Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy

Introduction

Brief dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT) is a time limited, structured therapy which draws on psychodynamic ideas. It aims to help individuals make links between their mood and their relationships.

What is dynamic interpersonal therapy?

In DIT, symptoms of distress are understood in the context of a repeating pattern in relationships that can be linked back to childhood. Your therapist will help you to identify this pattern and understand how it might be impacting on your difficulties in the present.  They will also encourage you to reflect on what you think and feel, with the aim of helping you to find more helpful ways of being in, and coping with important relationships in your life.

 

DIT is commonly used for the treatment of anxiety and depression which are conceptualized from the perspective of relational difficulties. The core principle of this therapy is that when an individual is able to deal with a relationship problem more effectively their psychological symptoms improve.

 

A course of DIT is usually delivered over 16 weekly sessions. 

Day 6

What happens in DIT Therapy?

  • Your therapist will encourage you to reflect on what you think and feel
  • The new understandings developed in the therapy aim to facilitate your ability to deal with relationships more effectively
  • After your first few sessions, your therapist will share their understanding of your difficulties and you will agree on the areas you wish to focus on in therapy
  • Sessions will involve discussing your agreed main area and working on making positive changes
  • When concluding therapy you and your therapist will discuss feelings about the therapy ending and the progress you have made through the treatment

Frequently asked questions

You are likely to be offered DIT if the nature of your difficulties rest in your relationships or if you are suffering from chronic depression.

Following your initial assessment, we will usually offer DIT when we believe that the origin of your symptoms is rooted in your earlier experiences and you are therefore less likely to find relief from traditional CBT techniques.

DIT is a medium term therapy which usually requires at least 20 sessions.

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Dr Elena Touroni

Dr Elena Touroni is a skilled and experienced consultant psychologist with a track record of delivering high-quality services for individuals with all common emotional difficulties and those with a diagnosis of personality disorder. She is experienced in service design and delivery, the management of multi-disciplinary teams, organisational consultancy, and development and delivery of both national and bespoke training to providers in the statutory and non-statutory sector.


Having obtained a first degree in Psychology (BSc) at the American College of Greece, she completed her doctoral training at the University of Surrey. Dr Touroni is highly experienced in the assessment and treatment of depression, anxiety, substance misuse, personality disorder, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, adjustment disorder and relationship difficulties. She works with both individuals and couples and can offer therapy in English and Greek.


Dr Touroni has held a variety of clinical and managerial positions including as Head of Service in the NHS. Further she has held academic positions for the University of Surrey and the Institute of Mental Health lecturing on specialist postgraduate Masters and Doctorate programmes.


She is trained in several specialist therapeutic approaches such as schema therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based approaches and Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT). As well as holding a variety of NHS positions, Dr. Touroni is the co-founder of a private practice in Central London that has been a provider of psychological therapy for all common emotional difficulties including personality disorder since 2002. She is the founder and one of two directors of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic.