Understanding interpersonal psychotherapy
Learn how interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for depression links mood with relationships and life changes, its four areas of focus and how sessions are organised.
Written by Tarun Vermani, Trainee Clinical Psychologist Last reviewed
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Understanding interpersonal psychotherapy
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Depression and relationships
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a talking therapy for depression. It was developed by Gerald Klerman, Myrna Weissman and colleagues, and John Markowitz later helped write its main guides. IPT looks at how mood and relationships affect each other. Low mood can make it harder to be with people, and stress in relationships can make mood worse. Linking the two is not about blaming you or anyone else. This handout supports trained practice and does not replace it.
Four possible areas of focus
You and your therapist usually agree one area, sometimes two. Grief: someone important to you has died, and grieving feels stuck or very hard. Disagreements: you and someone important to you expect different things from each other, at home, in the family or at work. Being hurt or controlled is not a disagreement; see 'Staying safe in relationships'. Life changes: such as retirement, a new job, becoming a parent, moving, illness or a relationship ending. Loneliness and connection: relationships have been hard to start or keep, or you feel cut off from people.
What IPT does not ask or promise
Working on a relationship does not mean the other person has to take part. IPT is not couples or family therapy. It cannot promise that a relationship will be repaired. Sometimes the work is about understanding a situation, finding support elsewhere or deciding what you want.
How the sessions are organised
IPT usually has a set number of weekly sessions, agreed at the start. In the first sessions, you talk about your depression, the important people in your life, and how mood and events have linked over time. Then you agree a focus. In the middle sessions, you work on that area, for example feelings, how conversations go, choices and support. In the last sessions, you look back at what has changed, what is still hard and where to get support in future. Fictional illustration: someone has felt low for months and rarely talks to anyone beyond a quick hello to neighbours. They agree to focus on connection: what makes contact hard and what kind of company they would like. They message an old friend and meet for coffee. Their mood lifts a little, though some evenings are still lonely.
Depression as a health condition
IPT treats depression as a real health condition, not a personal failing. Early on, your therapist may talk about what this means for you. Some people find it eases self-blame. For a while, it can be fine to do a little less and accept help, while you take part in treatment to recover. This is something to discuss, not a rule. It does not mean depression defines you, and you still choose what you do. Keep taking any medication as prescribed, and talk to your prescriber before changing it.
Staying safe in relationships
If someone is hurting, threatening or controlling you, this is not a disagreement to fix by talking better. Tell your therapist or GP when it is safe to do so.
If someone in your life frightens, threatens or controls you, don't practise with them. Talk to your therapist first. If you are in danger, call 999.
Free domestic abuse helplines, open day and night: in England, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Refuge) on 0808 2000 247; in Scotland, Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline on 0800 027 1234; in Wales, Live Fear Free on 0808 80 10 800; in Northern Ireland, the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline on 0808 802 1414.
Use a phone or device you know is safe.
If your depression gets worse, contact your therapist or GP the same day.
Questions and support
This worksheet is for feelings you can manage. If you have urges to hurt yourself, or you feel unsafe, use your safety plan if you have one and tell your therapist. If you might act on the urges, call 999 or go to A&E. To talk to someone now, call Samaritans free on 116 123.
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When to use ‘Understanding interpersonal psychotherapy’
‘Understanding interpersonal psychotherapy’ is a psychoeducation handout based on interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), for work with depression and low mood. Consider this resource when depression is linked with relationships or life events, such as a bereavement, a disagreement with someone important, a life change or feeling cut off from people.
It is designed to be read within therapy rather than as a standalone self-help tool: a therapist introduces it and discusses it with the client. You can preview the full handout above, then assign it for clients to read between sessions on any device or download it as a print-ready PDF. Where a short reflection is included, it offers space to respond to the reading.
How it works
Most people work through it in around 10 minutes. It moves through six short sections to read:
- Depression and relationships: Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a talking therapy for depression. It was developed by Gerald Klerman, Myrna Weissman and colleagues,…
- Four possible areas of focus: You and your therapist usually agree one area, sometimes two. Grief: someone important to you has died, and grieving feels stuck or very…
- What IPT does not ask or promise: Working on a relationship does not mean the other person has to take part. IPT is not couples or family therapy. It cannot promise that a…
- How the sessions are organised: IPT usually has a set number of weekly sessions, agreed at the start. In the first sessions, you talk about your depression, the important…
- Depression as a health condition: IPT treats depression as a real health condition, not a personal failing. Early on, your therapist may talk about what this means for you.…
- Staying safe in relationships: If someone is hurting, threatening or controlling you, this is not a disagreement to fix by talking better. Tell your therapist or GP when…
The handout can be read on a phone, tablet or computer, or downloaded as a print-ready PDF. If it includes a reflection, answers entered on the Formulate platform are saved automatically and shared back with the therapist for review before the next session.
The IPT approach behind it
‘Understanding interpersonal psychotherapy’ draws on interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). IPT is a time-limited therapy for depression that links mood with relationships and life events. The therapist and client agree a focus, such as grief, a disagreement, a life change or loneliness, and work on it over an agreed number of sessions. Depression is treated as a health condition rather than a personal failing.
It is intended as one part of a wider course of therapy rather than as advice or a diagnosis. The therapist can help decide how it fits the work and discuss what emerges.
Evidence & sources
This handout draws on interpersonal psychotherapy. Key sources include:
- Klerman, G. L., Weissman, M. M., Rounsaville, B. J., & Chevron, E. S. (1984). Interpersonal Psychotherapy of Depression. Basic Books.
- Weissman, M. M., Markowitz, J. C., & Klerman, G. L. (2000). Comprehensive Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Basic Books.
- Weissman, M. M., Markowitz, J. C., & Klerman, G. L. (2007). Clinician's Quick Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Oxford University Press.
- Weissman, M. M., Markowitz, J. C., & Klerman, G. L. (2018). The Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy (updated and expanded ed.). Oxford University Press.
For use alongside professional support
Formulate provides educational CBT resources for use with a qualified therapist. They are not a substitute for professional assessment, diagnosis, or crisis care.
If you need urgent help now:
- Emergency services: 999 — if you or someone else is in immediate danger
- NHS 111 (NHS 24 in Scotland): 111 — choose the mental health option for urgent help, in England, Scotland and Wales (in Wales, press 2)
- Lifeline: 0808 808 8000 — for urgent help in Northern Ireland, free, day or night
- Samaritans: 116 123 — free, day or night, 365 days a year
- Shout: 85258 — text SHOUT, free, day or night
- SANEline: 0300 304 7000 — 4pm–10pm, every day
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