IPT for Adolescents
Watching your child struggle at any age is not easy. This is especially true for parents with a teenager suffering from mood and interpersonal issues.
At the Cognitive & Interpersonal Therapy Centre, we work with people of all ages who deal with a wide range of psychological issues, including stress, anxiety, mood swings, PTSD, ADHD, depression, and more. One of the treatments we use to help patients is interpersonal psychotherapy or IPT.
IPT is a common non-prescription approach to managing symptoms of psychological distress. For families hoping to take a natural route in alleviating social stressors and other triggers, interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents has a high success rate.
Here, we will discuss the definition of IPT, how the process works, and what you can expect to gain from your experience with your therapist.
What is Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) for Teens?
As the name suggests, interpersonal psychotherapy revolves around our interpersonal relationships and how they impact our everyday lives. For young adults, especially, social relationships play a significant role in self-esteem, self-worth, and an overall sense of self. IPT teaches young adults adaptive coping strategies to alleviate stress in current relationships and learn to communicate more effectively in the future.
Interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents (IPT-A) is a short-term (12-16 sessions) individual psychotherapy for adolescents ages 13–18 who suffer from depressed mood. While IPT recognizes the role of genetic, biological, and personality in depression, the focus of therapy is on how relationships impact mood and how mood impacts relationships. Research has shown IPT-A to be effective as a type of treatment for mild to moderate adolescent depression. Adolescents treated with IPT-A demonstrate fewer depressive symptoms and better social and global functioning post-treatment.
The skills learned through interpersonal psychotherapy are lifelong lessons, which have proven successful as a treatment for stress, depression, and anxiety caused by interpersonal relationships.
Interpersonal relationships are focused on the role you play within them. An adolescent may feel pressure within a parent/child relationship and struggle as the parent observes them. Similarly, they may struggle with changes to these relationships. When a family separates or becomes newly blended with another family, changes to these family dynamics impact how teens view themselves. This drastically affects other areas of life, including school, work, home, and social activities.
How Does IPT Work?
The therapist and adolescent will meet once a week for 12-16 weeks. During this time, you will cover a variety of topics. The structure and content of your IPT program is customized to your needs. As an adolescent, relationships differ from that of an adult or a child. Stressors may lie within social situations involving:
From time to time, the therapist may also meet with parents/guardians to keep them informed of treatment gains and involved in the teen’s recovery from depression. An IPT-specific focus area is decided upon in the initial stages of therapy. Therapy is divided into three distinct phases:
Initial Phase (Sessions 1–4): Assessment & Goal Setting
- Therapist meets with the teen and parents for a comprehensive assessment
- Explore mood, relationships, interpersonal stressors, and recent life changes (e.g., loss, isolation, bullying)
- Explain the connection between mood and interpersonal context
- Encourage the teen to stay engaged in daily activities (e.g., school, chores) while acknowledging current limitations
- Identify the teen’s "interpersonal closeness circle" and assess social supports and communication challenges
- Collaboratively set treatment goals and define a clear focus area for therapy
Middle Phase (Sessions 5–9): Targeted Interpersonal Work
- Focus on one of four IPT problem areas:
- Grief – linked to recent loss
- Role Disputes – linked to ongoing conflict in relationships
- Role Transitions – linked to major life changes
- Interpersonal Sensitivity – linked to social withdrawal or isolation
Termination Phase (Sessions 10–12): Consolidation & Future Planning
- Review and reinforce communication and problem-solving skills
- Discuss relapse prevention and how to recognize early signs of depression
- Collaborate with teen and parent to assess whether additional treatment is needed
- Provide guidance to parents on how to support their teen's continued use of therapy skills
Is IPT Right for Your Teenager?
The Cognitive & Interpersonal Therapy Centre understands that every teenager is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
If your teenager has developed feelings of unease in social situations, depression stemming from relationships with others, a lack of motivation at work or school, mood swings when faced with family events, or any other psychological reactions to interpersonal relationships, IPT could be the solution.
IPT offers various benefits outside of the ability to communicate better in social situations and manage interpersonal relationships. Those who undergo this therapy often describe an increase in self-worth, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Learning to understand your emotions, sort through them to find a solution, and use them to successfully change negative feelings into positive ones is a life skill that will help your adolescent long into adult life.
Contact the Cognitive & Interpersonal Therapy Centre
If you are an adolescent, or a parent of an adolescent looking for help managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or stress-related to social structure, self-esteem, or communication, we can help. The Cognitive & Interpersonal Therapy Centre is proud to help you find positive and lasting solutions to psychological ailments.
Working closely with your IPT psychologist, you will develop skills and coping mechanisms to better acknowledge and manage emotions in any given situation.
For more information on interpersonal psychotherapy, we invite you to contact the Cognitive & Interpersonal Therapy Centre at 647-508-2020 or email us at office@citcassociates.com
We Are Here to Help!
Schedule a call with one of our health care coordinators to answer your questions and help you find the best solutions for you and your loved ones!.
