Introduction
People face a variety of mental health problems that may be addressed with psychotherapy. Some noteworthy approaches to such treatment are humanistic-existential (HEP) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). The two practices are well described in a recent book by Wheeler (2020), which is a good scholarly source because it is oriented to advanced practice psychiatric nurses and issued by a renowned publisher.
According to Wheeler (2020), HEP refers to a method that focuses on holism, self-actualization, therapeutic relationships, and facilitative communication, combining humanism and existentialism alongside phenomenology. The second approach, IPT, has developed due to studies associated with depression and concentrates on mental health disorders emerging from social contexts (Wheeler, 2020). Nurses play a significant role in psychotherapy and, thus, must be able to differentiate between such methods as HEP and IPT to provide the most suitable treatment.
Differences Between IPT and EHP
Origins and Philosophical Foundations
EHP
IPT and EHP can be distinguished based on many factors, the first being their origin. EHP has become especially popular since the 1960s’ events related to feminism, civil rights, and human potential, and is connected to three distinct philosophies. In particular, humanism emphasizes themes like happiness and actualization, existentialism concentrates on personal choice and responsibility, while phenomenology prioritizes experience (Wheeler, 2020).
IPT
IPT originated in the 1980s as a treatment intervention for depression. At the time, a manual created for IPT recognized four types of problems: role transitions, grief, interpersonal disputes, and deficits (Wheeler, 2020). Accordingly, the first difference between EHP and IPT is in their history, with the former having developed by combining ideas from distinct philosophies and the latter being connected to depression.
Therapeutic Focus and Core Principles
HEP
The subsequent dissimilarity between the two methods is in their focus. In his recent article, which can be considered scholarly because it was published in a humanistic psychology journal with a peer-review system, Reed (2020) specifies the nature of HEP. The approach concentrates on harnessing an individual’s intrinsic abilities to maintain a sense of self-worth and move toward self-actualization. HEP assesses matters of death alongside cultural and natural limitations placed on people (Reed, 2020).
IPT
In another article, which can also be regarded as academic due to being issued by an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed journal, Weissman (2019) clarifies the essence of IPT. The method emphasizes the connection between interpersonal relationships and depression. For example, IPT largely concentrates on such triggers of depression as a loved one’s demise, conflicts with others, and life changes (Weissman, 2019). Consequently, while HEP focuses on a person’s individuality and innate abilities, IPT prioritizes the role of social relations.
Treatment Methods and Techniques
HEP
One more difference between HEP and IPT is in how they conduct treatment. Wheeler (2020) states that HEP can be divided into four practices: person-centered, emotion-focused, existential therapy, and Gestalt. For instance, the author of another scholarly article published in an international peer-reviewed journal, Serlin (2020), suggests that Gestalt can be utilized as a process and interaction language to enhance understanding.
IPT
In contrast, IPT does not distinguish between various techniques but employs a specific manual with a set of phases. For example, the initial step involves diagnostic evaluation and familiarizing the patient with their condition (Weissman, 2019; Wheeler, 2020). Therefore, IPT and HEP differ in their treatment methods.
Impact on Professional Practice
The listed distinctions between HEP and IPT may impact my practice by influencing my contribution to selecting a specific therapy for a particular patient, alongside my approach to assisting the individual. Since many people are experiencing challenging mental health disorders, nursing professionals must be able to distinguish between the specifics of psychotherapeutic approaches (Wheeler, 2020).
For example, I would recommend using IPT to determine if a patient has depression, but I would not recommend the technique for someone doubting their role in life. Therefore, the differences between IPT and HEP may affect my practice through my actions in treating people, depending on which method would be the most beneficial.
Application to a Patient’s Case
To better explain the usage of HEP and IPT, it is meaningful to compare them within one case. In a video by PsychotherapyNet (2009), James Bugental, a psychiatrist, and another woman discuss a man experiencing mental health issues. HEP was utilized with the patient because he was having trouble with his existence. For instance, the speakers note that the man did “not feel very alive in his life” and felt “constricted” (PsychotherapyNet, 2009, 00:00:21-00:00:58).
HEP was the treatment of choice due to its ability to guide people toward self-discovery with respect to limitations placed on them (Reed, 2020). If IPT had been used with the patient from the video, the approach’s initial phase would have indicated the absence or presence of depression (Weissman, 2019). In the former scenario, IPT would likely be disregarded, and in the latter case, IPT would have treated depression, but may not have helped the man with how he felt about his position in life. Accordingly, knowing specific distinctions between treatment methods is essential for better results.
Conclusion
To summarize, nurses assist those needing psychotherapy and should be able to distinguish between approaches, like HEP and IPT, to determine the most relevant treatment. HEP’s strengths include the potential to help a person overcome their mental health problems by learning more about themselves, alongside various valuable techniques. IPT’s advantages include its prospects in treating depression and resolving interpersonal conflict alongside a manual of necessary steps. IPT and HEP are different, and each can be practical depending on a specific patient’s needs.
References
PsychotherapyNet. (2009). James Bugental live case consultation psychotherapy video [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Reed, D. E. (2020). Future time perspective as an operationalization of existential concerns related to time. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 00(0), 1-14. Web.
Serlin, I. A. (2020). An existential–humanistic approach to movement: An East/West dialogue. Creative Arts in Education and Therapy, 6(1), 85-96. Web.
Weissman, M. M. (2019). Interpersonal psychotherapy: History and future. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 73(1), 3-7. Web.
Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2020). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing.