025

    Episode 7 - The Case of the German Architect, part 1

    In this episode, Deb and Maury respond to a listener's comment that is related to Buddhist ideas about enlightenment. Then they dive into Davanloo's first case presented in Unlocking the Unconscious: "The German Architect." The two begin a table read of the transcript and consider the unconscious relational dynamics between the therapist and the patient as they begin to unfold. They wonder whether a misalliance is starting to happen, and whether that is a necessary part of the procedure. Deb and Maury end the episode by reminding the listeners that theirs is but one perspective on the case, and they welcome other takes and perspectives, including in the comments. References: Davanloo, H. (1990) Unlocking the Unconscious. Wiley.

    58 min

  8. 20/12/2025

    Episode 6 - So what?

    In this episode Deb and Maury wrap up their foray into how Davanloo engages with Freud in Unlocking the Unconscious (1990). Deb joins their session from the Evolution of Psychotherapy conference in Los Angeles where she makes some comments about parellel themes between ISTDP and some of the other psychotherapy presentations. The two attempt to answer the question, "So what?" together. Why does the way that Davanloo textually interact with Freud matter to the everyday ISTDP practitioner? They summarize their earlier discussions by suggesting that Davanloo took on a dominant tone when relating to Freud as a "straw man" for his argument about the superiority of the techniques of ISTDP to free association. They wonder how the themes of triumph, power, and domination might trickle down into how Davanloo relates to his patients and students, and how students might in turn relate to their patients. They conclude that power differentials are inevitable and necessary in psychotherapy, but the lack of reflexiveness about how power is being wielded could be problematic. In the next episode, the two will start looking at the Case of the German architect in the first chapter of Unlocking the Unconscious. References: Barthes, R. (1977). The death of the author. In S. Heath (Trans.), Image-music-text (pp. 142–148). Hill and Wang.  Davanloo, H. (1990). Unlocking the Unconscious. Wiley.

    53 min
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About

Habib Davanloo was the developer of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), a type of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy that has gained popularity in recent decades. Davanloo's work is bold, original, and compelling, yet often presented with a certainty that leaves little room for reflection or alternative viewpoints. Deconstructing Davanloo offers another path: reading his cases with space open for context, critique, and dialogue about multiple levels of meaning. By engaging his ideas thoughtfully, we aim to support the evolving, creative development of the ISTDP tradition.

Information

  • Creator
    Deborah Pollack and Maury Joseph
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Deborah Pollack and Maury Joseph
  • Show Website
    Deconstructing Davanloo

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