Test Bank for Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
What is Interpersonal Psychotherapy?
Personal relationships are at the center of psychological issues.
A time-limited, present-focused, empirically validated treatment for mood disorders.
Here and now
Originally developed to treat depression
o Developed by Gerald Klerman and Myrna Weissman in the 1970’s
o Attachment theory (believed that the early relationships between the caregiver
and the child creates a history and determines the behavior, feelings, and
thoughts of the baby in the future) and interpersonal theory
Based on the so-called common factors of psychotherapy: a treatment alliance in which
the therapist empathically engages the patient, helps the patient to feel understood,
arouses affect, present a clear rationale and treatment ritual, and yields success
experiences.
Lots of evidence and research to back the effectiveness of IPT
Principles of IPT
Depression is a medical illness, rather than the patient’s fault or personal defect;
moreover, it is a treatable condition. This definition has the effect of defining the
problem and excusing the patient from symptomatic self-blame.
o Helping break the stigma of having mental health disorders
Mood and life situation are related. Building on interpersonal theory and psychosocial
research on depression, IPT makes a practical link between the patient’s mood and
disturbing life events that either trigger or follow from the onset of the mood disorder.
o Does not give cause and effect, just the fact that all of these things are related to
one another
o What we experience in relationships impacts our mood and life overall
Role of Counselor
An ally, educator
Relaxed and supportive
“a cheerleader” who is reinforcing healthy interpersonal skills
Process of Counseling
Time-limited (12-16 weeks) generally one hour per week
A beginning phase: interpersonal inventory
o Quality of the relationships
o Review of patterns in relationships: nature of relationship difficulties
Learn about past relationships with friends, caregivers, coworkers, etc.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
What is Interpersonal Psychotherapy?
Personal relationships are at the center of psychological issues.
A time-limited, present-focused, empirically validated treatment for mood disorders.
Here and now
Originally developed to treat depression
o Developed by Gerald Klerman and Myrna Weissman in the 1970’s
o Attachment theory (believed that the early relationships between the caregiver
and the child creates a history and determines the behavior, feelings, and
thoughts of the baby in the future) and interpersonal theory
Based on the so-called common factors of psychotherapy: a treatment alliance in which
the therapist empathically engages the patient, helps the patient to feel understood,
arouses affect, present a clear rationale and treatment ritual, and yields success
experiences.
Lots of evidence and research to back the effectiveness of IPT
Principles of IPT
Depression is a medical illness, rather than the patient’s fault or personal defect;
moreover, it is a treatable condition. This definition has the effect of defining the
problem and excusing the patient from symptomatic self-blame.
o Helping break the stigma of having mental health disorders
Mood and life situation are related. Building on interpersonal theory and psychosocial
research on depression, IPT makes a practical link between the patient’s mood and
disturbing life events that either trigger or follow from the onset of the mood disorder.
o Does not give cause and effect, just the fact that all of these things are related to
one another
o What we experience in relationships impacts our mood and life overall
Role of Counselor
An ally, educator
Relaxed and supportive
“a cheerleader” who is reinforcing healthy interpersonal skills
Process of Counseling
Time-limited (12-16 weeks) generally one hour per week
A beginning phase: interpersonal inventory
o Quality of the relationships
o Review of patterns in relationships: nature of relationship difficulties
Learn about past relationships with friends, caregivers, coworkers, etc.
