What Is Interpersonal Psychotherapy?

Choosing to undergo psychotherapy is one of the most important and beneficial things a person can do for themselves. Read on to learn more about interpersonal psychotherapy. Depending on a person's problems, the right kind of therapy can drastically improve their life in several ways.

An overview of interpersonal psychotherapy

While different types of therapy work on particular issues or involve working with a therapist in individual sessions to confront a particular problem, each therapy is designed for a purpose, and interpersonal therapy is no different. The one thing that is different about interpersonal therapy is the methodology used in the process.

Compared to other therapy sessions, interpersonal therapy is more structured and focused. It is typically broken down into about 16 sessions where, during each phase of therapy, a person works with their psychiatrist and/or therapist to discover and solve issues related to the day-to-day relationship issues that person is facing.

Rather than focus on past trauma or incidents, interpersonal therapy works on dealing with issues in the present day and how these current problems can trigger mental health issues. In particular, this therapy is beneficial to those with episodes of severe depression. Still, it may be helpful for anyone with a mental health issue that stems from a conflict in their daily relationships.

How are interpersonal psychotherapy sessions structured?

Each phase of the therapy process can be broken down into a few sessions with a specific goal.

The first few sessions work on gathering information about a person's relationships and how each relationship ties into a particular problem they are having. These problems can include grief and loss, inability to create or sustain new relationships, tension and stress from conflict, and life changes that create conflicted or negative feelings. An example would be a person's difficulty creating new friendships, the reason for this difficulty, and how it makes them feel.

The second phase of therapy focuses on taking a more active role in the process by working together to come up with solutions to the problems in each identified area. The patient then tries to implement the strategies and solutions to these problems in between sessions. An example would be working on conflict resolution techniques that can be used during contentious situations to de-escalate and calm a situation down.

The final phase of therapy works to take stock of the progress made and also how to deal with problems that may arise once therapy is complete. The psychiatrist and their team will also work to address any lingering feelings about therapy, the fact that it is concluding, and any doubt the patient may have about moving forward. This way, patients develop the tools they need to handle problems and forge relationships.