Running head: PSYCHOTHERAPY APPROACHES 1 PSYCHOTHERAPY APPROACHES 2 Supportive and interpersonal psychotherapy approaches Name Institutions Supportive and interpersonal psychotherapy approaches With the prevalence of mental disorders, researchers and healthcare providers have studied the efficacy of different psychotherapy approaches to determine the most efficient strategies that can be used in assisting patients with particular psychiatric disorders. Supportive psychotherapy along with interpersonal psychotherapy are prevalently used in the treatment of mental disorders. These two approaches have various similarities as well as differences. Herein, I will discuss the two psychotherapy approaches, their similarities, differences, and situations in which each of the approaches would be effective in the treatment of patients with psychiatric disorders. Similarities and Differences of Supportive and Interpersonal Psychotherapy Approaches Supportive psychotherapy approach refers to a form of psychotherapeutic strategy that combines psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral as well as interpersonal conceptual approaches of psychotherapy and techniques (Wheeler, 2014). With this psychotherapy approach, the major aim of the therapist is to improve the adaptive along with healthy patterns of the patient with the major objective being to reduce the prevailing intrapsychic conflicts contributing to the patient’s condition. On the other hand, the interpersonal approach refers to a brief, interpersonal focused strategy, which concentrates on identifying and resolving the prevailing interpersonal problems to alleviate the presenting symptoms (Wheeler, 2014). The therapist is essentially concerned with the interpersonal context and the associated factors that may predispose, propagate or precipitate the symptom of psychiatric disorders. Both approaches are mainly aimed at bringing a therapeutic impact to patients presenting with the symptoms of psychiatric conditions. However, the two approaches have differences. Firstly, the interpersonal approach is an emphatically supported treatment model that mainly adheres to a highly structured and time-limited approach that often takes between 12 to 16 weeks (Cuijpers et al., 2016). Conversely, the supportive approach is not structured and utilizes a combination or either the psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral and/or interpersonal conceptual approach. What is more, as highlighted in the above paragraph, the main aim of the supportive approach is to enhance the patient’s healthy as well as adaptive patterns in order lessen the prevailing intrapsychic conflicts contributing to the development of mental disorders. Conversely, the main aim of using the interpersonal approach is to ide.

1. Running head: PSYCHOTHERAPY APPROACHES
1
PSYCHOTHERAPY APPROACHES
2
Supportive and interpersonal psychotherapy approaches
Name
Institutions
Supportive and interpersonal psychotherapy approaches
With the prevalence of mental disorders, researchers and
healthcare providers have studied the efficacy of different
psychotherapy approaches to determine the most efficient
strategies that can be used in assisting patients with particular
psychiatric disorders. Supportive psychotherapy along with
interpersonal psychotherapy are prevalently used in the
treatment of mental disorders. These two approaches have
various similarities as well as differences. Herein, I will discuss
the two psychotherapy approaches, their similarities,
differences, and situations in which each of the approaches
would be effective in the treatment of patients with psychiatric
disorders.
Similarities and Differences of Supportive and Interpersonal
Psychotherapy Approaches

2. Supportive psychotherapy approach refers to a form of
psychotherapeutic strategy that combines psychodynamic,
cognitive-behavioral as well as interpersonal conceptual
approaches of psychotherapy and techniques (Wheeler, 2014).
With this psychotherapy approach, the major aim of the
therapist is to improve the adaptive along with healthy patterns
of the patient with the major objective being to reduce the
prevailing intrapsychic conflicts contributing to the patient’s
condition. On the other hand, the interpersonal approach refers
to a brief, interpersonal focused strategy, which concentrates on
identifying and resolving the prevailing interpersonal problems
to alleviate the presenting symptoms (Wheeler, 2014). The
therapist is essentially concerned with the interpersonal context
and the associated factors that may predispose, propagate or
precipitate the symptom of psychiatric disorders.
Both approaches are mainly aimed at bringing a therapeutic
impact to patients presenting with the symptoms of psychiatric
conditions. However, the two approaches have differences.
Firstly, the interpersonal approach is an emphatically supported
treatment model that mainly adheres to a highly structured and
time-limited approach that often takes between 12 to 16 weeks
(Cuijpers et al., 2016). Conversely, the supportive approach is
not structured and utilizes a combination or either the
psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral and/or interpersonal
conceptual approach. What is more, as highlighted in the above
paragraph, the main aim of the supportive approach is to
enhance the patient’s healthy as well as adaptive patterns in
order lessen the prevailing intrapsychic conflicts contributing to
the development of mental disorders. Conversely, the main aim
of using the interpersonal approach is to identify and resolve
any prevailing problematic interpersonal relationships. As such,
therapist are necessitated to evaluate the relational aspects of
patients that may be impacting the patient.
Application
According to Ashman et al. (2014), the supportive
psychotherapy approach is mainly used in the treatment of

