Interpersonal Counselling (IPC) is an internationally recognised modality. IPT West Midlands Training Centre are now able to offer this course as part of their training portfolio.
Course Details
IPC is an adaptation of IPT with three main differences
The treatment is provided over 6-8 sessions
It has been designed for clients with mild depression or distress.
Treatment can be delivered by both mental health and non-mental health professionals.
What will the training involve?
The training consists of a mixture of didactic teaching, demonstrations of relevant competencies via role-play, video materials as well and discussions in the breakout groups. During this training, you will learn all the strategies relevant to the delivery of IPC and you will have an opportunity to see some examples as well as the opportunity to practice these strategies.
2 - Day Training
The two-day training course provides an introduction to the IPC model and enables participants to gain the skills needed to deliver the treatment. A training manual will be provided to every attendee to enhance and reinforce the learning.
3 - Day Training
The three-day training course provides all of the above, following on from this three-day training, there is an opportunity to attend weekly specialist IPC supervision, where you will be supported to work towards completing standards to practice IPC. This training is supported by the national body, IPT UK, and leads to accreditation as an IPC therapist.
Day 1
Introduction and overview of IPC.
Initial Phase of IPC and the tools used, including role play from the trainers.
Middle Phase work: including tools used.
Day 2
Check-in from Day 1
Middle Phase work
End phase work
Research in IPC, supervision and accredited casework
Day 3
Check-in from Day 2
Getting started for individuals who wish to go down the accredited route.
Asking for help’: a qualitative interview study exploring the experiences of interpersonal counselling (IPC) compared to low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for women with depression during pregnancy
Ingram, J., Johnson, D., O’Mahen, H.A., Law, R., Culpin, I., Kessler, D., Beasant, L. and Evans, J., 2021. ‘Asking for help’: a qualitative interview study exploring the experiences of interpersonal counselling (IPC) compared to low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for women with depression during pregnancy. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 21, pp.1-8.
Acceptability, Adherence, and Feasibility of Implementing Task-Shifted Delivery of Interpersonal Counseling in Mozambique
Weissman MM, Hankerson SH, Scorza P, Olfson M, Verdeli H, Shea S, Lantigua R, Wainberg M. Interpersonal Counseling (IPC) for Depression in Primary Care. Am J Psychother. 2014;68(4):359-83. doi: 10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2014.68.4.359. PMID: 26453343; PMCID: PMC4603528. 1. Wainberg ML, Gouveia ML, Stockton MA, Feliciano P, Suleman A, Mootz JJ, et al. Technology and implementation science to forge the future of evidence-based psychotherapies: The PRIDE scale-up study. Evid Based Ment Health. 2020;1–7.
Barriers and facilitators to training non-specialists to deliver IPC in Brazil
Matsuzaka CT, Wainberg M, Norcini Pala A, Hoffmann EV, Coimbra BM, Braga RF, Sweetland AC, Mello MF. Task shifting interpersonal counseling for depression: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial in primary care. BMC Psychiatry. 2017 Jun 21;17(1):225. doi: 10.1186/s12888-017- 1379-y. PMID: 28637449; PMCID: PMC5480168. Sweetland AC, Gruber Mann C, Fernandes MJ, Silva FVSM, Matsuzaka C, Cavalcanti M, Fortes S, Kritski A, Su AY, Ambrosio JC, Kann B, Wainberg ML. Barriers and Facilitators to Integrating Depression Treatment Within a TB Program and Primary Care in Brazil. Health Promot Pract. 2023 Jul 21:15248399231183400. doi: 10.1177/15248399231183400. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37477124.
Cultural adaptations of empirically based psychotherapy.
Scott, S. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry; Mar 2021; vol. 13 (no.1)
Feasibility and acceptability of brief individual interpersonal psychotherapy among university students with mental distress in Ethiopia
Negash, A., Khan, M.A., Medhin, G., Wondimagegn, D., Pain, C. and Araya, M., 2021. Feasibility and acceptability of brief individual interpersonal psychotherapy among university students with mental distress in Ethiopia. BMC psychology, 9(1), p.64.
