Level 1
Foundations
The first step to becoming a certified IRT practitioner.
Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy (IRT), developed by Lorna Smith Benjamin, is an evidence-informed, integrative treatment model for individuals with personality disorders and complex interpersonal patterns. Rooted in interpersonal theory and informed by the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB), IRT offers a precise, formulation-driven approach to understanding and intervening with chronic psychopathology.
Level 1 Training
This initial training gives a broad overview of IRT theory and practice, and participants come away with a solid understanding of foundational principles that sets the stage for Level 2.
Please note: Participants will be asked to watch a 90-minute diagnostic interview and answer a few questions as homework between days one and two.
Completion of Level 1 does not qualify participants to practice IRT independently. It provides a strong conceptual foundation and places you on the track toward Level 2 and full certification.
What you'll learn
Foundational theory
You'll build a working understanding of IPIRs, the three copy processes, the Gift of Love hypothesis, and how IRT's stages of change map onto the core treatment algorithm.
Case formulation
You'll learn how to develop and revise an IRT case formulation from initial interview material, and how that formulation directly shapes treatment planning and goal setting.
Research base
You'll review the empirical evidence behind IRT and see how the model has been applied specifically to personality pathology and longstanding relational difficulties.
Who this is for
Licensed mental health professionals seeking a sophisticated, interpersonal framework for working with individuals experiencing personality disorders and longstanding relational difficulties. No prior IRT or SASB experience is required.
Learning objectives
1. Identify and describe foundational concepts of IRT, such as IPIRs, Gift of Love, and copy processes.
2. Summarize the research base supporting IRT.
3. Identify the stages of change and steps of IRT.
4. Summarize adherence to the core IRT algorithm.
5. Use the SASB model to identify copy processes and therapeutic goals.
6. Describe the Gift of Love and identify ways to utilize it in helping patients advance in stages of change.
7. Apply foundational knowledge of IRT to create an IRT case formulation.
8. Describe how the IRT case formulation can be utilized to guide treatment.
9. List core aspects of the initial interview required to gather information for a case formulation.
10. Generate a list of therapy goals based on a case formulation.
By the end of the training, participants will
- Understand foundational IRT theory and research
- Identify and describe the three copy processes
- Develop and revise an IRT case formulation
- Describe how formulation informs treatment planning
- Summarize adherence to the IRT treatment algorithm
Ready to begin?
Level 1 is the entry point to the full certification track. Save your seat for the next cohort.