3. patients with behavioral psychiatric problems such as
alcoholism, addiction or eating disorders such as bulimia
nervosa. With the use of this approach, the therapist assists the
patients with behavioral problems to adopt and sustain healthy
and efficient coping mechanisms to resolve their prevailing
problems. On the other hand, the interpersonal psychotherapy
approach is mainly used in the treatment of mental disorders
that are related to the way people interact with family members
or in other social organizations (Cuijpers et al., 2016).
Essentially, by addressing the underlying relations problems,
this approach can be used in lessening the symptoms of mental
conditions such as depression, alcoholism, and other associated
disorders.
As a nurse therapist, I prefer using the interpersonal approach in
addressing problems presented by patients with mental
conditions. Essentially, this is because the approach emphasizes
the importance of interpersonal relationships. As highlighted by
Cuijpers et al. (2016), poor interpersonal relationships
contribute significantly to the development of the majority of
psychiatric disorders including those related to the behavior and
mood of individuals. These two aspects, mood, and behavior
contribute significantly in the development of mental disorders.
According to Gelo, Pritz, and Rieken (2014) who delves the
efficacy of the psychotherapy approaches in the treatment of
mental disorders, the interpersonal psychotherapy approach is
more efficient in the treatment of the majority of psychiatric
conditions compared to the supportive psychotherapy approach
which is limited to behavioral problems.
References
Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced
practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based
practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing
Company.
Ashman, T., Cantor, J. B., Tsaousides, T., Spielman, L., &

4. Gordon, W. (2014). Comparison of cognitive behavioral therapy
and supportive psychotherapy for the treatment of depression
following traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled
trial. The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation, 29(6), 467-478.
Cuijpers, P., Donker, T., Weissman, M. M., Ravitz, P., &
Cristea, I. A. (2016). Interpersonal psychotherapy for mental
health problems: a comprehensive meta-analysis. American
Journal of Psychiatry, 173(7), 680-687.
Gelo, O. C., Pritz, A., & Rieken, B. (Eds.).
(2014). Psychotherapy research: Foundations, process, and
outcome. Springer.
Dilemma of Psychotherapy Notes and HIPAA
by Ruby Nicholson, RHIT
For HIM professionals in behavioral health settings, the HIPAA
privacy regulations pose a downright dilemma.
Here’s why.
The privacy rule defines psychotherapy notes as:
Notes recorded in any medium by a mental health professional
documenting or analyzing the contents
of conversation during a private counseling session or a group,
joint, or family counseling session that
are separate from the rest of the individual’s medical record.
Psychotherapy notes exclude medication
prescription and monitoring, counseling session start and stop
times, the modalities and frequencies of
treatment furnished, results of clinical tests, and any summary
of the following items: diagnosis,
functional status, the treatment plan, symptoms, prognosis, and

5. progress to date.
The dilemma for many HIM professionals is determining what
this means within the outpatient setting, particularly in
free-standing outpatient behavioral health clinics.
Unlike an acute care hospital, where psychosocial
documentation is maintained separately, records in behavioral
health clinics are composed of screening assessments,
psychosocial summaries, medication prescribing and
monitoring, clinical tests, psychiatric evaluations, treatment
planning, progress notes from multidisciplinary behavioral
health teams, discharge summaries, and follow-up care. In a
sense, the entire record could be considered a
continuum of psychotherapy notes.
However, the privacy regulations are clear that only those
psychotherapy notes kept separate from the rest of the
individual’s record are afforded additional protection. All
psychotherapy notes maintained with other documentation
lose any special protection for confidentiality and are not
required to be treated differently. (Remember, however,
that special provisions to some information apply in regulations
such as those related to drug and alcohol abuse
treatment and in state laws related to mental health disorders.)
Because there was no further definition of
psychotherapy notes in the guidance released in July 2001,
organizations are left to further define how to handle
psychotherapy notes on their own.
The Law and Definition of Psychotherapy Notes
Clinical tests, assessments, treatment plans, case management
notes, and other documentation found in a behavioral
health record are just as confidential as counseling or therapy
notes, and they often contain even more sensitive

6. material. As a result, HIPAA task forces within many
organizations are currently engaging in discussions around their
definitions of psychotherapy notes. It may be possible to define
some, if not all, of the documents in a behavioral
health record as psychotherapy notes.
Included in these discussions is a review of individual state
laws dealing with the release of information for mental
health records. Some states have adequate language within
existing state law that provides the protection not
Copyright © 2002 by The American Health Information
Management Association. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.ahima.org/copyright
available through federal privacy regulations. In states where
laws involving release of mental health records are
ambiguous, HIM professionals need to initiate language with
their state legislators now.
Because the privacy regulations do not preempt 42 CFR Part II
(the federal law relating to the confidentiality of
alcohol and drug abuse patient records) substance abuse
providers will not lose the existing additional protection, but
they will need to ensure that other components of the privacy
regulations are implemented. Behavioral health
organizations that are federally assisted substance abuse
providers and also provide mental health services may
decide to cover the entire organization under 42 CFR Part II.
This has both advantages and disadvantages
depending on the structure of service delivery within the
organizations, so professionals will want to review this
closely before making any final decisions.

