About the journal
The Journal of Contemporary ISTDP (JCI) is an open access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to Intensive Short-term Dynamic Psychotherapy, an emotion-focused psychoanalytic psychotherapy developed by Habib Davanloo. The journal is a hybrid-content journal mixing academic and non-academic content, spanning all the way from rigorous empirical studies to case studies to short personal reflections and arts.
The foundation of the JCI was laid down by Thomas Hesslow, Kata Tamás, Johannes Kieding and Mikkel Reher-Langberg in 2023. The idea for the journal came up as an answer to the increasing need in the ISTDP community for a platform where ideas, theory, history, research and persons related to ISTDP can meet, communicate and grow together. The first issue was published in June of 2024.
Mission statement
The Journal of Contemporary ISTDP (JCI) is dedicated to advancing the science and practice of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy through the publication of rigorous, high-quality research and clinical inquiry. We serve as a global hub for the ISTDP community, fostering international collaboration while engaging in a vital dialogue with the broader psychotherapeutic field. Committed to a culture of inclusivity and the celebration of diverse perspectives, JCI provides a platform that nurtures both the professional expertise and the personal development of clinicians and researchers worldwide.
Journal SECTIONS
Each issue includes these five recurring sections:
- Research: Original studies employing rigorous empirical methods, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research.
- Theory & Practice: Conceptual articles advancing the metapsychology of ISTDP, alongside clinical papers, scholarly debates, and perspective pieces that explore the intersection of theory and practice.
- Interview: Stories and interviews with ISTDP therapists
- Learner’s corner: Personal chronicles of the struggles we all face to one extent or another when learning ISTDP
- Arts: Artistic pieces
If you’re interested in contributing, find more information here: CONTRIBUTE.
Peer review policy
The JCI employs a rigorous evaluation process to ensure the quality and integrity of published work. Our review process depends on the category of the submission:
- Research Articles: Subjected to double-blind peer review by at least two anonymous expert reviewers. Authors are required to provide a point-by-point response letter to address all reviewer feedback before final acceptance.
- Theory & Practice, Learner’s corner: Subjected to double-blind peer review by one or two anonymous reviewers to ensure theoretical rigor, clinical relevance, and alignment with ISTDP principles.
- Editorial Content, Art and Interviews: These are reviewed by the editors for quality and relevance but are not subjected to formal external peer review.
The Editor-in-Chief holds final authority on all publication decisions.