Entering into therapy can be a leap of faith. Clients often have high hopes and, quite naturally, a lot of questions. What exactly is this type of therapy, and what should you expect from your therapist? If you’ve been curious about interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), this article is a perfect starting point.
Understanding Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured and time-limited approach to treating various mental health disorders. The treatment focuses on the important relationships in a person’s life and works on improving the reasoning behind emotional distress, aiming ultimately to enhance communication and support within these relationships. Unlike other forms of psychotherapy that delve into the innermost thoughts and feelings, IPT is future-focused, encouraging patients to address problems constructively, within the ‘here and now’.
When you undergo IPT, you’ll work with a therapist who is particularly trained in this approach. They will guide you through four main aspects of human interaction:
- The identification of emotional outcomes and focuses on the here and now, namely current emotional distress, while acknowledging that the past might be at play.
- Critically, IPT investigates and navigates the relationships in your life – both past and present – that contribute to your emotional state.
- Problem-solving strategies are employed in seeking to manage or eliminate relationship-based problems.
- Grief-related challenges are sometimes faced, and therapists apply techniques to help support you through the bereavement process or other types of loss.
What’s the Therapist’s Role in IPT?
Your therapist’s role in IPT is multi-faceted. They operate as a combination of a guide and a support, whose primary aim is to help you identify the types of relationships that may be contributing to your current mental health status. Often, the therapist will delve into your personal history and family background to understand patterns that may be repeating in current relationships. They will also help identify how you might be communicating within these relationships and whether this communication style is effective, inappropriate, or dysfunctional.
Therapists use a variety of strategies to help you improve interactively, such as role-playing and examined empathic communication techniques. During IPT, your therapist’s primary goal is to be present, to listen, and to help you navigate the complex world of human relationships.
What Should You Expect?
The first session often entails a thorough assessment where you discuss why you’ve come for therapy, what issues are troubling you the most, and what you hope to achieve. From there, your therapist will collaborate with you to set individualized goals based on the four outlined aspects of interpersonal psychotherapy. Over time, each goal will be systematically addressed.
IPT is very structured, typically lasting for 12-16 weeks, often with sessions scheduled weekly. Your therapist will check in with you regularly on how you feel the therapy is progressing. It is a collaborative effort where patient and therapist continually refine and adapt the approach as necessary.
The Verdict
IPT can be an effective, evidence-based form of therapy for those struggling with mental health challenges linked to personal relationships. It provides clear, actionable steps to address issues while also offering a safe space to explore and understand the complexities of human interaction that contribute to our well-being. If you’re on the fence about IPT or therapy in general, remember that the value often lies in the dedication and commitment you and your therapist invest in the process.
In conclusion, IPT offers a structured and supportive approach to dealing with the people in our lives and the impact they have on our mental well-being. So expect a knowledgeable, empathetic guide in your IPT therapist – one who walks with you as you untangle the web of human connections that shape your existence.
