Functional somatic disorders are extremely common and costly resulting in a massive amount of unnecessary human suffering, healthcare services, corporate and governmental loss and disability payments.

Intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) has been specifically developed and researched to effectively treat the spectrum of functional somatic disorders. It has been shown in over 20 published outcomes studies to be both effective and cost-effective. In a series of studies it provided greater pain relief than cognitive behavioral therapy in chronic pain populations.

In the 18th Halifax Immersion, Dr Allan Abbass and Dr Joel Town will review a spectrum of resistant and fragile character structure cases presenting with somatic disorders, the assessment procedures, and treatment processes emphasizing somatic experiencing of emotions to remove these symptoms while treating underlying elements of attachment trauma.

This immersion will be held online or both online and in person in Halifax depending on the situation with regards to Covid-19. Ticketing is for online attendance at this time. If it becomes open to in person attendance, you will be contacted with the option to upgrade your ticket for in person attendance.

Because the course will be held online, it is open to the following groups of healthcare professionals and therapists : 1) those who are in an ISTDP or EDT Core training or supervision, 2) those who have previously completed an ISTDP/EDT Core training program, 3) ISTDP/EDT Trainers, 4) Colleagues of these 3 groups who will attend the immersion while physically being present in the same room, and 5) those who are part of any ISTDP/EDT Societies with signed confidentiality agreements. This is all to ensure confidentiality of case materials that will be reviewed and discussed.

If held in person, it will be at the beautiful Halifax Convention Center. If held there, it will be live broadcast to registered attendees not present in Halifax.

The course each day will be 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Atlantic Time (15:00-23:00 CET, 6:00-14:00 Pacific)

Refund Policy: 75% refundable up to August 1st. Non refundable after September 1st, 2021.