What is Interpersonal Therapy? (The Pros & Cons)
Our relationships are one of the driving forces in our lives.
When your relationships are healthy and supportive, you can feel empowered to tackle any challenges life throws your way.
But when you’re experiencing challenging relationships, life can feel harder – and can eventually have negative consequences on your mental health.
Here at KMA Therapy, we know you want to thrive in your life and relationships. We’re passionate about teaching you everything you need to know about the therapy process – including what types of therapy may benefit you.
After reading this article, you’ll know what interpersonal therapy is, what happens during the therapy process, and how to know if it’s the right fit for you.
What is Interpersonal Therapy?
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured form of therapy that centres around improving your interpersonal relationships.
It is mainly used to help major depression but has also been effective in treating anxiety and eating disorders.
While many forms of therapy delve into your past, IPT focuses on “here-and-now” relationships. It emphasizes the idea that many problems you may be experiencing can be explained by issues in your relationships with other people.
What Happens During Interpersonal Therapy?
IPT follows a time-limited structure which usually lasts between 8 to 12 weeks. Sessions can take on a one-to-one or group format.
IPT is a collaborative therapy style, where your therapist will work with you to address the problems you’re experiencing in your life and relationships.
During IPT sessions, therapy strategies will help you address problems in four categories.
The four problem categories in interpersonal therapy are:
- Grief
- Interpersonal Deficits
- Interpersonal Role Disputes
- Interpersonal Role Transitions
A fifth IPT category, called “loss of healthy self,” is also sometimes added to help you explore the loss you’ve experienced as a result of mental health issues.
Your therapist will use these categories to help you make adjustments to improve the problems you’re experiencing in your relationships.
Pros: Is it the right fit for you?
Interpersonal Psychotherapy is extremely effective in treating depression and offers a clear outline of how to address the problems you may be experiencing.
ITP can be a great choice if:
- You want to address your current relationships
- You enjoy a structured therapy plan where you know what to expect
- You value empathetic and collaborative communication from a therapist
Cons: Is there a better option for you?
Interpersonal therapy is focused on the here-and-now – so, if you’re interested in deep-diving into your past experiences, it might not be the best choice.
ITP might not be the right choice if:
- You want a longer timeline to be in therapy
- You want more freedom to discuss a variety of topics in therapy
- You aren’t interested in focusing your discussions on your relationships with other people
Alternatives to Interpersonal Therapy
After learning more about the pros and cons of Interpersonal Therapy, you may be interested in alternative options.
Some alternatives to Interpersonal Therapy include:
These therapy options allow you to have more freedom in your topics of discussion and follow a more flexible therapy format.
Next Steps For Therapy for Depression
After reading this article, you now have an understanding of Interpersonal Therapy, its pros and cons, and some alternative therapy options to explore.
Here at KMA, we’re passionate about ensuring your therapy plan is customized to suit your life and relationships. We’ve been successfully matching clients with their ideal therapists for over 14 years.
Your therapy journey will begin with an introductory appointment. We’ll match you with your ideal therapist and determine what therapy techniques will be valuable and effective.
Book an appointment today, or contact us directly if you have any questions.
You can also explore our Depression Therapy page to learn about other options.
If you’re not yet ready to book an appointment, read these resources for more information:
- To learn more about therapy options for depression, read: The 4 Best Types of Therapy for Depression
- To learn about healthy communication, read: 3 Tips to Improve Communication in Relationships
- To learn more about navigating grief, read: How to Cope with Grief and Loss
