Interpersonal Therapy

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a form of psychotherapy originally established in the late 1960s that seeks to help clients experiencing psychological distress. At its core, it addresses mental health conditions and situational struggles that could be the result of issues related to communication and interpersonal relationships.

It’s a common form of treatment for people who live with persistent forms of depression, but has also been found to be helpful for other mental health conditions, including eating disorders, grief, and bipolar disorder.

Conscious Healthcare SA offers interpersonal therapy to help clients improve relationships and, by extension, find more balance, calm and purpose in their day-to-day lives. Learn more about the therapy below, and be sure to get in touch with us should you have any questions.

What is Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) and Who is it For?

Interpersonal therapy is a form of structured and time-limited psychotherapy for individuals whose mental wellbeing may be impacted by issues with interpersonal relationships. The aim is to help clients improve their relationships and social functioning in order to reduce their overall sense of psychological distress. As a form of psychotherapy, it’s commonly used to help individuals who experience depression, especially persistent forms of long-lasting depression.

The foundation of IPT comes from the idea that individual mental health symptoms are closely linked to interpersonal issues, which can include experiences such as grief, relationship conflicts, and professional role transitions that change relationship dynamics at work or school. By improving interpersonal dynamics and social functioning, IPT can help alleviate the symptoms of the client’s psychological distress.

What is Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) and Who is it For?

Interpersonal Inventory:
During the initial sessions of therapy, the therapist runs structured interviews with the client to map out their key relationships and identify patterns of interaction and conflict.
Clarification:
Through clarification, the therapist helps the client gain insight into possible misunderstandings or assumptions they make in relationships by clarifying communication or emotional responses.
Communication Analysis:
Here, the therapist and client work together to examine specific conversations or interactions the client’s experienced to identify problematic communication styles, and learn healthier alternatives.
Role Playing:
Used to practice interpersonal scenarios to improve communication skills and confidence in real-life scenarios.

Exploration of Feelings:
The therapist encourages the client’s emotional expression and links those emotions to interpersonal experiences or needs.
Encouragement of Affect:
This technique guides clients to identify, express, and regulate emotions during interpersonal events, particularly the types of events they typically avoid.
Behavioural Activation:
In certain cases, especially with persistent depression, the therapist may encourage the client to engage in social or meaningful activities to re-establish a sense of connection to others, which in turn can result in an improved mood.

Interpersonal Inventory:
During the initial sessions of therapy, the therapist runs structured interviews with the client to map out their key relationships and identify patterns of interaction and conflict.
Clarification:
Through clarification, the therapist helps the client gain insight into possible misunderstandings or assumptions they make in relationships by clarifying communication or emotional responses.
Communication Analysis:
Here, the therapist and client work together to examine specific conversations or interactions the client’s experienced to identify problematic communication styles, and learn healthier alternatives.
Role Playing:
Used to practice interpersonal scenarios to improve communication skills and confidence in real-life scenarios.

Exploration of Feelings:
The therapist encourages the client’s emotional expression and links those emotions to interpersonal experiences or needs.
Encouragement of Affect:
This technique guides clients to identify, express, and regulate emotions during interpersonal events, particularly the types of events they typically avoid.
Behavioural Activation:
In certain cases, especially with persistent depression, the therapist may encourage the client to engage in social or meaningful activities to re-establish a sense of connection to others, which in turn can result in an improved mood.

Generally, IPT lasts for around 16 sessions, with one session happening every week. The first three sessions tend to focus on assessment and identifying interpersonal issues. The middle sessions (usually sessions 4 to 14) comprise the core focus of the therapy with the client and therapist actively working on the identified issues. Finally, sessions 15 and 16 focus on the progress made, strategies and tools learned, and preparation as therapy comes to a close.

Is IPT Suitable for Teens or Young Adults?

Yes, IPT is a suitable therapy option for teenagers and young adults. For teenagers, there is a modified version of IPT known as IPT-A (Interpersonal Therapy for Adolescents). With IPT-A, sessions are modified and the language used adapted to resonate with adolescent clients.

IPT-A sessions will tend to include parental involvement and focus on interpersonal issues that are more relevant to the adolescent experience, such as interpersonal challenges to do with school peers, close friends, and family dynamics (such as the client having issues with their parents and/or siblings).

IPT-A still focuses on the same four key areas as IPT, but they’re adapted to more closely align with the adolescent experience.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)