Interpersonal Therapy
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) for Relationship Struggles, Identity Shifts & Postpartum Depression
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a short-term, structured therapy that focuses on how your relationships—past and present—affect your emotional well-being. At The Mother Hood, we offer IPT to support new and expecting parents navigating postpartum depression, partner tension, loneliness, and the emotional upheaval of matrescence in Los Angeles and virtually across California.
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What Is IPT?
IPT is based on the idea that life transitions, unresolved grief, and relationship conflicts play a significant role in depression and anxiety. During pregnancy and postpartum, your roles, responsibilities, and identity often shift overnight—impacting how you relate to your partner, family, friends, and even your sense of self.
IPT helps you:
• Make sense of emotional changes through a relational lens
• Improve communication and resolve conflicts with loved ones
• Grieve losses, unmet expectations, or changes in identity
• Build a stronger support system to sustain your mental health
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IPT for Perinatal Mental Health
IPT is especially effective during the perinatal period, when social support and emotional connection are protective factors. You might benefit from IPT if you’re experiencing:
• Postpartum depression or sadness during pregnancy
• Feeling disconnected from your partner or baby
• Relationship strain after the arrival of a child
• Loneliness or loss of support system
• Grief after miscarriage, infertility, or medical trauma
• Struggles with role transitions (e.g., new parent, working mom)
Unlike traditional talk therapy, IPT is focused and time-sensitive—typically lasting 12–16 sessions with clear goals and tools.
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What IPT Looks Like at The Mother Hood
We tailor IPT to your lived experience as a new or expecting parent. Our perinatal therapists are trained to help you explore how shifts in your relationships are impacting your mental health—and how you can restore connection, clarity, and confidence.
You’ll work on:
✅ Understanding how interpersonal issues may be fueling symptoms
✅ Naming grief, loss, or unmet expectations (and honoring them)
✅ Strengthening boundaries and asking for support
✅ Learning how to communicate your needs and repair trust
Whether you’re mourning who you used to be or feeling unseen in your partnership, IPT offers a way forward rooted in empathy and practical change.