Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is developed as a time-limited treatment, for depression, originally 16 sessions. It focuses on dealing with interpersonal problems, linked to the onset of, or maintenance of, a recent episode of depression.
The IPT strategies help with four key problem areas. You may choose to focus on any one of these problem areas at a time.
It has been specially designed to help the individual to link changes in mood and interpersonal events. There are four main problem areas: life changes, grief, disputes and loneliness/social isolation.
How to choose a problem area
Life changes
Life change is to do with changes in a person’s life or when an individual is expecting changes; negative or even positive ones, which can influence personal relationships or routines.
For example:
- A woman getting married
- Moving to a new home
- A spouse who wants to separate
- A person learning that they have a serious illness
These changes may represent significant life changes that can trigger the onset of depression.
Grief
Grief relates to the death of someone significant in the person’s life. For example, the death of a close member of the family. Depressive symptoms may start around the time, or shortly after, the death of a loved one or someone who has played a significant role in the person’s life.
In some cases, the person who has died had a complicated or difficult relationship with the person who is left behind. Grief can be normal, however, if symptoms persist in a way that it impacts on the person’s functioning, then the person may benefit from using this programme to help regain their normal self again.
Disputes
Disputes are disagreements with someone in the person’s life. The people involved can be fighting openly or may never acknowledge the conflict.
For example:
- A wife wants to have children, but her husband does not
- A person’s boss gives a better role to someone else who has only recently been hired, and the person believes that this is unfair
When people struggle, with any situation relating to disagreements, they can feel stuck and repeat the same, unhelpful, attitudes that maintain the problem with depressed mood. The individual can benefit from self-help using this programme.
A couple may have disagreement about who does what at home and may be stuck in a frustrating recurring problems and arguments.
Loneliness/Social Isolation
This relates to long-standing feelings of loneliness, boredom and/or emotional distance from others. The person has problems with beginning, or maintaining, relationships with friends, relatives, or others. There are often longstanding abusive relationships.
This programme will not be attempting to resolve long standing interpersonal problems. It rather, seeks to help you identify and build on your existing strengths.
An example of IPT Strategy
Decision analysis
Here the therapist would gently support the person to clarify significant decision relating to area of discussions. The person would be supported to gently and sensitively review the full range of options available, giving consideration to anticipated positives and negative consequences for the focal area and the depression.
The therapist would aim to support the person to develop a balanced plan of action.
Are you struggling with depression and would like to try a different therapy approach? Please complete an enquiry form on our website here.
