Allan Abbass

Professor

Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)

Dr. Allan Abbass is a trailblazer in modern psychotherapy, recognized globally for his groundbreaking work with Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). As the founding Director of the Centre for Emotions and Health at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, Dr. Abbass has made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of complex mental health conditions, including somatic symptom disorders, anxiety, depression, and personality disorders.

Watch a short film with Allan here!

Trained under the legendary Dr. Habib Davanloo at McGill University, Dr. Abbass discovered the transformative power of emotional processing in healing deep-rooted psychological trauma. This insight has shaped his career, fueling his commitment to innovative therapeutic approaches that promote emotional resilience and psychological health. After completing his psychiatry residency at the University of Toronto, he established one of the first ISTDP training programs at the University of British Columbia before returning to Dalhousie University in 1998, where he has become a driving force in mental health education and practice.

A prolific speaker and researcher, Dr. Abbass has delivered over 400 invited presentations around the world and authored more than 300 publications. He is highly regarded for his expertise in making complex therapeutic methods accessible to clinicians and demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of short-term psychotherapy. His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including being named the David Malan Visiting Professor of Psychotherapy at the renowned Tavistock Clinic in London, UK.

In addition to his clinical and academic pursuits, Dr. Abbass is an avid basketball player and coach, embodying a passion for teamwork and collaboration that extends to his professional relationships. With a unique ability to simplify intricate psychological concepts and inspire confidence in practitioners, Dr. Abbass continues to shape the future of psychotherapy and improve the lives of patients and clinicians alike.

Don't miss out on these sessions

Sessions featuring Dr. Allan Abbass

Dr. Abbass will be one of five keynote speakers at the upcoming Emotion Revolution conference, where he will lead two sessions featuring real case videos to illustrate key concepts and demonstrate effective strategies for overcoming therapeutic challenges using ISTDP:

Recognizing and working with self-directed anger

45 minutes

A very common problem in psychotherapy of all types is the process where the patient directs anger towards the self through various psychological mechanisms. In this session, we will look at the various sources and mechanisms involved in overt self-directing of anger, as well as some treatment principles to helps clients overcome this process.

When emotions activate bodily symptoms: recognition and treatment approaches

90 minutes

Unprocessed emotions can frequently result in bodily symptoms affecting the voluntary muscle, smooth muscle, and the cognitive perceptual field. The same processes can result in symptoms that make no sense from the perspective of anatomy and physiology, but are rather symptoms reflecting empathic responses to individuals towards whom the client has unprocessed anger. We will use video examples to review these processes, how to detect them, and the overall principles of management of these various somatic presentations.

Panel Wednesday:

Join an engaging panel discussion featuring some of the most prominent figures in psychotherapy—Leslie Greenberg, Nancy McWilliams, Ann Weisser Cornell, Allan Abbass, and Mark Solms—as they unravel the complex challenges of working with emotions in therapy. This session will address how clinicians can effectively navigate and resolve key therapeutic roadblocks, such as interruptions in emotional processing and self-directed anger. The panelists will share cutting-edge insights and practical approaches for fostering deeper emotional connections, increasing emotional resilience, and breaking through entrenched patterns of avoidance. Expect a dynamic exchange of ideas that will provide attendees with actionable strategies to overcome the therapeutic barriers highlighted by each keynote speaker, making this a must-attend event for those looking to elevate their practice and deepen their understanding of emotional work in therapy.

Panel Friday:

As we conclude three days of enriching presentations and discussions, our final panel debate will bring together our keynote speakers to reflect on the key takeaways from the conference. This session will focus on synthesizing the insights gained and exploring future directions for the field of psychotherapy. Our panelists will discuss the implications of their work for ongoing clinical practice and research and share their visions for the future of their respective approaches. This is an opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of where the field is headed and how we can continue to evolve and improve our work with clients.

See the full program