Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a time-limited, focused therapy approach for depression. It focuses on addressing interpersonal issues and social functioning. IPT recognizes that interpersonal relationships don’t cause depression, but depression can impact and affect one’s interpersonal relationships.Â
IPT addresses interpersonal issues as an effective treatment method for mild to moderate forms of clinical depression. It focuses on empathizing with how depression impacts a person’s relationships with their family and peers and providing support to one's interpersonal relationships.Â
With IPT, you learn how to fix your life's problems right now to improve your quality of life immediately.Â
Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on giving you strategies to address problems in four different areas of your life.Â
IPT is a short-term form of treatment. It generally consists of 12 to 16 one-hour weekly sessions, with additional sessions added if needed.Â
You will work with your therapist during the first few sessions to gain an understanding of how interpersonal therapy works.Â
You will work together to identify specific interpersonal issues or problems you are currently experiencing. You will record all interpersonal issues in your life, rank them, and figure out which issues are most important to treat to address your depression.Â
By undergoing this process, you will be able to focus your remaining sessions on the issues you have identified that you want to work on the most.Â
You will learn how to more deeply understand the interpersonal issues you are facing, how to make adjustments in your life, and then actively apply those adjustments to your life. You should notice a change in your personal life and relationships at the end of your treatment based on this action-orientated approach.Â
Your therapist will use a range of different techniques to help you address your interpersonal issues, including
The heart of your sessions will be about addressing the issues you identified in your first few sessions and learning how to address them using the techniques you learn in IPT.Â
In the last few weeks of therapy sessions, you will deal with facing the end of therapy. You will explore what this loss means to you. You will also focus on how to apply the therapy.
After interpersonal therapy ends, you can supplement the process with ongoing maintenance. Ongoing maintenance consists of less frequent, ongoing sessions, where adjustments made during your short-term IPT are reinforced, and you get the support you need to continue implementing the strategies you learned during IPT.
Interpersonal therapy can help you manage depressive symptoms and improve your everyday life.Â
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Finding the proper treatment when you have treatment-resistant depression can be challenging. Interpersonal therapy is one of the 200 treatment options our expert team will consider when developing your treatment plan. IPT can be one tool you use to manage your depression.Â
Options MD is here to help. Text us to start treatment now. Join our Facebook community, where you can connect with other individuals with treatment-resistant depression.Â
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