The Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy

by Myrna M. Weissman

The Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy is the definitive, practical guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) for clinicians and researchers. IPT is a well-researched, time-limited, and diagnosis-focused therapy. An update and expansion of the original 1984, 2000, and 2007 IPT manuals, this
guide illustrates not only individual IPT treatment for patients with major depression but also adaptations of IPT for different diagnoses, patient populations, and treatment formats. This book is the basis for the extensive research that has validated IPT and led to its listing in treatment
guidelines.

Written by the originators of the treatment and one of its leading researchers, this updated and expanded guide describes how to approach clinical encounters with patients, how to focus IPT treatment, and how to handle therapeutic difficulties. IPT can be combined with medication, and it is a safe
alternative to medication for individuals who may not be able to take antidepressants. IPT has been shown not only to relieve symptoms but to build social skills as well. Learn how to use IPT to effectively treat depression and other disorders including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, eating
disorders, posttraumatic stress, and borderline personality disorder. With clinical examples and sample therapist scripts throughout, The Guide summarizes the theoretical and empirical background of IPT and focuses on teaching you the best way to deliver this effective, immensely practical
treatment.

Genres: Psychology, Social Work, Nonfiction

300 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2017

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a therapy nerd and as someone who takes an interpersonal/relational-cultural approach with clients, I loved reading this book for its in-depth yet understandable explanation of interpersonal therapy. The authors focus on four different “problem areas” that may affect clients: grief (death of a significant loved one), role dispute (struggle with a friend, family member, coworker, etc.), role transition (a life change like a graduation, divorce, a move, etc.) and interpersonal deficits (lack of attachments, social isolation, loneliness). They explain each of these four areas with great insight and with clear language, and they provide relevant case examples that apply the concepts. The latter half of the book reviews the research base for interpersonal therapy across different mental health issues (e.g., bulimia, bipolar disorder) as well as in different cultural contexts.

My main critique of this book is that all the case examples do not mention race or sexual orientation of the client and how these social identities and related oppressions may affect clients. While I appreciate how the authors talk about culture in the latter half of the book, the lack of integration of intersectionality and multiculturalism in the case examples mitigated my enthusiasm for the book overall. Still, I feel hopeful that feminist and social justice-oriented practitioners can apply these concepts and examine how experiences of oppression, as well as radical joy in the face of oppression, can affect our clients’ interpersonal relationships as well as their relationships with themselves.

[Michael Silverman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The definitive introductory IPT "guide" for clinicians. Wonderfully constructed. No guide is going to give the therapist everything they need. This should be followed by training (if one has not yet trained as an IPT therapist) and supervision.

Negative reviews likely come from clinicians with limited training in the use of various orientations or non-clinicians expecting a self-help book.

[Lianne V · Rating 3 out of 5]

I made it about 2/3 through and didn't find it very helpful and ended up switching to a different IPT text. I think it's a good summary of the evidence supporting the use of IPT in a variety of conditions, but doesn't go over very well the "how to" of IPT which is more of what that I was looking for. It did provide an introduction of the overall theory/what it's about, but it did not talk very effectively about the techniques to use to give clinicians a good idea of how to do the therapy itself.