By: Dr. Ferruccio Osimo
Psychiatrist, researcher, one of the global pioneers of EDT, and the founding president of the international IEDTA
What initially drew you to EDT, and what has maintained your connection and interest in this approach throughout your career?
At first, it was my need to make sense of my own emotions, to shed light on my emotional life and make sense of it, then it gradually became love for the most personal and the most intimate side, in a way the truest side of human to human relationships.
In your view, what are the core principles that make EDT so effective?
One is David Mullins intuition that what can really transform someone’s life is the ability to access one’s deep emotion in a meaningful relationship and use them freely. By the way, this was also validated by the clinical study David and I carried out together at the Tavistock Clinic. The second point, main point, is Davanlu’s discovery that dealing with these defenses in a constructive, effective way is something that can be carried out in a much faster way than was ever thought before, before him.
What do therapists gain in the Core Training, aside from learning techniques?
Well, learning new and effective techniques is what usually prompts younger colleagues, trainees, to come and seek training, to take part in the experiential dynamic therapy core training. What happens along is that as someone learns new techniques and comes to master new techniques, the discovery is that the main result they get is to make a better use of themselves. So even though they rightly want to learn new techniques, then what happens is that they make a better use of the way they are as a human being.
What changes have you identified in therapists as they progress through the training process?
In my experience, trainees change at every training block and at every case they present for supervision. But the really marvelous moment is when every colleague, every young colleague meets himself or herself, gets to know himself or herself as a therapist. Because it is the moment when something somewhat magic happens, that is that they feel themselves as they are giving therapy. This is magical and is the moment one treasure and I suppose everyone treasures.
What role does supervision play in making a therapist better?
Supervision, in my opinion, should help every therapist to meet himself or herself as a therapist. to get to know what his or her therapeutic attitude is made of. And this is subtler than just learning a technique. And by the way, when this happens, learning a technique becomes much easier.
What makes the Core Training program in Israel unique?
Israelis are in average younger than other trainee populations. I’ve given training also in other countries like England or Italy or USA and there is a lot of enthusiasm around which is very nice. It’s been very special for me for the last 15 years I have given training in Israel and it’s been a unique experience.
What would you say to therapists considering joining the program?
If your desire is to make the most out of yourself as a therapist and if you also have a desire to help people make the most out of their lives, then do join our Osimo Reuveni international core training in experiential dynamic psychotherapy. I have trust in a new renaissance cultivating human natural sensitivity and human natural intelligence. This prospect, I found, is a good ground to envisage experiential dynamic psychotherapy grow and flourish.
Dr. Ferruccio Osimo
Psychiatrist, researcher, one of the global pioneers of EDT, and the founding president of the international IEDTA.