Feasibility and effectiveness of interpersonal psychotherapy interventions in a collaborative stepped care model between primary care and mental health services
F. Mongelli, F. Martino, D. Berardi, N. Colombini, S. Ferrari and M. Menchetti. Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 August 2021
Interpersonal Counseling (IPC) as Delivered by Community Based Providers in Under-resourced Areas in Mozambique, New York City, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: IPC in New York City
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2017. Table A-7. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm Hankerson, S. H., Svob, C., & Jones, M. K. (2018). Partnering With Black Churches to Increase Access to Care. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 69(2), 125. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.69201 Hankerson, S.H., Crayton, L. S., & Duenas, S. C. (2021). Engaging African American Clergy and Community Members to Increase Access to Evidence-Based Practices for Depression. Culture & Mental Health Services, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900412 Ward, E. C., Wiltshire, J. C., Detry, M. A., & Brown, R. L. (2013). African American men and women's attitude toward mental illness, perceptions of stigma, and preferred coping behaviors. Nursing Research >, 62 >(3), 185-194. doi:10.1097/NNR.0b013e31827bf533.
Interpersonal Counseling (IPC) for Depression in Primary Care
Weissman, M.M., Hankerson, S.H., Scorza, P., Olfson, M., Verdeli, H., Shea, S., Lantigua, R. and Wainberg, M., 2014. Interpersonal counseling (IPC) for depression in primary care. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 68(4), pp.359-383.
Interpersonal Counseling for University Counseling Centers (IPC-C)
Rafaeli AK, Bar-Kalifa E, Verdeli H, Miller L. Interpersonal Counseling for College Students: Pilot feasibility and acceptability study. American Journal of Psychotherapy. 2021. doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.20200038 Yamamoto A, Tsujimoto E, Taketani R, Tsujii N, Shirakawa O. Ono H. The effect of interpersonal counseling for subthreshold depression in undergraduates: an exploratory randomized controlled trial. Depression research and treatment, 2018.
Interpersonal counseling in general practice
Judd, F., Weissman, M., Hodgins, G., Piterman, L. and Davis, J., 2004. Interpersonal counselling in general practice. Australian family physician, 33(5).
Interpersonal Counseling in the Treatment of Adolescent Depression: A Randomized Controlled Effectiveness and Feasibility Study in School Health and Welfare Services
Parhiala, P., Ranta, K., Gergov, V., Kontunen, J., Law, R., La Greca, A.M., Torppa, M. and Marttunen, M., 2020. Interpersonal counseling in the treatment of adolescent depression: a randomized controlled effectiveness and feasibility study in school health and welfare services. School mental health, 12, pp.265-283.
Interpersonal counseling versus active listening in the treatment of mild depression: a randomized controlled trial
Hirokawa-Ueda, H., Sawamura, Y., Kawakami, T., Sakane, H., Teramoto, K., Yamamoto, A., Taketani, R. and Ono, H., 2023. Interpersonal counseling versus active listening in the treatment of mild depression: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 35(7), pp.533-537.
Interpersonal Counselling for Adolescents with Low Mood (ICALM) – Quantitative and Qualitative Results from a Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial in the UK
Katangwe-Chigamba, T., Murdoch, J., Wilkinson, P., Cestaro, V., Seeley, C., Charami-Roupa, E., Clarke, T., Dunne, A., Gee, B., Jarrett, S. and Laphan, A., 2024. Doing research in non-specialist mental health services for children and young people: lessons learnt from a process evaluation of the ICALM (Interpersonal Counselling for Adolescent Low Mood) feasibility randomised controlled trial. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 10(1), p.14.
Interpersonal counselling versus perinatal specific cognitive behavioural therapy for women with depression during pregnancy offered in routine psychological treatment services: a phase II randomised trial
Evans, J., Ingram, J., Law, R., Taylor, H., Johnson, D., Glynn, J., Hopley, B., Kessler, D., Round, J., Ford, J. and Culpin, I., 2021. Interpersonal counselling versus perinatal-specific cognitive behavioural therapy for women with depression during pregnancy offered in routine psychological treatment services: a phase II randomised trial. BMC psychiatry, 21, pp.1-11.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy for College Students (IPT-CS): Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of Group Modality
Golightly, T., Thorne, K., Iglesias, A., Huebner, E., Michaelson-Chmelir, T., Yang, J., & Greco, K. (2017). Outreach as intervention: The evolution of outreach and preventive programming on college campuses. Psychological Services, 14(4), 451–460. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000198. Lipson, S. K., Zhou, S., Abelson, S., Heinze, J., Jirsa, M., Morigney, J., Patterson, A., Singh, M., & Eisenberg, D. (2022). Trends in college student mental health and help-seeking by
10th Conference of the International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Book of Abstracts: Symposia, Workshops, Papers and Posters 11 race/ethnicity: Findings from the national healthy minds study, 2013–2021. Journal of Affective Disorders, 306, 138–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.03.038
IPT and IPC for college students in Iraq
Weissman, M., & Verdeli, H. (2012). Interpersonal Psychotherapy: Evaluation, Support, Triage. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy, 19(2), 106-112. Doi: 10.1002/cpp.1775. Weissman, M. M., Hankerson, S. H., Scorza, P., Olfson, M., Verdeli, H., Shea, S., Lantigua, R., & Wainberg, M. (2014). Interpersonal Counseling (IPC) for Depression in Primary Care. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 68(4), 359-383.
Is interpersonal counselling (IPC) sufficient treatment for depression in primary care patients? A pilot study comparing IPC and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)
Kontunen, J., Timonen, M., Muotka, J. and Liukkonen, T., 2016. Is interpersonal counselling (IPC) sufficient treatment for depression in primary care patients? A pilot study comparing IPC and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). Journal of affective disorders, 189, pp.89-93.
Moderators of remission with interpersonal counselling or drug treatment in primary care patients with depression: randomised controlled trial
Menchetti, M., Rucci, P., Bortolotti, B., Bombi, A., Scocco, P., Kraemer, H.C., Berardi, D. and DEPICS group, 2014. Moderators of remission with interpersonal counselling or drug treatment in primary care patients with depression: randomised controlled trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 204(2), pp.144-150.
Pilot mixed-methods evaluation of interpersonal counselling for young people with depressive symptoms in non-specialist services
Wilkinson, P.O., Cestaro, V. and Pinchen, I., 2018. Pilot mixed-methods evaluation of interpersonal counselling for young people with depressive symptoms in non-specialist services. BMJ Ment Health, 21(4), pp.134-138.
Pilot randomized controlled trial of interpersonal counseling for subsyndromal depression following miscarriage
Neugebauer, R., Kline, J., Markowitz, J.C., Bleiberg, K.L., Baxi, L., Rosing, M.A., Levin, B. and Keith, J., 2006. Pilot randomized controlled trial of interpersonal counseling for subsyndromal depression following miscarriage. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 67(8), p.1299.
Predicting response to interpersonal counselling (IPC) from case formulation: a systematic comparison between recovered and unchanged depressive cases
Kontunen, J., Weiste, E., Liukkonen, T., Timonen, M. and Aaltonen, J., 2020. Predicting response to interpersonal counselling (IPC) from case formulation: A systematic comparison between recovered and unchanged depressive cases. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 33(4), pp.465-489.
Task Sharing and Remote Delivery of Brief Interpersonal Counseling for Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees Living in Peru during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study
Greene, M.C., Muro, M., Kane, J.C., Young, E., Paniagua-Avila, A., Miller-Suchet, L., Nouel, M., Bonz, A.G., Cristobal, M., Schojan, M. and Ventevogel, P., 2024. Task Sharing and Remote Delivery of Brief Interpersonal Counseling for Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees Living in Peru during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(2), p.166.
Telephone interpersonal counseling treatment for frequent attenders to primary care: Development and piloting
Sinai, D., Lassri, D., Spira, C. and Lipsitz, J.D., 2024. Telephone interpersonal counseling treatment for frequent attenders to primary care: Development and piloting. Psychotherapy Research, 34(4), pp.555-569.
Defeating Depression: How to use the people in your life to open the door to recovery.
