Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

In the initial sessions of interpersonal therapy, the focus is generally on assessment to help the therapist understand your concerns and goals for therapy. During this time, you and your therapist will identify and prioritise the interpersonal issues you wish to address. Subsequently, you will work together to tackle these key issues systematically.

During IPT sessions, the focus will be on exploring your concerns more deeply to enhance your understanding, learn how to make necessary adjustments, and apply these changes outside of therapy. Your therapist will provide support in several ways, including clarifying your issues, analysing communication patterns, and offering supportive listening. Unlike more open-ended or introspective therapies, IPT zeroes in on the specific issues identified to achieve effective results in a shorter time frame. As your therapy progresses towards the end, you and your therapist may discuss any issues related to the conclusion of therapy and refine the skills you’ve acquired to ensure you can manage effectively on your own.

The time-limited or aspect of IPT therapy means that this type of therapy will always have an end date (around 12-16 sessions is considered the norm) and will focus on just a couple of key issues.

• Evidence-Based: IPT is supported by a substantial body of research, demonstrating its effectiveness, particularly for depression and anxiety.

• Structured Approach: The therapy follows a clear structure, which helps clients understand what to expect and provides a focused framework for addressing issues.

• Improves Relationships: IPT emphasises the role of relationships in mental health, helping clients improve their interpersonal skills and resolve conflicts, which can lead to better social support.

• Short-Term: Typically, IPT is a short-term therapy, often lasting around 12-16 weeks. This can be appealing for individuals seeking a focused, time-limited treatment.

• Client-Centered: It involves active collaboration between the therapist and client, focusing on the client’s current life and relationships, which can be empowering.

• Focus on Relationships: IPT centers on interpersonal issues, which might not address deeper-rooted problems or traumas that are not related to current relationships.

• Time-Limited: While its short-term nature can be a benefit, it might not be sufficient for individuals with complex, long-standing issues that require more extensive therapy.

• Focus on Current Issues: The emphasis on present-day relationships might not delve into underlying psychological patterns or historical factors that could be contributing to current issues.

• May Not Address All Symptoms: For some conditions or more severe cases, IPT alone might not be enough and may need to be combined with other forms of treatment or therapies.