How Does Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) Work?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionTypesTechniquesUsesBenefitsEffectivenessIs It Right for You?What to Expect

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Definition

Types

Techniques

Uses

Benefits

Effectiveness

Is It Right for You?

What to Expect

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) techniques help you learn about yourself and work on the relationships in your life.Working with a therapist, you will get a better understanding of your thoughts and feelings, as well as those of the people around you. If you have a specific mental health condition like depression or are going through a major emotional change, interpersonal therapy techniques can help you in your day-to-day life as well as in the long term.

Let’s go over what interpersonal therapy is, what conditions it can help with, the techniques that are used, and how to find out if it’s right for you.

At a GlanceInterpersonal therapy helps you learn more about how your thoughts and feelings affect your relationships with others. You’ll usually do this type of therapy for 12 to 16 sessions.

At a Glance

Interpersonal therapy helps you learn more about how your thoughts and feelings affect your relationships with others. You’ll usually do this type of therapy for 12 to 16 sessions.

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

What Is Interpersonal Therapy?

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a short-term type ofpsychotherapythat treats mental health conditions, including depression. You’ll usually do it for 12 to 16 sessions.

Back when IPT was developed, many mental health professionals considered depression to be “person-based." IPT was different because it recognized that outside factors in a person’s life—specifically, their relationships—can have a major effect on mental well-being.

As you might have guessed from the name, interpersonal therapy techniques focus on your relationships and social interactions. This includes how much support you have from others and how these relationships affect your mental health.

Unlike other forms ofpsychotherapy for depression, IPT does not try to delve into your inner conflicts that may stem from past experiences. Instead, it focuses on your current relationships, how they might be affecting yourdepression symptoms, and ways that you can improve your interactions and your mental health.

Interpersonal therapy recognizes that depression is not always a “person issue,” but that it can be tied to issues people have in their relationships with others.

The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and Tested

Interpersonal Therapy Types

There are a couple of adaptations of interpersonal therapy: dynamic and metacognitive.

Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy

Dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT) is also called psychodynamic interpersonal therapy ormentalization-based therapy. DIT is designed to help you better understand your own thoughts and feelings, as well as the thoughts and feelings of others. If you do this kind of IPT, you’ll typically have 16 sessions over the course of five months.

Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy

Metacognitive interpersonal therapy (MIT) is an integrative approach to personality disorders that involves holding back your emotions (emotional inhibition) oravoidance. One 12-week study found that MIT helped reduce depression symptoms and improve a person’s ability to identify their emotions.

Interpersonal therapy is also used in a modified form ofcouple’s therapy—for example, when trouble in a relationship is leading to depression.

The 10 Best Online Couples Therapy Services We Tried and Tested

Interpersonal Therapy Techniques

Grief

Depression can happen after the loss of a loved one. While it is normal to go through thestages of grief, a major loss can also lead to unresolved grief. There are two kinds of unresolved grief: delayed or distorted. Delayed grief remains for a long time after the loss. Distorted grief is when you do not feel emotions but have other symptoms related to depression, such as insomnia and fatigue.

The 10 Best Online Grief Counseling Services We Tried and Tested

Role Dispute

Role disputes happen when you and the important people in your life havedifferent expectationsabout your relationship.

Here’s an example: You feel that your partner should display more affection or ask more questions about your day. There is a disconnect between your expectations and your partner’s real-life behavior, and it can lead to depression.

Role Transition

Depression can happen during life transitions if your role changes and you don’t know how to cope. Getting married,getting divorced, becoming a parent, andretiringare all examples of role transitions that can lead to depression.

Interpersonal Challenges

If you find it hard to form and maintain good-quality relationships, IPT can help identify where you might be having problems.

For example, you may have feelings of inadequacy, find it difficult toexpress your emotions, or have certain beliefs that are keeping you from communicating effectively.

A therapist can help you figure out what is “getting in your way” the most and come up with strategies that can help address the interpersonal challenges you’re having.

