Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) addresses people-pleasing through its strong evidence base: most people-pleasing is connected to relationship problems, and improving relationships improves people-pleasing.
The Four IPT Focus Areas for People-Pleasing
IPT targets one of four interpersonal problem areas that typically accompany people-pleasing:
- Grief: Loss and bereavement contributing to people-pleasing
- Role disputes: Conflicts in important relationships driving people-pleasing
- Role transitions: Life changes creating adjustment-related people-pleasing
- Interpersonal deficits: Limited social skills or relationships sustaining people-pleasing
IPT vs. CBT for People-Pleasing
While CBT targets thoughts and behaviors, IPT targets relationships and communication. Both are highly effective for people-pleasing — the best choice depends on the primary driver.
What IPT for People-Pleasing Looks Like
IPT for people-pleasing typically runs 12-20 sessions, with early sessions identifying the interpersonal focus area, middle sessions working on it, and later sessions consolidating gains.