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Our clinicians

Bülent AdaPrincipal Psychologist & Director Sijal AnsariClinical Psychologist Robert RuaneClinical Neuropsychologist Taline BardakjianConsultant Psychologist Mohan ShankarappaClinical Psychologist Michael L. T. CheungConsultant Psychologist Shahim AhmadClinical Psychologist Steve SuttonCounselling Psychologist Irfan YigitSenior Consultant Psychologist Bill SinghConsultant Psychologist Elizabeth LeeClinical Psychotherapist Shareen BirgesCounselling Social Worker Annette HaggertyConsultant Psychologist

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Find your fit

Meet the cliniciansWarm and down-to-earth. Find the right match for you.Find a psychologist
Visit us:Parramatta clinicTelehealth AU-wideGet directions New clients welcome · no referral needed
Interpersonal Therapy

When the difficulty lives in your relationships.

IPT is a focused, evidence-based therapy for depression and mood difficulties that centre on relationships, roles and life changes: the connections that shape how we feel.

Request appointment How it works
What it helps with

What IPT helps with

Every plan is tailored to you. This is a guide to where this approach is most often used.

Not sure if it's the right fit? That's exactly what your first session is for. We'll recommend the approach (or blend of approaches) that suits you.

How it works

The approach, step by step.

A clear sense of how the work unfolds, always at your pace.

  1. 1

    Find the focus

    We identify which relationship area is most connected to how you're feeling: grief, conflict, transition or connection.

    Early sessions
  2. 2

    Work it through

    We build communication skills, process losses and navigate change, improving your relationships and your mood together.

    The sessions that follow
  3. 3

    Consolidate

    We strengthen your support network and the skills to maintain it, so gains hold after therapy ends.

    Ongoing

IPT is time-limited and structured, usually focused on the here-and-now of your relationships rather than the distant past.

Fees & funding

Know your costs before you start.

With a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, Medicare rebates apply to individual therapy. We'll always be clear about costs before you begin.

See fees
  • Medicare: rebates on up to 10 sessions a year with a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
  • NDIS, DVA, Workers Comp & CTP: usually no out-of-pocket cost when approved.
  • Private health: claim through your extras cover, with no referral needed.
A consulting room with a sofa, sage cushions, an armchair and tall windows.
Your clinicians

Practitioners who use this approach.

See all clinicians
Common questions

Things people ask before booking.

What is IPT best for?
IPT has research support for depression, and for difficulties tied to grief, relationship conflict or big life changes.
How long does IPT take?
It's typically a focused course of around 12–16 sessions, though this is tailored to you.
What happens in the first IPT session?
Your psychologist will ask about your mood and the important relationships and changes in your life. Together you'll link how you've been feeling to one or two focus areas, such as a loss, a conflict or a role change. You'll leave with a shared plan for the sessions ahead.
Can IPT be done online?
Yes. IPT is a talking therapy that adapts well to telehealth. You can choose online sessions, in-person sessions in Parramatta, or a mix of both.
How is IPT different from CBT?
CBT mainly works on thoughts and behaviours, while IPT focuses on relationships, roles and life events and how they connect with your mood. Both are recommended in Australian guidelines for depression. Your psychologist can help you decide which suits your situation.
Is IPT covered by Medicare?
Interpersonal therapy is one of the approaches psychologists can provide within Medicare's Better Access arrangements. If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you may be eligible for Medicare rebates on sessions with a psychologist. Our team can explain the steps when you get in touch.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly with us any time. A referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP is only needed to claim Medicare rebates.
Related
References
  1. Cuijpers P, Donker T, Weissman MM, Ravitz P, Cristea IA. (2016). Interpersonal psychotherapy for mental health problems: A comprehensive meta-analysis. American Journal of Psychiatry, 173(7), 680-687. doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15091141
  2. Cuijpers P, Geraedts AS, van Oppen P, Andersson G, Markowitz JC, van Straten A. (2011). Interpersonal psychotherapy for depression: A meta-analysis. American Journal of Psychiatry, 168(6), 581-592. doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10101411
  3. Malhi GS, Bell E, Bassett D, Boyce P, Bryant R, Hazell P, Hopwood M, Lyndon B, Mulder R, Porter R, Singh AB, Murray G. (2021). The 2020 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for mood disorders. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 55(1), 7-117. doi.org/10.1177/0004867420979353
Reading and tools

Further reading and free tools.

From the Journal

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Fact sheets

All fact sheets

Free self-checks

The Mind Health Check
Which approach might suit? A rough guide to what each therapy focuses on most; your psychologist will help you choose, and many people use more than one.

Thinking and behaviour

Emotion and acceptance

Trauma memory

Relationships

Strengths and solutions

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Accepting new clients

Your next step starts here.

Tell us what's going on and we'll match you with the right psychologist, usually after a free triage. No referral needed to begin.

Request appointment Call 1300 084 200
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