On Recording ISTDP Therapy Sessions

The ISTDP modality requires that client sessions be recorded, and that the therapist review these recordings between sessions. This unique requirement enables a closer appraisal of some of the things that get lost in the heat of the moment (the slight flush of the client's skin, the darting of their eyes, the tension in their shoulders, and equally, the therapist’s own responses that might indicate a reaction occurring they were not conscious of at the time). I know it can be scary to allow your sessions to be recorded, but recordings are kept in line with strict confidentiality regulations (the Personal Information Protection Act), and are destroyed after viewing. From the therapist’s perspective, it can also seem like a lot of work, to review sessions in this way. Personally, I really appreciate the mindset where the practitioner is the one with homework, not the client – we are well paid for our work, and to my mind the nature of what we do necessitates this level of care and attention. It speaks to the sacred nature of the work.