Interpersonal approach to
therapy with Adolescents
2015 PMHTU Course Outline
Introduction
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a brief, structured psychological treatment for emotional
difficulties arising from a patient’s interpersonal context. Whilst IPT was initially developed for
treatment of adults, its application to the adolescent population has gained increasing acceptance
and scientific rigor over the past decade.
In this series of extended experiential workshops, the Paediatric Mental Health Training Unit
(PMHTU) will be offering a unique curriculum aimed at enhancing General Practitioner’s skills in
providing a brief intervention for young patients presenting with mild to moderate emotional
distress. Although adolescents struggling with low mood will be the focus, working with suicidal and
self-harming adolescent patients will also be addressed. PMHTU’s established teaching approach
to assessment and generating therapeutic alliance with young patients will be melded with core
IPT principles to create a unique curriculum targeted to the needs of General Practitioners in South
Australia.
The course, due to commence in May 2015, will be delivered across nine learning experiences,
seven of which will be face to face in a workshop format, with a further two delivered online.
Participants will be required to attend three evening sessions and two full weekend days for the
face-to-face component of their learning.
At PMHTU, we believe that practice should take preference to didactic learning. Hence, the
majority of sessions will be built around simulated assessment and interview experiences enabling participants to try out and build upon skills with highly trained actors as the course
progresses.
Workshops will be facilitated by clinicians from a range of professional backgrounds, all working
within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health field - including Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist,
Child Psychologist, and Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist.
Upon completion of the workshops, participants will have the opportunity to ‘bring cases’ for
discussion at two facilitated IPT supervision sessions. We aim to assist participants in setting up a
peer supervision structure around their psychological therapeutic work to continue after the
completion of our course.
The training is approved by the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) as
a Focused Psychological Strategies Skills Training activity. Participants receive 40 RACGP QI&CPD
Category 1 points, or 30 ACRRM PRPD points.
Courses 2015
Interpersonal Approach to Therapy
Workshop Structure
Content
Overall Duration
Course Registration
Register details with PMHTU Online Login sent out
NA
[OR]
Preparatory Online Steps
Getting ready for IPT
Online Module
(1.5hrs)
[OR]
Introductory Evening Seminar
Introduction to IPT/Headstart
Model
7PM-9:30PM (2.5hrs)
[FF + OR]
Weekend Workshop 1
Saturday AM
Deciding who is suitable
9AM-12PM (3 hours)
[FF]
Weekend Workshop 1
Saturday PM
From assessment into therapy
1PM-4:30PM (3.5hrs)
[FF]
Weekend Workshop 2
Saturday AM
IPT technical skills
9AM-12PM (3hrs)
[FF]
Weekend Workshop 2
Saturday PM
Understanding IPT problem areas
1PM-4PM (3hrs)
[FF]
Evening Supervision Group
Facilitated IPT supervision group
(1)
7PM-9PM (2hrs)
[FF]
Evening Supervision Group
Facilitated IPT supervision group
(2)
7PM-9PM (2hrs)
[FF]
Post Course Session
Debrief, Review and Plan for
Future - WebConference
7PM-8PM (1hr)
[OR]
[OR = Online resource] [FF=Face-to-face activity]
Location & Contact
This IPT course will be delivered in the Paediatric Mental Health Training Unit, Level 2
Norwich Building, 55 King William Road, North Adelaide.
PMHTU offers state-of-the-art facilities with large one way reflective screen interviewing suite and
sophisticated audiovisual technology to allow capture and tagging of interview video.
Register for this event online by clicking on this link;
http://www.cahml.org.au/event/event/detail/event/42074
For registration and timetabling queries, contact Meryl Horsell at Central Adelaide and Hills
Medicare Local 8272 2525
For further course information, contact Lauren Knight at PMHTU,
Mon-Fri on +61 08 8161 9269
PMHTU gratefully acknowledges the financial and other support from Central Adelaide and
Hills Medicare Local in the development of this training program.