A couple things may come to mind when we hear about interpersonal therapy (IPT) for depression. Like, “it’s just therapy about how to interact with other people more effectively.” In some ways, that is largely the case. But there is so much more to it and why it works! So how do therapists find IPT training?
Theoretically, IPT proposes that ways that we interact with other close individuals in our lives, family, loved ones, can contribute to our overall mood and well-being. So, for example, an individual has negative interactions with spouses and loved ones. If they are unable to effectively assert themselves and their needs, those negative interactions will continue over time.
Or, if they are unable to effectively and diplomatically assert their needs with close loved ones, they do not get their needs met. They then miss out on crucial social support resources. The individual experiences negative impacts on mood in both examples.
Experiencing difficulties with these interactions negatively impacts our mood and leads to depression. This is due to lack of perceived support, lack of our needs being met if we are not asserting them effectively, and lack of valued and reinforcing social interactions, among others.
This is where IPT training becomes essential for therapists.
Therapy involves helping clients build skills on how to interact more effectively with loved ones, express their needs, and assert those needs in order to get what they need in terms of support as well as more harmonious interactions with individuals in their networks.
Although this heavily emphasizes family and interpersonal reactions, therapy is typically done one on one with the individual client who is experiencing those needs. Although in some cases, it includes family members.
IPT proves to be highly efficacious for depression. Evidence shows it is just as effective as well established approaches like CBT or behavioral activation. It appears to be effective for depression, with some evidence that it also helps with anxiety and eating disorders.
IPT is not like any family therapy, however. It has its own specific steps and methods that contribute to its high efficacy. So then how does one train in IPT? IPT trainings are actually pretty hard to find. But we’ve got you covered! University of Toronto sponsors a good on-demand training for a decent price. It also covers a nice chunk of CE hours.
Depression can be such a hard thing for clients to overcome. And it can be especially difficult when clients feel like they don’t have any support or are having difficulty accessing family, friends, and loved ones. Having a tool like IPT as part of ones’ therapist resources is an effective way to help clients meet their goal of improved mood. All the while, they find more harmonious interactions with the important people in their lives.
