Supportive and interpersonal psychotherapy essay

Interpersonal psychotherapy is an approach that aims to improve the patient's interpersonal relations as well as their social functioning so as to reduce distress in the patient. The approach addresses interpersonal distress, unresolved grief, difficult or challenging life transitions, and conflicts. IPT and SP share a number of similarities; one of the key similarity between the two is they are both time-limited and affect focused psychotherapeutic approaches. Another similarity as identified by Prochaska and Norcross (2018), both approaches to patient care are aimed at addressing current patient behaviors through initially focusing on understanding the patient's past behavioral practices and events. The two approaches involve the establishment of therapeutic interlinkage between the patient and the therapist. The utilization of evidence-based approaches to patient care is critical to achieving positive patient outcomes and establishing a positive patient experience of care while at the same time addressing the different needs of the patients.