Assignment: Supportive Psychotherapy versus Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Introduction

Mental health providers and counselors widely use psychotherapy as an intervention to manage individuals with psychiatric conditions. It is used to find the cause of emotional problems, control, and eliminate the causative factor and promote the mental well-being of an individual (Goldman, Hilsenroth, Gold, Owen & Levy, 2018). In this paper, the purpose will be to discuss the similarities and differences between supportive and interpersonal psychotherapy. I will also discuss the psychotherapy approach, which I may use with clients as per evidence-based literature.

ORDER A CUSTOMIZED, PLAGIARISM-FREE Assignment: Supportive Psychotherapy versus Interpersonal Psychotherapy HERE

Good News For Our New customers . We can write this assignment for you and pay after Delivery. Our Top -rated medical writers will comprehensively review instructions , synthesis external evidence sources(Scholarly) and customize a quality assignment for you. We will also attach a copy of plagiarism report alongside and AI report. Feel free to chat Us

Similarities between Supportive and Interpersonal Psychotherapy

[elementor-template id="165244"]

Supportive and interpersonal psychotherapy use verbal and nonverbal communication to establish a therapeutic relationship between the client and the counselor or mental health provider. Besides, the objectives of both therapies are to ease psychological and emotional difficulties, change behavior, and promote personal growth and development of clients (Weissman & Cuijpers, 2017). The sessions are usually flexible and are planned at least one session per week, and in each session, the counselor identifies objectives that the client should be able to meet (Lemmens, DeRubeis, Arntz, Peeters & Huibers, 2016). Furthermore, both psychotherapies use medication as an adjunct therapy such as psychotropic drugs and antidepressants.

Differences between Supportive and Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Supportive psychotherapy aims to offer support to clients to help them in coping or adjusting to the environment and accepting the reality. It also aims at providing clients with reassurance, advice, and assistance in the development of social skills. However, the counselor does not propose solutions or teach clients new skills. Conversely, interpersonal psychotherapy emphasizes on the clients’ interpersonal relationships (Lemmens et al., 2018). Besides, it also explores different approaches that clients can adopt to improve their interpersonal relationships and lives.

Supportive psychotherapy is long-term and can last for many years, especially when managing patients with chronic conditions. On the other hand, interpersonal psychotherapy is short-term, lasting 12-16 weeks (Weissman & Cuijpers, 2017). The difference can be applied by a counselor in identifying clients who need a long-term treatment plan and those who are suitable for short-term treatment based on their presenting symptoms.

The supportive approach is the therapy of choice for clients with psychotic conditions and those in a crisis state such as acute grieving (Winston & Lujack, 2015). On the other hand, the interpersonal approach is the treatment of choice for patients with non-psychotic and non-bipolar depression (Lemmens et al., 2018). Moreover, intra-psychic conditions are best addressed using a supportive approach rather than interpersonal approach. The difference can assist a counselor in deciding the treatment therapy to use for clients presenting with psychotic or depressive symptoms.

Therapeutic Approach Application

As a mental health counselor, I would adopt the supportive psychotherapy approach in managing clients. This is because it is a long-term therapy, which helps the counselor to evaluate the progress of the client and offer support to clients facing a major crisis in their lives (Goldman et al., 2018). Besides, the therapy can be applied in managing clients having a drug addiction, alcoholism, and psychotic disorders, which are the typical cases experienced in the psychiatric department (Winston & Lujack, 2015). Additionally, supportive psychotherapy motivates clients to change behavior and also enable them to establish a therapeutic relationship with their counselor.

Conclusion

In conclusion, psychotherapy treatment is used to manage patients experiencing emotional and psychological problems. Supportive and interpersonal psychotherapies are similar in that they both help in easing emotional and mental difficulties and promoting behavior change and personal growth. However, they differ in their approach techniques and the time used to offer therapy to clients. Besides, supportive therapy addresses psychotic condition while interpersonal therapy addresses depressive disorders.

References

Goldman, R. E., Hilsenroth, M. J., Gold, J. R., Owen, J. J., & Levy, S. R. (2018). Psychotherapy integration and alliance: An examination across treatment outcomes. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 28(1), 14.

Lemmens, L. H., DeRubeis, R. J., Arntz, A., Peeters, F. P., & Huibers, M. J. (2016). Sudden gains in cognitive therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy for adult depression. Behaviour Research and therapy, 77, 170-176.

Weissman, M., & Cuijpers, P. (2017). Psychotherapy over the last four decades. Harvard review of psychiatry, 25(4), 155-158.

Winston, A., & Lujack, A. M. (2015). Supportive psychotherapy. Psychiatry, 1, 1871-1881.

[elementor-template id="165244"]

Assignment: Supportive Psychotherapy versus Interpersonal Psychotherapy