A psycho-diagnostic tool for psychotherapy: Interactional Pattern Analysis (IPA)
Abstract
This article proposes a description of a psycho-diagnostic tool for psychotherapists, the Interactional Pattern Analysis
(IPA). Sixteen interpersonal variables are proposed to describe the observable behaviour that constitutes a client’s
interpersonal style within the context of a particular relationship, such as client-therapist; husband-wife;
mother-daughter; friends: context; definition of the relationship; clarity of self-presentation; emotional distance;
accurate empathy; congruence and unconditional acceptance; confirmation; expression of needs; linear/circular
approach; degree of interpersonal flexibility/rigidity; ability to meta-communicate; adequacy of problem-solving skills;
control; potential for eliciting rejection or acceptance; and traumatic incidents. In the context of the psychotherapeutic
relationship, trained psychotherapists observe clients’ interpersonal styles based on a combination of these
interpersonal variables with the intention of proposing a link between clients’ patterns of behaviour and their presenting
complaints. Based on this connection, appropriate psychotherapeutic interventions can be implemented.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/14364http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2013.10820663
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14330237.2013.10820663
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