Briefly describe how supportive and interpersonal psychotherapies are similar.
Supportive psychotherapy is a technique that combines psychodynamics, cognitive behavior and other dyadic treatment measures to restore, maintain or improve the intrapsychic status of an individual, which is inclusive of self-esteem, ego and adaptive functions (Cuijpers et al., 2016). Interpersonal psychotherapy, on the other hand, is a brief psychotherapy that follows a time-limited, focused and evidence-based treatment to address mood and attachment disorders. The two are similar in that they aim to resolve mental issues. They empower the patient to relate with other people productively without hating on themselves.
Explain at least three differences between these therapies.
First, while supportive psychotherapy addresses intrapsychic characteristics such as self-esteem and self-drive, interpersonal therapy focuses on interpersonal skills and tendencies to foster attachment and relationships (Weissman, Markowitz, & Klerman, 2017). Secondly, interpersonal therapy is well structured with a schedule that is tightly adhered to and based on evidence-based principles, while supportive therapy is not, utilizing either psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral concepts. Supportive therapy can be picked at any point and pushed on in search of patient improvement. Thirdly, the interpersonal approach is highly time-dependent, running for a limited time of 12-16 weeks (Watkins, 2019). Contrary to this, supportive psychotherapy
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Include how these differences might impact your practice as a mental health counsellor.
These differences determine which approach to use to address various causes. As a mental health counsellor, I have to first assess the needs of the patient before adopting any of the two approaches. After that, I have to adhere to that particular technique specifically for the optimal benefit of the patient. I, therefore, have too understood them very well, their applications, advantages and even limitations. The two techniques will also make my work very smooth and manageable.
Explain which therapeutic approach you might use with clients and why.
I am more likely to heavily use interpersonal psychotherapy because it is dependent on a clear timeline, draft and evidence-based tactics which I am more confident about. The technique ensures that success has been realized as long as the patient adheres to it vehemently. Also, due to its wide application, it is easier to make consultations and refer to various scholarly articles on the same (Wilhelm et al., 2019). Appling interpersonal psychotherapy is easier yet more effective .
References
Cuijpers, P., Donker, T., Weissman, M. M., Ravitz, P., & Cristea, I. A. (2016). Interpersonal psychotherapy for mental health problems: a comprehensive meta-analysis. American Journal of Psychiatry, 173(7), 680-687.
Weissman, M. M., Markowitz, J. C., & Klerman, G. L. (2017). The guide to interpersonal psychotherapy: Updated and expanded edition. Oxford University Press.
Watkins Jr, C. E. (2019). Do We Need a Supportive-Therapy-Specific Psychotherapy Supervision? American journal of psychotherapy, 72(1), 21-23.
Wilhelm, S., Phillips, K. A., Greenberg, J. L., O'Keefe, S. M., Hoeppner, S. S., Keshaviah, A., ... & Schoenfeld, D. A. (2019). Efficacy and posttreatment effects of therapist-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy vs supportive psychotherapy for adults with body dysmorphic disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 76(4), 363-373.
