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Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) Training

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is a treatment for depression in adults, adolescents, and pre-adolescents recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

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About Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is based on the idea that depression responds to and influences what happens in our relationships.

Just as relationship difficulties can lower our mood, meaningful and supportive relationships can help us to feel better. Anna Freud offers Interpersonal Psychotherapy Treatment for Adolescents and Family Based Interpersonal Psychotherapy and we also have several training options for professionals.

IPT has two simple aims:

  • To reduce the impact of symptoms of depression and;

  • To resolve current relationship difficulties.

IPT organises therapy around commonly experienced relationship difficulties, described as focal areas. These are disputes in an important relationship, adjusting to significant changes, bereavement and difficulty making and maintaining meaningful relationships.

Many people experience more than one of these difficulties but having a focus can help to contain the work and give it clear direction. Goals that are linked to the focal area are agreed and this helps to personalise this process for each person.

Find out more about IPT from our course lead, Dr Roslyn Law. In this video, Dr Roslyn Law talks about the IPT course, the application process and Talking Therapies.

Practitioner training

  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy Training (IPT)

    This six-day course provides introductory training for practitioners in IPT and reflects the IPT competency framework.

  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy Training Adolescent (IPT-A)

    Learn more about our Interpersonal Psychotherapy Training for Adolescents with depression (IPT-A).

Supervisor training

Specialist training for IPT Practitioners

Refresher and CPD training for IPT Practitioners

Refresher and CPD training for IPT Supervisors