Mental health issues are common among American teenagers. In fact, these issues affect millions of teens each year. One potential option for helping adolescents affected by depression and other conditions is interpersonal therapy (IPT). Interpersonal therapy techniques consider mental health treatment through the lens of relationships and social interactions. An IPT example is interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents (IPT-A), specifically designed for teenagers. With its help, your child can begin to recover from the effects of depressive mental health conditions.
Call 888.291.2309 to speak with someone from Imagine Fort Collins about the effectiveness of interpersonal therapy in helping teens.
What Is Interpersonal Therapy for Teens?
Interpersonal therapy focuses on two aspects of your teenager’s social interactions and relationships. First, it examines how much support your teen can access from other people. It also looks at how your teen’s relationships affect their mental well-being.
When IPT Is Helpful
IPT started as a depression treatment. It has since been used to help people affected by many other conditions, including:
- Anxiety disorders
- Eating disorders
- Borderline personality disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Teenagers with mental health issues often have needs that differ from those of adults. IPT-A was created with this reality in mind.
When IPT-A Is Helpful
Like standard IPT, IPT-A focuses on four primary areas where interpersonal and relationship issues are common:
- Unresolved grief
- Differences with others regarding who plays which relationship roles
- Problems caused by changes in relationship roles
- Difficulty forming or maintaining healthy relationships
However, it does so from the perspective of adolescents, not adults. The typical course of IPT-A takes three months to complete. Sessions are usually held on a weekly basis. IPT-A unfolds in three phases. In the first phase, the therapist gains familiarity with your teen’s needs. The second phase focuses on in-depth work in areas where those needs are the greatest. The third phase is mainly devoted to a review of the therapy and the progress your child has made.
6 Common Interpersonal Therapy Techniques
Mental health professionals can use many interpersonal therapy techniques to help teens affected by mental health issues. The list of the most common interpersonal therapy examples includes the following:
- Clarifying your teen’s expectations in each of the four areas of IPT-A
- Assessing your child’s current communication skills
- Making a similar assessment of your teen’s decision-making abilities
- Examining how mood affects relationships and social interactions
- Encouraging self-expression and examining its interpersonal effects
- Showing your child how to manage their moods during interactions better
These are just some of the possible options used to help your child. There are also other techniques only used in specific areas of the therapy. The most relevant interpersonal therapy examples vary from person to person.
What Is the Known Effectiveness of Interpersonal Therapy?
The effectiveness of interpersonal therapy is well demonstrated. That’s especially true for the treatment of depression. IPT-A can help relieve the symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression.
The benefits of interpersonal therapy examples can include the improvement of your child’s social and social skills. In addition, the therapy can help improve your teen’s overall ability to function in daily life. There is evidence for similar benefits in the treatment of other mental illnesses. The therapy may also help your child recover from additional drug or alcohol problems.
Learn More About Interpersonal Therapy Techniques at Imagine Fort Collins
Want more information on IPT-A? The professionals at Imagine Fort Collins are here for you. We have extensive expertise in interpersonal therapy. This experience allows us to offer reliable guidance and advice.
Interpersonal therapy is just one of many options for adolescent mental health care at Imagine Fort Collins. Every day, we use customized IPT-A to help teenagers recover their function and well-being. To learn more about how we can help your child, contact Imagine Fort Collins today at 888.291.2309 or reach us through our online message form.