Interpersonal therapy (IPT): A practical, evidence-based approach

Interpersonal therapy (IPT): A practical, evidence-based approach

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Event date: -

Event location: Online

Event Link: https://cvent.me/byPBQA

Event type: Single day (a day or less)

Interpersonal therapy (IPT): A practical, evidence-based approach

Date: November 7, 2025

Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET

Facilitator: Cleo Haber, BSW, MSW, RSW.

CE hours: 6

This training is suitable for:

  • Mental Health Professionals: psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers.
  • Medical Professionals: nurses, psychiatrists, pediatricians, family doctors.

Client age category: For professionals who work with youth (16 years +) and adult clients.

Level of training: Introductory

Trigger Warning: Participating in our programming may evoke powerful feelings and can trigger participants who have experienced personal trauma. 

Description: Build clinical confidence with structured, practical tools rooted in attachment and relational theory to treat mood and anxiety disorders  in diverse client populations. Learn key IPT tasks and focal areas including grief, role transitions, interpersonal disputes, and social isolation.

IPT is an evidenced based psychotherapy, providing a practical framework for working with clients presenting with mood and anxiety disorders and is especially effective when relational distress is central to the presenting issues.  It is culturally adaptable and relationally attuned—rooted in attachment theory and relational theory.

This one-day webinar is designed for front-line workers and mental health clinicians who work with youth (16+) and adult clients in a variety of settings. Participants will learn the basic principles of IPT and how to structure a course of IPT psychotherapy. The programming will cover the beginning, middle and end-phase tasks of IPT therapy.  Participants will learn about the focal areas specific to IPT—Grief and Loss, Role Transitions, Interpersonal Disputes and Interpersonal Deficits/Social Isolation and the interventions best suited to each focal area.

The workshop will use video, small group discussion, role-play, experiential learning and didactic teaching methods.

"In this IPT workshop you will sharpen core skills—like communication analysis and interpersonal mapping—that you can apply right away in your sessions. It will also show you how to guide clients through conflict, loss, and change with clarity and compassion.- Cleo Haber.

Learning objectives:

  • Learn the beginning, middle and end-phase tasks in IPT therapy.
  • Learn the IPT focal areas and clinical interventions associated with each of them.
  • Practice evidence-informed strategies/interventions from IPT to address mood and anxiety disorders.

Program Outline:

  • Learn the beginning, middle and end phase tasks of IPT psychotherapy.
  • Formulation and assessment through an attachment lens.
  • IPT interventions for beginning phase tasks: closeness circle.
  • Video demonstration of closeness circle.
  • Role play practice with IPT interventions.
  • Questions and discussion.
  • Learn middle phase interventions in IPT: Grief & Loss, Role Transitions, Interpersonal Disputes.
  • Watch video demonstrations of these key interventions.
  • Learn end-phase tasks: The good good-bye.
  • Practice: role-plays in triads.
  • Questions and discussion.

If you work with clients experiencing mood or anxiety disorders, especially where relationships are a core concern, this training will equip you with structured, practical tools grounded in attachment and relational theory. Learn the key tasks and focal areas of IPT—grief and loss, role transitions, interpersonal disputes, and social isolation—and gain hands-on experience with evidence-informed interventions.

Register today to enhance your clinical skill set and provide more focused, effective care in your setting.

or full program overview and registration details please visit: https://cvent.me/byPBQA


Facilitator Bio:
Cleo Haber, BSW, RSW, MSW, obtained her Masters of Social Work at Hunter College School of Social Work in New York City. For over 20 years, she has been a social worker specializing in mental health, working with individuals, couples, and groups. In her current practice, she provides individual and couple psychotherapy and facilitates emotion-focused mindfulness therapy (EFMT) groups.

For the past 10 years she has taught family medicine residents psychotherapy skills. She was part of the faculty in the Interviewing and Communication Skills curriculum and Wellness curriculum for family medicine residents and has conducted clinical research at the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team.

She has certifications and training in emotion-focused mindfulness therapy (EFMT), emotion-focused therapy (EFT), emotionally-focused couples therapy, interpersonal therapy, internal family systems therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Cleo is the retreat manager at the annual EFMT meditation retreat and is also a Yoga Alliance certified yoga instructor! 


Continuing Education (CE) information: 6 CE hours

SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) to offer continuing education (CE) hours. The number of eligible CE hours are outlined within each program. SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute maintains responsibility for the programs.

Other licensing boards and professional organizations will grant continuing education credits for attendance at their own discretion; participants will need to submit the course outline and Certificate of Participation for their consideration.


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