The Center for Status Dynamic Therapy (CSDT) is a community of experienced pychotherapists and clinical researchers whose practice is significantly informed by the discipline of Descriptive Psychology.
Our mission is to create and communicate a deeper understanding of how therapy works, and to disseminate practices that create new paths to therapeutic change. We do this through on-going dialogue and by publishing the results of past dialogues.
"Status Dynamics" refers to a school of psychotherapy that was created by the late Dr. Peter G. Ossorio at the University of Colorado. It is an approach to psychotherapy that can greatly expand the range of things that therapists can do, and may even think of doing. Status-dynamic therapists accept and appreciate the valuable contributions of cognitive-behavioral, family systems, psychoanalytic, and other schools of therapy, while adding something new and powerful: the enhancement of clients’ statuses.
The status-dynamic therapist occupies a world of places. Our particular interest is in places that carry power — places from which our clients can act effectively in their worlds to bring about personal change. As active agents of change, we seek to help our clients to occupy such positions of power. We position them to fight downhill battles and not uphill ones, to be “in the driver’s seat,” not the passenger's seat. We assist them in approaching their problems as proactive, in-control actors and not helpless victims. We enable them to attack these problems from the position of acceptable, sense-making, care-meriting persons who bring ample strengths, resources, and past successes to the solution of their difficulties. We help them to proceed from reconstructed worlds, and from places within these worlds, in which they are eligible and able to participate in life in meaningful and fulfilling ways.
How to Participate:
Feel free to browse the papers and resources available through the links to your left. Our publication and downloading policy can be found here.
You are welcome to participate in the on-going dialogue in the Center for Status Dynamic Therapy. A password is required to read and comment on the dialogue. Click here to request the password.
Who We Are:
The Dialogues and Papers are created by CSDT Associates along with the Center Director. CSDT Associates are all experienced practitioners who are adept in applying Descriptive Psychology to therapy and who have committed to participating in the Center's Dialogue.
