Are you suffering from depression? Do conflicts with those around you impact your wellbeing and plunge you into a low mood? Or have you suffered a life change that has left you struggling to get back on track? Interpersonal therapy might be for you.
Interpersonal therapy (IPT) was originally created to treat depression. IPT is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on you and your relationships with other people. It’s based on the idea that the way we relate to others and ourselves is often at the centre of psychological difficulties.
Interpersonal therapy primarily focuses on the way your relationships affect you and how mental health difficulties can affect your relationships. By recognising the problems we have with relating and learning to navigate our social environments better, we feel better.
Interpersonal therapy was initially devised as a treatment for depression in the 1970s. It is currently offered by the NHS in the UK if your depression is severe and hasn’t responded to treatments like CBT.
A meta-analysis of ninety studies found that interpersonal therapy is effective as a treatment for depression and may prevent new depressive disorders and relapse. The study found that IPT may be as effective as antidepressant medication for treating depression. Researchers also found that IPT may be effective in the treatment of eating disorders, anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions.
As well as depression, interpersonal therapy is suggested for:
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IPT is effective at treating depression; several studies found that IPT may be as effective as antidepressant medication for treating depression and prevents relapses
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you will focus on the present; you may discuss your past but only as a reference point to what's happening now
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you will discover if the way you relate to others is causing problems and how this could be improved
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IPT is less structured than CBT but more structured than other psychotherapy approaches
Unlike other forms of psychotherapy, the focus of IPT therapy is not on finding the unconscious origin of your current feelings and behaviour or learning new thought patterns. Instead, IPT focuses on your current reality and the immediate difficulties that contribute to your symptoms.
When you start interpersonal therapy, you will meet your therapist for an initial assessment. Together you will decide on the key issues to focus on in your therapy. Usually, IPT is a short-term therapy, lasting of up to twenty sessions.
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A qualified, professional therapist will work with you to examine your thoughts and behaviours and improve how you feel. You will build a relationship based on trust, giving you the confidence to share your feelings and emotions with them. Your counsellor will listen to all that you have to share with empathy and openness.
An experienced therapist or counsellor like those listed on the Harley Therapy platform can help you to manage your symptoms and find your own way forward.
Filter our qualified, professional and vetted therapists by cost, location, availability and approach so you can find and book the best therapist or counsellor for you here.
