Interpersonal Sensitivity

Interpersonal sensitivity is selected as the focus area in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) when there is no single event or life change linked to your distress, but rather ongoing difficulties in your relationships that impact your mood. This often involves long-standing patterns of feeling misunderstood, rejected, or overly attuned to others’ reactions.

Your therapist will work with you to explore these interpersonal patterns, identify how they may contribute to emotional distress, and develop new ways of relating and communicating that support healthier, more satisfying connections.

Examples of Interpersonal Sensitivity
Difficulty in initiating relationships
Difficulty maintaining relationships
Difficulty expressing one’s feelings within relationships
Difficulties communicating one’s needs

Lack of social support/social withdrawal

The main therapeutic goals in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) when interpersonal sensitivity is the identified problem area are to help you recognize recurring patterns in how you relate to others that may be contributing to distress, and to strengthen your social support through effective interpersonal problem-solving.

As with all IPT treatment, therapy typically involves 12 to 16 weekly one-hour sessions.

Early phase: The focus is on gathering information, reviewing key relationships in your life (the Interpersonal Inventory), and setting clear therapeutic goals.
Middle phase: Sessions concentrate on exploring interpersonal sensitivity, improving communication skills, and building or re-establishing social connections. Practicing new ways of interacting is a central part of this stage.
Final phase: Therapy focuses on consolidating progress, reinforcing new skills, and planning for continued growth and maintenance after treatment ends.