Your therapist can help you determine which area is most responsible for your current challenges. IPT is then directed at helping you deal with the specific interpersonal challenge you’re having.

What Does Interpersonal Therapy Treat?

IPT was created to be a short-term treatment for depression, but it’s since been shown to help people with other mental health conditions, too. You may find IPT helpful if you have:

IPT can also help people who are dealing with attachment issues, grief, life adjustment and transitions, and relationship conflicts.

Benefits of Interpersonal Therapy

Interpersonal therapy can have a number of important benefits, including:

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Does Interpersonal Therapy Work?

IPT is effective for differenttypesand severity of depressive disorders as well as other mental health conditions. For some people, IPT works best when it’s combined with medications.

Here’s what research has found about IPT:

Is Interpersonal Therapy Right for You?

IPT isn’t right for everyone, and that’s OK. Each person’s experience of depression and other mental health conditions is different, and what works for someone may not work as well for someone else.

Since motivation is a really important part of IPT, it can be hard to create change if a person is not able to look at and address the role that they play in their relationships with other people.

Mental health conditions like depression and eating disorders can be chronic or recurrent. That means that even after treatment, you may need maintenance sessions (for example, once a month) to prevent relapse, reinforce the skills you’ve learned, and keep making progress.

What Interpersonal Therapy Is Like

IPT usually lasts for 12 to 16 weeks. Your sessions are structured and will involve regular assessments, therapist interviews, and homework assignments.

During your first few appointments, your therapist will learn more about you, your symptoms, and your relationship history.

Next, you will work with your therapist to address specific areas where you’re having the most trouble. The strategies your therapist uses can be adapted as your treatment progresses, which means that your goals, assignments, and sessions may change as your therapist continues to assess your progress.

IPT can be done in individual or group sessions, and your sessions could be in-person or done viaonline therapy. In some situations, your therapist might suggest that the important people in your life take part in your sessions.

Some people have found that combining IPT with otherdepression treatmentsoffers the best results. For example, research has shown that combining therapy with medication is often more effective than doing either one alone

13 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cuijpers P, Donker T, Weissman M, Ravitz P, Cristea I.Interpersonal psychotherapy for mental health problems: A comprehensive meta-analysis.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(7):680-7. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15091141International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy.Overview of IPT.Interpersonal Therapy Institute.Interpersonal psychotherapy.CAMH.Interpersonal therapy.Fonagy P, Lemma A, Target M, et al.Dynamic interpersonal therapy for moderate to severe depression: A pilot randomized controlled and feasibility trial.Psychol Med. 2020;50(6):1010-1019. doi:1017/S0033291719000928Gordon-King K, Schweitzer R, Dimaggio G.Metacognitive interpersonal therapy for personality disorders featuring emotional inhibition: A multiple baseline case series.J Nerv Ment Dis. 2018;206(4):263-269. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000789Bylund-Grenklo T, Furst T, Nyberg T, Steineck G, Kreicbergs U.Unresolved grief and its consequences. A nationwide follow-up of teenage loss of a parent to cancer 6-9 years earlier.Support Care Cancer. 2016;24(7):3095-103. doi:10.1007/s00520-016-3118-1Weissman MM, Markowitz JC, Klerman GL.Role Disputes.Oxford University Press eBooks. Published online August 1, 2017:55-63. doi:10.1093/med-psych/9780190662592.003.0006Weissman MM, Markowitz JC, Klerman GL.Role Transitions.Oxford University Press eBooks. Published online August 1, 2017:64-71. doi:10.1093/med-psych/9780190662592.003.0007International Society of Interpersonal Therapy.Adaptations of IPT: what works for whom?.van Hees ML, Rotter T, Ellermann T, Evers SM.The effectiveness of individual interpersonal psychotherapy as a treatment for major depressive disorder in adult outpatients: A systematic review.BMC Psychiatry. 2013;13:22. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-13-22Knobloch-Fedders LM, Wilson SJ.Interpersonal behavior in couple therapy: Concurrent and prospective associations with depressive symptoms and relationship distress.Psychother Res. 2020;30(2):183-194. doi:10.1080/10503307.2018.1504175Kamenov K, Twomey C, Cabello M, Prina A, Ayuso-Mateos J.The efficacy of psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and their combination on functioning and quality of life in depression: A meta-analysis.Psychol Med. 2017;47(3):414-425. doi:10.1017/S0033291716002774

