Interpersonal Counselling (IPC)

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.

Please click on the links below and it will automatically download.  

IPC Application Form

EDI Form

Booking and Payment Form

The following forms are only required if progressing to Level 3 - Accreditation 

Manager Statement

Supervisor Statement (IPT Trained) 

Supervisor Statement (Non IPT Trained)

The closing date for applications is two weeks before the course start date to allow us enough time to post course materials. 

Please complete the full application pack and booking form and return to ipt.westmidlands@mpft.nhs.uk.

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.  

Is there a list of supervisors available?

IPT UK will be able to provide a list of IPT supervisors who providing they have completed the IPC 2-day training will be able to provide supervision. IPT West Midlands Training Centre also has IPT and IPC-trained supervisors.

I am an IPT-A supervisor, to become an IPC Lead do I need to do the 2 days training only?

Yes

As a qualified IPT therapist and Supervisor attendance only on the 2-day IPC training qualifies you to provide IPC supervision.  

Yes, however, as you are already an IPT supervisor you will need to be familiar with the IPC paperwork, as some students may be going through for accreditation. You will be required to attend an additional short workshop to go through the paperwork.  

As an accredited IPT therapist having fortnightly supervision with an accredited IPT Supervisor, could you start offering IPC without doing the level 1 & 2 training first? 

No, you would need to have completed the 2 days of training.

For PWPs that complete Levels 1 & 2, are they unable to practice in NHS talking therapies until they have also completed Level 3?

PWPs could practice IPC after 2 days of training as long as they had fortnightly supervision from an IPT supervisor who had attended the IPC training. If PWPs wanted to become an IPC accredited clinician, they would need to complete Level 3. From the level 3 accreditation, it may lead them on to a route to access the IPT training.

What measure is used for CYP (Child/young person) as I believe PHQ9 is only validated for adults?  

Yes, PHQ9 is used with over 16’s in Talking Therapies (IAPT). The RCADS subscale Low Mood tracker can be used for the U16.

Is it possible to have access to the details of the evidence base now to enable discussions in our service regarding bringing IPC in?

Yes, please visit https://www.mpft.nhs.uk/about-us/products-and-training/interpersonal-psychotherapy-training/interpersonal-counselling and scroll down to IPC Articles

Moderators of remission with interpersonal counselling or drug treatment in primary care patients with depression: randomised controlled trial

Marco Menchetti, Paola Rucci, Biancamaria Bortolotti, Annarosa Bombi, Paolo Scocco, Helena Chmura Kraemer, Domenico Berardi and the DEPICS group. The British Journal of Psychiatry (2014) 204, 144–150. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.112.122663

Interpersonal Counseling (IPC) for Depression in Primary Care

Myrna M. Weissman, Ph.D., Sidney H. Hankerson M.D., MBA, Pamela Scorza, ScD, MPH, Mark Olfson, M.D., MPH, Helena Verdeli, Ph.D, Steven Shea, M.D., MS, Rafael Lantigua, MD§ and Milton Wainberg, MD. Am J Psychother. 2014  68(4): 359–383.

Interpersonal counseling in general practice

Fiona Judd, Myrna M Weissman, Gene Hodgins. Australian Family Physician · June 2004

Moderators of remission with interpersonal counselling or drug treatment in primary care patients with depression: randomised controlled trial

Marco Menchetti, Paola Rucci, Biancamaria Bortolotti, Annarosa Bombi, Paolo Scocco, Helena Chmura Kraemer, Domenico Berardi. Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Predicting response to interpersonal counseling (IPC) from case formulation: a systematic comparison between recovered and unchanged depressive cases

Jarmo Kontunen a, Elina Weisteb, Timo Liukkonenc, Markku Timonenc and Jukka Aaltonena. Counselling Psychology Quarterly 2020, VOL. 33, NO. 4, 465–489

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

Jonathan Evans, Jenny Ingram, Roslyn Law, Hazel Taylor, Debbie Johnson, Joel Glynn, Becky Hopley, David Kessler, Jeff Round, Jenny Ford, Iryna Culpin1 and Heather O’Mahen. Evans et al. BMC Psychiatry (2021) 21:504

‘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

Jenny Ingram, Debbie Johnson, Heather A. O’Mahen, Roslyn Law, Iryna Culpin, David Kessler, Lucy Beasant and Jonathan Evans. Ingram et al. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (2021) 21:765

Interpersonal Counseling in the Treatment of Adolescent Depression: A Randomized Controlled Effectiveness and Feasibility Study in School Health and Welfare Services

P. Parhiala, K. Ranta, V. Gergov, J. Kontunen, R Law, A. M. La Greca, M. Torppa and M. Marttunen. School Mental Health (2020) 12:265–283