Praxical.Psych
Unit 10 of 20

Interpersonal therapies

Locate the problem between people rather than inside one.

Chapter 7Sessions 11/4–11/13

What you should be able to do afterwards

  • 1Explain complementarity and use your own reaction as data
  • 2Use metacommunication deliberately
  • 3Conduct an interpersonal inventory and choose one of the four IPT problem areas
  • 4Explain the therapeutic function of the sick role

The reading

Two treatments, one theory, opposite technical conclusions. IRT works with the loyalty that sustains the pattern and takes as long as it takes. IPT refuses to look at the therapy relationship at all, picks one of four problem areas, and finishes in sixteen sessions. IPT has vastly more evidence; IRT addresses the patients IPT does not reach.

What belongs to this unit

Questions to take away

For a seminar, a supervisor, or an argument with yourself.

  1. 1What is your characteristic complementary pull, and with which patients?
  2. 2IPT refuses to interpret the transference. Defend that decision, then attack it.
  3. 3Is the sick role empowering or infantilising? Under what conditions is each true?

Your notes

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What Praxical.Psych is, and is not

Praxical.Psych is an educational tool. It teaches the theory, evidence base and clinical method of psychotherapy at the level of an advanced survey course, and it lets you rehearse a complete session in a simulator.

It is not medical, clinical, psychological or legal advice. It cannot diagnose or treat anyone, and it does not state the law where you practise — requirements differ by jurisdiction and change. Nothing here creates a clinician–patient or solicitor–client relationship.

  • Every patient, transcript and case in this app is fictional — a composite written for teaching. None depicts a real person.
  • Praxical.Psych is not therapy, not a substitute for supervision, and not a credential. Competence to practise comes from training, supervised hours and licensure.
  • Scores from the instruments here are for learning how they behave. They are not a diagnosis and not a risk assessment, and must not inform a decision about a real person.
  • Do not enter real patient information. Everything you type stays in this browser, but that is not the same as a compliant clinical record system.
If you are in crisis

In the US and Canada, call or text 988. In the UK and Ireland, call 116 123 (Samaritans). Elsewhere, find a local line at findahelpline.com. In immediate danger, use your local emergency number.

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