Interpersonal Psychotherapy

What is Interpersonal Psychotherapy?

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a form of therapy that uses interpersonal relationships and social spaces as a medium for mental health. IPT aims to lessen mental distress and relieve symptoms by enriching an individual’s relationships. With trained mental health professionals, this form of therapy can help manage psychological disorders.

IPT is an incredibly goal-oriented and time-limited form of therapy. As such, people undergoing IPT may notice that they do not explore their past or unconscious. Rather, they focus on the present and their relationships. Along with individual counselling, IPT therapy is a great way to improve your mood, outlook and relationship.
Learn more about interpersonal psychotherapy in this article:

How does IPT Therapy work?

Interpersonal psychotherapy usually has several limited sessions that can be done individually or as a group. It can be done with highly important people to you and will often resemble family counselling or even couples counselling. On average, IPT therapy can last between 12-16 sessions
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Interpersonal psychotherapy focus on these four areas: Relationship conflicts Impactful life changes, such as the sudden death of a loved one or the birth of a child, Grief and loss, Difficulties in starting, maintaining, or repairing relationships.

IPT therapy aims to provide you with a healthy support system, along with valuable and safe coping mechanisms. Once an individual finishes their sessions, it is expected that they would have found significant improvements in their mental health and relations.

Interpersonal Therapy Structure 1

IPT therapy has a set structure that takes place over a number of sessions: Sessions 1-3: Also called the opening sessions, these first few meetings set the expectations and parameters of your therapy. Your therapist will often ask you a list of the key relationships in your life and are grouped accordingly within the four main foci of IPT therapy.

Interpersonal Therapy Structure 2

Sessions 4 – 14: Thes middle sessions are where an individual focuses on their problem areas. These sessions are often spent developing solutions and implementing them. During this time, a patient will also try to improve their key relationships under the guidance of their therapist.

Interpersonal Therapy Structure 3

Sessions 15-16: Also known as the final sessions, these meetings will often focus on resolving a sense of loss often encountered at the end of any therapy treatment. Your therapist may also help you identify and remember your progress and tools for further improvement.

Interpersonal Therapy Techniques

Interpersonal therapy is incredibly complex, especially since it focuses on current problems vis-a-vis current key relationships. Being able to identify how these key relationships affect and help with one’s psychological conditions is key. As such, IPT therapists require significant training and refined techniques to make the most of limited time.

IPT for Adolescents (IPT-A)

IPT-A is specifically designed for adolescents and young adults to help them process their emotions and develop strong foundations for their social and interpersonal skills. IPT-A will often involve primary carers, such as parents to also help them assist and support their children.

IPT-A Skill Training (IPT-AST

IPT-AST is specifically designed for young adults who are experiencing symptoms of depression. Often, this is best used for individuals who do not have a diagnosis. IPT-AST aims to prevent depression and is often done as a group, where each member can act as a support system for each other.

Family Based IPT (FB-IPT)

FB-IPT is a specific type of interpersonal therapy developed for families, helping them adapt healthy communication skills. FB-IPT is incredibly beneficial for pre-adolescents, as it involves parents every session. The aim of this therapy is to foster a strong relationship that allows a strong, safe, and healthy space for the individuals within the family.

What is Interpersonal Therapy?

Interpersonal psychotherapy is a common psychotherapy process that is usually used to treat mood disorders, including depression, anorexia, or bulimia.
IPT therapy is time-limited and highly structured. Unlike psychoanalysis, interpersonal therapy focuses on the present. Therapists present active and supportive solutions to current problems, but do not dwell on past traumas, childhood experiences, repressed memories.
Unlike other forms of therapy, IPT examines current social relations and relationship interactions. This shows how interpersonal therapists see the impacts of the social on psychological disorders. As a whole IPT therapy aims to further improve existing relationships to help with an individual’s mental health progress.

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Aspects of Interpersonal Therapy

IPT is often used for mood disorders, but it can also help with a variety of psychological conditions including:
• anxiety
• bulimia nervosa
• bipolar disorder
• depression
• anorexia nervosa
• chronic fatigue

At its core, IPT therapy recognises how important the key relationships of an individual are to their mental health. Interpersonal psychotherapy includes strengthening these relations, allowing individuals to have a stronger support system and healthier communication with the important people in their lives.

Interpersonal therapy helps you develop solutions to current problems with your psychotherapist. Along with your stronger relationships, IPT fosters your analytical skills with regards to your mental state. This allows you to have a proper basis when dealing with your mental health.

As a goal-oriented therapy treatment, IPT therapy arguably has more noticeable or noteworthy benefits. For individuals, the improvements may be more pronounced–but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t progressive or impactful.

Aside from strengthening your key relationships, IPT also helps you find healthier coping mechanisms. This also involves distancing yourself from destructive behaviors and people. As this form of psychotherapy focuses on the present, your therapist will help you find solutions relating to toxic relationships and coping mechanisms.

IPT therapy is a very different approach to psychotherapy because it focuses on outcomes rather than the past. It is also relatively young, compared to other psychotherapy approaches. However, numerous studies have shown IPT as an effective treatment for major depressive disorder and relationship conflicts. At present, there are still some gaps on how effective it is for other psychological conditions.

Interpersonal Therapy