Posted: May 15th, 2023

Interpersonal Deficit in Interpersonal Therapy

A 75-year-old widower walks into your practice to request therapy services. He has grieved the loss of his wife for the last 28 months; they were married 50 years.
Explain the significance of interpersonal deficit as it relates to interpersonal therapy
Describe how you would ask “very good” questions to facilitate the patient’s ability to see their own experiences.
Submission Instructions:
Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted, and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources.

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Interpersonal Deficit in Interpersonal Therapy

Interpersonal deficit is a problem area in interpersonal therapy (IPT) that is characterized by a long-standing history of difficulty in initiating and sustaining close relationships. People with interpersonal deficits often feel isolated and lonely, and they may have difficulty expressing their emotions or asking for help. They may also have difficulty trusting others or forming close bonds.

IPT is a short-term, focused therapy that is designed to help people improve their interpersonal functioning. The goal of IPT is to help people understand the interpersonal context of their problems and to develop skills to improve their relationships.

In the case of interpersonal deficit, the therapist would work with the patient to identify the specific ways in which they have difficulty in relationships. The therapist would then help the patient develop strategies to improve their communication skills, their ability to express their emotions, and their ability to trust others.

How to Ask “Very Good” Questions

“Very good” questions are open-ended questions that encourage the patient to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in depth. These questions are designed to help the patient gain a better understanding of themselves and their relationships.

Here are some examples of “very good” questions that a therapist might ask a patient with interpersonal deficit:

Can you tell me more about how you feel when you’re around other people?
What do you think makes it difficult for you to form close relationships?
What do you think would happen if you tried to get closer to someone?
What are some of the things you’re afraid of when it comes to relationships?
These are just a few examples, and the specific questions that a therapist asks will vary depending on the individual patient. However, all “very good” questions should have the following characteristics:

They should be open-ended. This means that they should not have a single, correct answer.
They should be focused on the patient’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
They should be designed to help the patient gain a better understanding of themselves and their relationships.
Supporting Resources

Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression by Gerald Klerman, Myrna Weissman, Bruce Rounsaville, and Eve S. Chevron
Interpersonal Therapy: A Clinician’s Guide by Carol S. Crago and John C. Markowitz
References

Crago, C. S., & Markowitz, J. C. (2014). Interpersonal therapy: A clinician’s guide. Guilford Press.
Klerman, G. L., Weissman, M. M., Rounsaville, B. J., & Chevron, E. S. (1984). Interpersonal psychotherapy for depression. Basic Books.