Читать книгу Introduction to Abnormal Child and Adolescent Psychology - Robert Weis - Страница 178

Interpersonal therapy focuses primarily on the quality of clients’ relationships with others and their ability to cope with changes in those relationships over time. The therapy was originally developed by Gerald Klerman and Myrna Weissman as a treatment for depression (Weissman, 2020). It is based on the theories of John Bowlby and Harry Stack Sullivan. Recall that Bowlby (1969, 1973) believed that people form internal working models of caregivers and other significant individuals in their lives. Internal working models built on trust and expectations for care promote later social–emotional competence. However, models based on mistrust and inconsistent care can interfere with the development of future relationships. Sullivan (1953) believed that interpersonal relationships are essential for mental health. Friendships in childhood help youngsters develop a sense of identity and self-worth and form the basis for more intimate relationships in adulthood. Problems in interpersonal relationships can interfere with social–emotional functioning and self-concept.

Interpersonal therapists believe that problems occur when people experience disruptions in their relationships (Weissman, Markowitz, & Klerman, 2018). Four types of disruptions are especially important. First, interpersonal relationships can be disrupted due to death or loss of a loved one. Second, relationship problems can arise when a person experiences an interpersonal transition or change in social roles (e.g., problems adjusting from middle school to high school). Third, problems can occur when a person experiences an interpersonal dispute—that is, when her social role conflicts with the expectations of others (e.g., parents and adolescents disagree about dating or the importance of attending college). Finally, problems can occur when an individual has interpersonal deficits that interfere with his ability to make and keep friends (e.g., excessive shyness or lack of social skills).

An interpersonal therapist attempts to identify and correct relationship difficulties that might contribute to the child’s presenting problem. The strategies that the therapist selects depend on the nature of the client’s interpersonal disruption. For example, a therapist might help an adolescent cope with the death of a parent by giving her time to mourn during the therapy session. Then, the therapist might help the client find ways to cope with the absence of the parent in her life. Alternatively, a therapist might help an excessively shy adolescent develop social skills so that he can expand his peer network and social support system (Lipsitz & Markowitz, 2018).

An interpersonal therapist might notice that Anna’s eating problems occurred shortly after her father changed jobs and the family moved to a new neighborhood and school district. The therapist might interpret Anna’s eating disorder as a maladaptive attempt to lose weight, appear attractive to others, and gain acceptance by peers at her new school. Her rigid eating could also be seen as a way for Anna to take control of her life despite the changes occurring in her relationships. Through a combination of support and suggestions, the therapist would help Anna grieve the loss of her old neighborhood and friends, cope with her move to a new school, and find more effective ways to build new relationships in her current setting (Rudolph, Lansford, & Rodkin, 2016).