7. Regardless of the type of behavioral health services an
organization delivers, it is imperative for HIM professionals to
prepare well in advance of the April 2003 implementation date.
Internal discussions, agency decisions, and passage
of state laws all take time. Individuals working in behavioral
health must be proactive in planning privacy
implementation strategies.
Ruby Nicholson is director of QI/health information at Kent
County Mental Health Center, Warwick, RI.
Article citation:
Nicholson, Ruby. "The Dilemma of Psychotherapy Notes and
HIPAA." Journal of AHIMA 73, no.2 (2002):
38-39.
Copyright © 2002 by The American Health Information
Management Association. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.ahima.org/copyright
Assignment Instructions. Please read carefully to the end before
starting
Assignment 1: Supportive Psychotherapy versus Interpersonal
Psychotherapy
Amelia, a 16-year-old high school sophomore, presents with
symptoms of weight loss and a very obvious concern for her
weight. She has made several references to being “fat” and
“pudgy” when, in fact, she is noticeably underweight. Her
mother reports that she is quite regimented in her eating and
that she insists on preparing her own meals as her mother “puts
too many fattening things in the food” that she cooks. After
discovering that during the past 3 months Amelia has lost 15
pounds and is well under body weight for someone of similar
age/sex/developmental trajectory, the psychiatric mental health
nurse practitioner diagnosed Amelia with anorexia nervosa.

8. Evidence-based research shows that clients like Amelia may
respond well to supportive psychotherapy and interpersonal
psychotherapy. So which approach might you select? Are both
equally effective for all clients? In practice, you will find that
many clients may be candidates for both of these therapeutic
approaches, but factors such as a client’s psychodynamics and
your own skill set as a therapist may impact their effectiveness.
This week, you continue exploring therapeutic approaches and
their appropriateness for clients as you examine supportive
psychotherapy and interpersonal psychotherapy. You also assess
progress for a client receiving psychotherapy and develop
progress and privileged psychotherapy notes for the client.
Photo Credit: Laureate Education
Although supportive psychotherapy and interpersonal
psychotherapy share some similarities, these therapeutic
approaches have many differences. When assessing clients and
selecting therapies, it is important to recognize these
differences and how they may impact your clients. For this
Assignment, as you compare supportive and interpersonal
psychotherapy, consider which therapeutic approach you might
use with your clients.
To prepare:
· Review the media in this week’s Learning Resources.
· Reflect on supportive and interpersonal psychotherapeutic
approaches.
The Assignment
In a 1- to 2-page paper, address the following:
Briefly describe how supportive and interpersonal
psychotherapies are similar.
Explain at least three differences between these therapies.
Include how these differences might impact your practice as a
mental health counselor.

9. Explain which therapeutic approach you might use with clients
and why. Support your approach with evidence-based literature.
References
Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced
practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based
practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing
Company.
· Chapter 5, “Supportive and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy”
(pp. 238–242)
· Chapter 9, “Interpersonal Psychotherapy” (pp. 347–368)
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and
statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington,
DC: Author.
Note: You will access this text from the Walden Library
databases.
Abeles, N., & Koocher, G. P. (2011). Ethics in psychotherapy.
In J. C. Norcross, G. R. VandenBos, D. K. Freedheim, J. C.
Norcross, G. R. VandenBos, & D. K. Freedheim (Eds.), History
of psychotherapy: Continuity and change (pp. 723–740).
Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
doi:10.1037/12353-048
Note: You will access this resource from the Walden Library
databases.
Cameron, S., & Turtle-Song, I. (2002). Learning to write case
notes using the SOAP format. Journal of Counseling and
Development, 80(3), 286–292. Retrieved from the Academic
Search Complete database. (Accession No. 7164780)
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library
databases.
Nicholson, R. (2002). The dilemma of psychotherapy notes and

10. HIPAA. Journal of AHIMA, 73(2), 38–39. Retrieved from
http://library.ahima.org/doc?oid=58162#.V5J0__krLZ4http://lib
rary.ahima.org/doc?oid=58162#.V5J0__krLZ4
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). HIPAA
privacy rule and sharing information related to mental health.
Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-
professionals/special-topics/mental-health/
Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2013).
Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice
[Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Psychotherapy.net.
Note: For this week, view Reality Therapy, Feminist Therapy,
and
Solution
-Focused Therapy only. You will access this media from the
Walden Library databases.
Stuart, S. (2010). Interpersonal psychotherapy: A case of
postpartum depression [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA:
Psychotherapy.net.
Note: You will access this media from the Walden Library
databases. The approximate length of this media piece is 110
minutes.
Note: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted
include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The

11. Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides
an example of those required elements (available
at http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates ).
All papers submitted must use this formatting.