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Inter-Act: Interpersonal communication, concept, skills and contexts
Verderber, K.S., & MacGeorge, E.L. (2016). (14th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
IPC Training Fees:
2 Day Training
2 training days (non-accreditation) - £440
3 Day Training
3 training days (proceeding to accreditation) = £660
For those who wish to proceed with IPC Accreditation:
4 sessions rated from 2 training cases @ £125 per session = £500
2 case reports reviewed @ £145 per case = £290
6 hours supervision @ £125 (over 3 months) = £750
The total cost of IPC Training and supervision costs = £2200
*Please note the costs above are promotional and will be reviewed for 2025 courses
What is IPC? Could you give us a rough idea of what it is in the session?
IPC is a shortened version of IPT, with fewer competencies or modified competencies. 1-6 sessions for mild to moderate depression.
How is IPC different from IPT? Could you give an example?
IPC is a shortened/condensed version of IPT. 1-6 sessions, Initial Phase session 1-2, Middle Phase 3-5, Endings session 6, for mild depression. For moderate depression, you could have middle phase 3-7, Endings session 8.
Where can IPC be used?
IPC can be used in any setting.
Is this treatment IAPT compliant?
IPT is a NICE-recognised treatment for moderate to severe depression. IPC is a condensed version of IPT treating mild to moderate depression.
IPC is an internationally recognised modality for mild to moderate depression. IPT UK is in the process of trying to promote this with NICE and the IAPT services.
From an IAPT point of view, is IPC a Step 2 intervention and not Step 3?
Yes, IPC would fall into a step 2 intervention.
Would Level 2 be suitable for PCE-CfD Counsellors working in Talking Therapy who aren't IPT trained?
Yes
Training days. Would they be online, in-person or hybrid?
Currently, the training days advertised in May and June are online. However, future training can be in person if there is a demand.
Is there an opportunity for funded places like there are on IPT training?
Currently, this training is self-funded. We are working towards getting the courses funded, but we are unsure how long this will take.
The training costs for Levels 1 & 2, is this per individual - if we have a group of us, would there be a discount?
If there is a group of potential clinicians from the same service wishing to be trained, then bespoke training in IPC can be delivered and the cost would be discussed depending on how many and what you would like to have included.
Could someone sign up for Level 1 or 2 and later sign up to Level 3 or are you required to sign up for all three together? Are the three days consecutive?
Someone could complete 2 days of training (for levels 1 & 2) and complete day 3 later and continue on to accreditation at a later date.
How do people apply?
Email the IPT West Midlands Training Centre (ipt.westmidlands@mpft.nhs.uk) for an application pack or download this from the website https://www.mpft.nhs.uk/about-us/products-and-training/interpersonal-psychotherapy-training/interpersonal-counselling
Can accredited IPT therapists continue to have supervision from their IPT supervisor if they are not IPC trained?
IPT supervisors can continue to supervise clinicians working with IPT. IPT supervisors will need to be trained in IPC to offer IPC Supervision to clinicians.
For IPC Level 1 & 2, do qualified IPT therapists only require 2 days of training and do not need case reports?
IPT-qualified therapists only need to complete 2 days of training to practice IPC, they are not required to complete case reports.
If you are an IPT accredited practitioner and supervisor, working within IAPT/Talking Therapies and supervising those within IAPT/TT delivering IPC you would not need to become an IPC lead or complete level 3. Is that correct?
If you are an accredited IPT practitioner and Supervisor and want to practice IPC, you do not need to complete Level 3 accreditation or become an IPC Lead.
If there is an IPT supervisor in the Trust, can they provide the supervision for training or does this need to be delivered by the course?
If there is an IPT supervisor, trained in IPC, (i.e., attended the 2-day training). They will be able to offer supervision for the training and complete the student’s portfolio.
Supervision - What are the ongoing costs?
If you have a supervisor within your setting who has completed the IPC 2-day training, they will be able to provide supervision within your service. However, if you need to seek supervision outside of your setting, there may be charges.
Lorraine Manley - IPT UK Practitioner and Supervisor
If you are interested in receiving further information regarding IPC, please contact ipt.westmidlands@mpft.nhs.uk or click here to add your details to our expression of interest form and you will be contacted in due course.
