Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

Interpersonal therapy, or IPT, is a short-term, focused treatment for mood disorders, such as depression. Rooted in attachment and communication theories, IPT is designed to help people address current concerns and improve interpersonal relationships. IPT is based on the principle that relationships and life events impact mood and that the reverse is also true. Treatment follows a highly structured and time-limited approach and seldom lasts longer than 16 weeks. The goal of IPT is to rapidly reduce symptoms. Think this approach might be right for you? Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s interpersonal therapy specialists today.

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I work primarily from theoretical perspectives that emphasize the authentic relationships, individual strengths, and the potential for growth. Interpersonal theories direct my attention to my client’s current and past relational dynamics as I strongly believe that human beings are primarily motivated by the need to establish and maintain relationships.

— Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy, Psychologist in Atlanta, GA

As a branch of CBT-related treatment, IPT is a specialized, time-sensitive intervention meant to build upon treating dysfunctional thought patterns targeted in CBT. As an expert in IPT, the aim is to go the step further in changing problematic, interpersonal behaviors that stem from unhealthy thinking patterns. Over the years, I have utilized this form of psychotherapy to complement specialized treatment approaches for clients with depression, anxiety, and mood disorders alike.

— Ishanie Sanchez, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Staten Island, NY
 

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a time-limited, evidence-based treatment for depression. Despite its proven effectiveness, the therapy tends to be underutilized. Although training opportunities for IPT are limited, I was fortunate enough to receive thorough training in IPT. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you are interested in learning more about IPT!

— Brett Swords, Psychologist in Ellicott City, MD

I believe one of the most important things is human connection and when we don’t feel connected it can create feelings of distress. With Interpersonal Therapy, we’ll work to improve your relationships for a happier, healthier life.

— Dr. Katarina Ament, Clinical Psychologist in Denver, CO
 

IPT is a common treatment option for people experiencing depression, anxiety, social phobia, postpartum depression, and trauma. Part of the recovery process is to build meaningful relationships and identify a network of support. Areas addressed over the course of treatment can include; role disputes, interpersonal/relational problems, communication barriers, life stage transitions, grief, and other attachment issues.

— Jenny Moon, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Torrance, CA

IPT is a short-term psychotherapy in which therapist and client identify the issues and problems of interpersonal relationships. They also explore the client's life history to help recognize problem areas and then work toward ways to rectify them.

— Dr. Sonia Dhaliwal, Psychologist in Las Vegas, NV
 

Interpersonal Process Therapy or IPT uses the therapeutic relationship as a catalyst for change.

— Robin Casey, Clinical Psychologist in Marietta, GA

Interpersonal Psychotherapy aims to target struggles with role transitions, interpersonal deficits/disputes, and unresolved grief for a reduction in symptom distress. It is a recommended treatment for mood disorders (i.e. depression, bipolar disorder, etc.), anxiety, and eating disorders.

— Shavonne James, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Long Beach, CA
 

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and addressing specific issues that may be contributing to emotional distress. IPT is based on the idea that the quality of our relationships and how we interact with others can significantly impact our mental and emotional well-being.

— Carole Goguen, Psy.D., Psychologist in , CA

As a social worker, I look at your entire life as having contributed to the person you are now. I want to help you work through the current issues you have in your life with others by looking at yourself and how you can make it better.

— Kylie Peele, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Raleigh, NC
 

Interpersonal therapy focuses on the individual's relationships and coping skills to allow one to feel empowered to address the issues within their relationships, both personal and professional, to ensure healthy boundaries and reasonable expectations for self and others.

— Nora Vassar, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

IPT is a time-limited, focused, evidence-based approach to treat mood disorders and relationship difficulties. The main goal of IPT is to improve the quality of a client's interpersonal relationships and social functioning to help reduce their distress. IPT provides strategies to resolve problems within four key areas including social difficulties, grief/loss, role transitions, and conflict/disputes in relationships.

— Dr. Kathryn Williams, Psychologist in Los Angeles, CA
 

I have received supervision from IPT-trained therapists during my training. IPT suggests that we learn cyclical patterns from our early relationships; that is, how we relate to ourselves, how we relate to others, and strategies for how to "get" people to love and care for us. We internalize these and they become our "truth" for navigating our feelings about ourselves and our relationships. In IPT, we focus on the relationship we build in therapy to help us understand (and change) those patterns.

— Katy Shaffer, Psychologist in Baltimore, MD

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is derived from psychodynamic therapy and focuses on reducing negative symptoms associated with relationships (e.g., family, friends, romantic). Because my specialized interests involve relating to others, I find this approach to be beneficial in understanding stress and traumatic responses within relationships due to feeling ineffective. I do not adhere to the manualized treatment method, but I do draw from beneficial methods utilized within IPT.

— Leigha Ward, Clinical Psychologist in West Lake Hills, TX
 

Your ability to communicate, understand, and relate to people are the underlying measures of all disorders and/or the working well. Therefore, directly addressing the possible deficiency once your interpersonal level is discovered, is the key to success in many cases from what I have witnessed, therefore IPT is the centerpiece of my practice treatment approaches.

— Kelvin Brown, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

The tenets of IPT, that all of our problems tend to play out in our relationships, under-girds every type of therapy. This is why the research consistently shows that the relationship between client and therapist is the most predictive of good outcomes. In therapy we'll explore all of the relationships you've learned from, because relationships are where we learn affect regulation, conditions of self-worth, and how to experience things like trust, intimacy, and joy.

— Josh Gunn, Psychologist in Marietta, GA