The Heart of What Hurts - ISTDP Therapy in Melbourne

If you feel like you keep getting stuck in the same emotional loops or you're carrying old pain that never quite shifts, you’re not alone. Sometimes, talking things through just isn’t enough. That’s where Intensive Short-term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) comes in.

At The Inner Collective, one of our Melbourne Psychologists, Anna Cagnoni, offers ISTDP as a powerful way to help people understand and work through emotional blocks that are getting in the way of living fully.

What is ISTDP?

ISTDP is a focused, short-term therapy that helps people get to the root of emotional difficulties. It draws on psychodynamic ideas (like how past experiences shape our current patterns) but is more active and in-the-moment than traditional talk therapy.

It works by helping you notice your defences (like avoiding, overthinking, or shutting down), gently challenging them, and guiding you toward the deeper feelings underneath.

The aim?

To clear the emotional roadblocks that are holding you back.

ISTDP might be helpful if you:

• Keep repeating the same emotional or relationship patterns

• Struggle with anxiety, low mood, or inner criticism

• Feel stuck, even after trying other types of therapy

• Want to better understand your inner world and why you feel the way you do

How It Works

In ISTDP, we focus on what you’re feeling right now in session. This means we pay close attention to both your words and body cues, so we can work with what’s really going on under the surface.

This kind of therapy can feel intense at times – but that’s often where the change happens. Many people find that facing those deeper feelings with support leads to insight, relief, and a sense of strength they didn’t know they had.

Meet Anna Cagnoni - ISTDP therapy Melbourne

Anna is one of our warm, insightful Melbourne Psychologists who offers ISTDP at The Inner Collective. She works with adults facing emotional overwhelm, anxiety, long-standing inner struggles, or relationship difficulties.

Anna’s approach is down-to-earth and supportive, but she also gently challenges you to explore what’s really going on. She’s skilled at helping people feel safe enough to open up and brave enough to go deeper.

Whether you’re new to therapy or have tried it before, Anna tailors sessions to where you’re at and what you’re ready to face.

Is ISTDP Right for You?

This type of therapy might be a good fit if you:

• Feel like you’re repeating the same emotional cycles

• Are ready to face emotions you’ve kept buried

• Want more than just talking – you want to shift things at the core

• Are curious about how past patterns play out in your present

How We Can Help at The Inner Collective

At The Inner Collective, we know therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why we offer a range of approaches, including ISTDP, to suit different needs. Anna Cagnoni is here to support you with compassion, insight, and a therapy style that’s active, emotionally attuned, and deeply effective.

Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, relationship patterns, or long-standing emotional pain, ISTDP can help you connect with what’s really going on beneath the surface – and start to shift it.

Get in Touch

If you’re curious about ISTDP therapy in Melbourne or feel like it might be the right next step for you, reach out to book an appointment with Anna Cagnoni. Our team of Psychologists in Melbourne CBD are here to help.

Visit our Contact page to enquire or call us for more info. You don’t have to carry this alone – and you don’t have to stay stuck.

Contact Us