13 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cuijpers P, Donker T, Weissman M, Ravitz P, Cristea I.Interpersonal psychotherapy for mental health problems: A comprehensive meta-analysis.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(7):680-7. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15091141International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy.Overview of IPT.Interpersonal Therapy Institute.Interpersonal psychotherapy.CAMH.Interpersonal therapy.Fonagy P, Lemma A, Target M, et al.Dynamic interpersonal therapy for moderate to severe depression: A pilot randomized controlled and feasibility trial.Psychol Med. 2020;50(6):1010-1019. doi:1017/S0033291719000928Gordon-King K, Schweitzer R, Dimaggio G.Metacognitive interpersonal therapy for personality disorders featuring emotional inhibition: A multiple baseline case series.J Nerv Ment Dis. 2018;206(4):263-269. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000789Bylund-Grenklo T, Furst T, Nyberg T, Steineck G, Kreicbergs U.Unresolved grief and its consequences. A nationwide follow-up of teenage loss of a parent to cancer 6-9 years earlier.Support Care Cancer. 2016;24(7):3095-103. doi:10.1007/s00520-016-3118-1Weissman MM, Markowitz JC, Klerman GL.Role Disputes.Oxford University Press eBooks. Published online August 1, 2017:55-63. doi:10.1093/med-psych/9780190662592.003.0006Weissman MM, Markowitz JC, Klerman GL.Role Transitions.Oxford University Press eBooks. Published online August 1, 2017:64-71. doi:10.1093/med-psych/9780190662592.003.0007International Society of Interpersonal Therapy.Adaptations of IPT: what works for whom?.van Hees ML, Rotter T, Ellermann T, Evers SM.The effectiveness of individual interpersonal psychotherapy as a treatment for major depressive disorder in adult outpatients: A systematic review.BMC Psychiatry. 2013;13:22. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-13-22Knobloch-Fedders LM, Wilson SJ.Interpersonal behavior in couple therapy: Concurrent and prospective associations with depressive symptoms and relationship distress.Psychother Res. 2020;30(2):183-194. doi:10.1080/10503307.2018.1504175Kamenov K, Twomey C, Cabello M, Prina A, Ayuso-Mateos J.The efficacy of psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and their combination on functioning and quality of life in depression: A meta-analysis.Psychol Med. 2017;47(3):414-425. doi:10.1017/S0033291716002774

