Video Journal Assignment: Reflecting on the Goals and Phases of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and Formulating Therapist Questions
Assignment Overview
This video assignment requires you to reflect on the goals and phases of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and formulate therapeutic questions for patient interactions based on these principles. The purpose of this assignment is to deepen your understanding of IPT and practice applying its key concepts in a clinical context. You will create a 7- to 10-minute video in which you demonstrate your understanding of IPT and your ability to engage with a patient using appropriate therapeutic questions. In addition to your video, you will submit a reflection document covering the content of your video journal submission.
Assignment Instructions
- Introduction to Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
- Begin your video by briefly introducing interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). Discuss its key goals, the main areas it addresses (e.g., interpersonal relationships, role transitions, grief, and interpersonal disputes), and the core principles that guide IPT.
- Describe the four phases of IPT.
- Reflection on the Goals of IPT
- Reflect on the goals of IPT, including improving interpersonal functioning, enhancing social support, and alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- Discuss how IPT can be applied in a clinical nursing context, particularly in psychiatric mental health settings, and how it can help patients navigate life transitions and relationship challenges.
- Formulating Therapist Questions
- Formulate therapist questions that would be appropriate for different stages of IPT.
- Initial Phase: What questions would you ask to understand the patient’s interpersonal issues and identify the primary problem areas? For example, how would you assess the patient’s current relationships and social support system?
- Middle Phase: What types of questions would help the patient explore interpersonal conflicts, role transitions, or grief in more depth? How would you help them reframe negative thought patterns related to interpersonal struggles?
- Termination Phase: What questions would be appropriate to help the patient reflect on their progress, consolidate gains, and prepare for the end of therapy? How would you help them identify strategies for maintaining progress after therapy ends?
- Demonstrate how these questions promote self-reflection, insight, and interpersonal change.
- Conclusion
- Conclude your video with a summary of your approach to using IPT in patient care, highlighting the importance of the therapeutic relationship and the impact of addressing interpersonal issues on mental health.
Assignment Requirements
- Your video should be 7 to 10 minutes in length.
- Make sure your video is clear, professional and demonstrates appropriate therapeutic skills.
- Use appropriate audio and visual quality to ensure the content is easy to follow.
- The reflection document should be formatted in APA 7th edition, including a title page, in-text citations (depending on the content), and a reference list if you cite any sources.
- Ensure that any theoretical or empirical content you present in your video or reflection is properly cited according to APA style.
- This assignment allows for creativity and practice in applying clinical skills, so take the opportunity to reflect deeply on how IPT could be integrated into your future practice.
Before starting the assignment, be sure to review the rubric to understand how you will be evaluated. Submit the video journal and reflection document in the Video Journal Assignment section found in Module 4 within your Moodle course space by the date indicated in the Course Calendar. For instructions on recording your video, review the following document: Using Video Tools in Moodle [MO 4.1, MO 4.2].