Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is one of the evidence-based psychological therapies approved by Medicare for treatment under Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care.

Enhance your skills to empower your clients to better meet their interpersonal needs at this experiential and practical workshop. Interpersonal Psychotherapy can enable clients to develop more successful interpersonal skills and improve psychological well-being by overcoming what is not working in their interpersonal life.

You will learn about exploring and improving interpersonal relationships,which is central to IPT, as well as the four problem areas of grief, interpersonal disputes, role transitions, and interpersonal sensitivity, that are the focus of IPT.

IPT has been adapted for the treatment of a range of conditions including bulimia nervosa and depression. Other conditions for which IPT has either demonstrated effectiveness or is being studied currently include depression in adolescence, dysthymic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder.

Participants will learn about:

• Theoretical underpinnings of IPT, including core concepts of IPT
• Research and evidence for the practice of IPT
• Structure of IPT comprising phases of therapy and assessment of client suitability for IPT
• Interpersonal formulation that examines the presenting symptoms and issues of the client in the light of the four problem areas and interpersonal difficulties
• IPT treatment strategies that cover the use of the therapeutic relationship in therapy, identify problematic communication patterns, problem solving, role playing, identify discrepancies in content and process, providing feedback and working in the here and now
• An understanding of IPT’s basic principles of working with clients will be developed through exercises, role-play scenarios and group discussions

Who should attend?

Counsellors, psychologists and case workers who engage therapeutically