IPT Therapist: A Case Study

146 Words1 Pages
The IPT therapist's stance is relaxed and supportive. The goal is to be the patient's ally. The acute time limit pressures the patient to take action. No formal homework is assigned, but the goal of solving the focal interpersonal problem area provides an overall task. Treatment centers on the patient's outside environment, not on the therapy itself. The scheduling of sessions once weekly accentuates that the emphasis is on the patient's real life, not the office. In sessions therapist and patient review the past week's events. When the patient succeeds in an interpersonal situation, the therapist acts as a cheerleader, reinforcing healthy interpersonal skills. When the outcome is adverse, the therapist offers sympathy, helps the patient to