Interpersonal Therapy

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is used for the treatment of depression. IPT research has shown that combined with medication it is superior to no active psychology treatment or to medication alone.

IPT focuses on interpersonal relationships, improving communication skills, and self-esteem.  It is a present focused therapy.  Treatment goals spot light current, specific problems that need to be attended to.  To fix these problems, the patient is taught new skills.  Treatment can be either short-term or long-term.  An Interpersonal therapist’s work pays close  attention to these four areas:

Grief - The way that a person handles his or her grief can have a major impact on interpersonal relationships.

Interpersonal disputes - Ongoing, unresolved fighting in one context will be disruptive to other areas of mental functioning.  These disputes may be the underlying cause of other types of emotional problems.

Interpersonal deficits - Communication skills (or lack of  them) always  affect interpersonal relationships.  If someone is negative as a general rule and constantly belittles friends, families, or co-workers imagine how his relationships with suffer.

Role transition  - Whenever a person’s role changes (like starting a new job or becoming a parent) there is usually an increase in stress.  This change can affect interpersonal relationships. Therapy helps reduce the stress and facilitate a smoother transition.