Cuijpers P, Donker T, Weissman M, Ravitz P, Cristea I.Interpersonal psychotherapy for mental health problems: A comprehensive meta-analysis.Am J Psychiatry. 2016;173(7):680-7. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15091141International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy.Overview of IPT.Interpersonal Therapy Institute.Interpersonal psychotherapy.CAMH.Interpersonal therapy.Fonagy P, Lemma A, Target M, et al.Dynamic interpersonal therapy for moderate to severe depression: A pilot randomized controlled and feasibility trial.Psychol Med. 2020;50(6):1010-1019. doi:1017/S0033291719000928Gordon-King K, Schweitzer R, Dimaggio G.Metacognitive interpersonal therapy for personality disorders featuring emotional inhibition: A multiple baseline case series.J Nerv Ment Dis. 2018;206(4):263-269. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000789Bylund-Grenklo T, Furst T, Nyberg T, Steineck G, Kreicbergs U.Unresolved grief and its consequences. A nationwide follow-up of teenage loss of a parent to cancer 6-9 years earlier.Support Care Cancer. 2016;24(7):3095-103. doi:10.1007/s00520-016-3118-1Weissman MM, Markowitz JC, Klerman GL.Role Disputes.Oxford University Press eBooks. Published online August 1, 2017:55-63. doi:10.1093/med-psych/9780190662592.003.0006Weissman MM, Markowitz JC, Klerman GL.Role Transitions.Oxford University Press eBooks. Published online August 1, 2017:64-71. doi:10.1093/med-psych/9780190662592.003.0007International Society of Interpersonal Therapy.Adaptations of IPT: what works for whom?.van Hees ML, Rotter T, Ellermann T, Evers SM.The effectiveness of individual interpersonal psychotherapy as a treatment for major depressive disorder in adult outpatients: A systematic review.BMC Psychiatry. 2013;13:22. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-13-22Knobloch-Fedders LM, Wilson SJ.Interpersonal behavior in couple therapy: Concurrent and prospective associations with depressive symptoms and relationship distress.Psychother Res. 2020;30(2):183-194. doi:10.1080/10503307.2018.1504175Kamenov K, Twomey C, Cabello M, Prina A, Ayuso-Mateos J.The efficacy of psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and their combination on functioning and quality of life in depression: A meta-analysis.Psychol Med. 2017;47(3):414-425. doi:10.1017/S0033291716002774

International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy.Overview of IPT.

Interpersonal Therapy Institute.Interpersonal psychotherapy.

CAMH.Interpersonal therapy.

Fonagy P, Lemma A, Target M, et al.Dynamic interpersonal therapy for moderate to severe depression: A pilot randomized controlled and feasibility trial.Psychol Med. 2020;50(6):1010-1019. doi:1017/S0033291719000928

Gordon-King K, Schweitzer R, Dimaggio G.Metacognitive interpersonal therapy for personality disorders featuring emotional inhibition: A multiple baseline case series.J Nerv Ment Dis. 2018;206(4):263-269. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000000789

Bylund-Grenklo T, Furst T, Nyberg T, Steineck G, Kreicbergs U.Unresolved grief and its consequences. A nationwide follow-up of teenage loss of a parent to cancer 6-9 years earlier.Support Care Cancer. 2016;24(7):3095-103. doi:10.1007/s00520-016-3118-1

Weissman MM, Markowitz JC, Klerman GL.Role Disputes.Oxford University Press eBooks. Published online August 1, 2017:55-63. doi:10.1093/med-psych/9780190662592.003.0006

Weissman MM, Markowitz JC, Klerman GL.Role Transitions.Oxford University Press eBooks. Published online August 1, 2017:64-71. doi:10.1093/med-psych/9780190662592.003.0007

International Society of Interpersonal Therapy.Adaptations of IPT: what works for whom?.

van Hees ML, Rotter T, Ellermann T, Evers SM.The effectiveness of individual interpersonal psychotherapy as a treatment for major depressive disorder in adult outpatients: A systematic review.BMC Psychiatry. 2013;13:22. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-13-22

Knobloch-Fedders LM, Wilson SJ.Interpersonal behavior in couple therapy: Concurrent and prospective associations with depressive symptoms and relationship distress.Psychother Res. 2020;30(2):183-194. doi:10.1080/10503307.2018.1504175

Kamenov K, Twomey C, Cabello M, Prina A, Ayuso-Mateos J.The efficacy of psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and their combination on functioning and quality of life in depression: A meta-analysis.Psychol Med. 2017;47(3):414-425. doi:10.1017/S0033291716002774

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At a Glance#

Get Help Now#

What Is Interpersonal Therapy?#

Interpersonal Therapy Types#

Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy#

Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy#

Interpersonal Therapy Techniques#

Grief#

Role Dispute#

Role Transition#

Interpersonal Challenges#

What Does Interpersonal Therapy Treat?#

Benefits of Interpersonal Therapy#

Press Play for Advice On Reducing Depression#

Does Interpersonal Therapy Work?#

Is Interpersonal Therapy Right for You?#

What Interpersonal Therapy Is Like#