Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is based on the idea that your mood and mental health symptoms relate to challenges you face in everyday life. Researchers Gerald L. Klerman and Myrna M.
Weissman created IPT in 1969 as a short-term treatment for depression . It’s since been used to address a range of other mental health conditions, according to Kendall Roach , a licensed professional counselor at Babylon . IPT can also help you cope with difficult situations and circumstances, like the death of a loved one, loss of a job , or ongoing conflicts in your relationships .
Here’s what to know about how this type of therapy works and the potential benefits you can expect from treatment. IPT is a short-term treatment that typically consists of 12-16 sessions, Roach says. Though mostly used in individual sessions, IPT can also work in group or couples counseling.
There are two main types of main interpersonal therapy, Roach says: Both types of IPT have three defined stages, says Heather Kent , a registered psychotherapist in private practice: At the start of treatment, the therapist will ask lots of questions about your symptoms and relationship history so they can determine which of the four “problem areas” your sessions will focus on. Those areas include: For most of the therapy process, your therapist will guide you in identifying habits and behaviors that no longer seem to serve your needs. Once you become aware of those unhelpful patterns, you can learn alternative tools to have more productive interactions in your daily life, according to Dr.
Taish Malone , PhD, a licensed professional counselor with Mindpath Health . For example, if you have a tendency to let your anger get the best of you during triggering conversations, you might learn how to: These sessions focus on transitioning out of therapy. You’ll spend time reviewing your progress and dealing with any sense of loss associated with the end of therapy.
It’s natural to feel anxiety or sadness as therapy comes to an end. Your therapist can help support you by: IPT might include some of the following techniques: A wealth of research supports the benefits of IPT for various types of depression , including: “Depression often follows a disturbing change in one’s interpersonal environment, such as the death of a loved one, a breakup, or increased fighting with a significant other,” Kent says. The main goal of IPT involves resolving and healing from any disturbing life events while also building communication and social skills, according to Kent.
That can lead to greater self-esteem and stronger relationships — which may, in turn, help reduce symptoms of depression. A 2016 review found that IPT not only prevented the onset of major depression but also reduced the risk of relapse. These positive effects were more likely with 10 or more sessions of IPT.
IPT can also help address a wide range of other mental health conditions and symptoms, including: IPT may help reduce interpersonal issues that trigger or worsen symptoms of anxiety disorders, such as panic attacks and social withdrawal. A 2014 review found that IPT reduced symptoms of anxiety and panic . IPT also helped people with panic disorder better understand negative emotions and express them more openly and directly in social situations.
In the treatment of social anxiety disorder , IPT was more effective than psychodynamic psychotherapy but less effective than CBT. Core symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) include difficulty managing impulses, frequent shifts in mood, and challenges in interpersonal relationships — and IPT can help address all of these. In a small 2020 study , people diagnosed with BPD who participated in weekly IPT sessions for 10 months experienced a decrease in disturbed interpersonal relationships and intense, rapid mood swings.
They also reported improvements in impulse control and overall perceived quality of life. These effects held during two years of follow-up evaluations. Interpersonal difficulties may contribute to eating disorders by lowering self-esteem .
IPT can help you face any underlying interpersonal challenges that may worsen eating disorders . Plenty of research supports its benefits: If you live with PTSD , you might find it overwhelming and painful to revisit the traumatic experience. But IPT doesn’t rehash past trauma.
Instead, it aims to help you recognize and manage emotional responses as they’re triggered in the moment so they don’t damage your relationships. A 2014 review found that when people with PTSD participated in interpersonal therapy, they experienced fewer symptoms of depression, along with improved social functioning and general well-being. IPT can help you identify links between your daily interactions and routines and unwanted mood fluctuations, so it may help improve the extreme shifts in mood that characterize bipolar disorder .
In fact, one key treatment for bipolar disorder stems from IPT. Researchers believe your circadian rhythms — your body’s natural internal clock — can impact your mood. Klerman created interpersonal social rhythm therapy (IPSRT), by integrating that theory into the framework of IPT.
In other words, using IPT techniques while creating a regular daily routine may help balance your mood and improve your social life. In a small 2020 study , people with bipolar disorder who participated in 12 weekly 90-minute sessions of IPSRT reported improvements in symptoms of mania, anxiety, and depression. IPT may not be the most effective treatment for conditions marked by psychosis, like psychotic depression or schizophrenia .
Additionally, IPT focuses on problems in your present life. So, since you won’t spend time exploring events from your early life, it may not help you work through past traumas, like childhood abuse . In order for IPT to work, Roach says you need to have both the motivation to make changes and the willingness to examine your role in any interpersonal problems you experience.
To find a therapist who offers IPT, Kent recommends using the online directories on Psychology Today or Good Therapy , which allow you to search for mental health professionals in your area and use filters to find therapists trained in this approach. Your insurance will typically cover interpersonal therapy, as long as you select an in-network therapist. IPT is a short-term treatment that focuses on resolving problems and challenges in your present everyday life — especially those that involve your relationships with others.
Most of the research on IPT has focused on its benefits for depression, but this approach may also prove effective for treating other conditions like anxiety, eating disorders, PTSD, and personality disorders. Also, by helping you learn to identify, manage, and express your emotions in a non-destructive way, IPT can improve all types of relationships. .
From: insider
URL: https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/interpersonal-therapy