Do you suffer from depression? Therapy for depression can help you feel better and enjoy life again. Therapy is a process that involves talking with a therapist to come up with solutions to your problems.
Therapy helps people who have been diagnosed with mental health conditions such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic attacks, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia. Therapy also helps those who are grieving the loss of someone close to them or experiencing difficulties in their relationships.
This article will examine some of the different types of therapy for depression and provide tips on how you can find a good therapist so you too can get well!
Types of Therapy for Depression
Therapy aims at alleviating symptoms and reducing their severity by improving insight into oneself, exploring feelings about past events, or changing distorted perceptions which may be causing unacceptable behavior.
Therapy is most commonly conducted by licensed mental health professionals like psychiatrists (MD), clinical psychologists (Ph.D.), and licensed professional counselors (LPC). Therapy typically takes place over an extended period of time (typically eight to twelve weeks).
Therapy sessions are usually held on a weekly basis for an hour or more, although some therapists offer short-term therapy that lasts only a few weeks.
Therapy can be conducted individually but is sometimes done with groups of people who have similar problems to share and learn from one another.
Therapy may be covered by your insurance plan if you have one and sometimes offered on a sliding scale fee basis, so you may be able to afford it even if your income is low or fixed.
The following are some of the different types of therapy for depression:
Cognitive Therapy (CT)
This is a type of psychotherapy that was developed in the 1950s by Dr. Aaron T. It focuses on how people think about themselves, their lives, and the world around them.
The goal is to identify negative thoughts and beliefs, such as “I’m not good enough,” then find evidence that contradicts or disproves those thoughts so that new more positive thinking patterns can develop instead.
CT may include helping individuals understand how their thought patterns contribute to their moods, identifying problematic situations in which they might be vulnerable to feeling down again, challenging thoughts with the help of others, examining childhood experiences for possible influences on adult feelings about themselves, and learning to see the world in a more positive way.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a form of psychotherapy developed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D. It is evidence-based and combines behavioral techniques such as skill training with validation-seeking to help individuals learn how to better regulate their emotions.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is one form of therapy for depression that has demonstrated efficacy in numerous research studies.
IPT focuses on social interactions and relationships as the key drivers behind mood disorders, particularly depressive episodes.
Therapy sessions are hour-long, typically occurring once per week or every other week at first to build trust between therapist and client. Sessions focus on three core problems:
- Grief
- Interpersonal role disputes
- Interpersonal deficits
IPT is also concerned with two central issues: feelings of loneliness or isolation; and social anxiety, the fear of being judged by others in one’s relationships.
IPT has been shown to be effective for people who are mild to moderately depressed as well as those who have a major depressive disorder (MDD) and are suicidal.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that was developed by Sigmund Freud. It is a form of therapy that helps patients understand the connections between past and present, as well as how recent life events influence feelings.
Psychodynamic Therapy focuses on unconscious psychological conflicts which might be expressed through dreams or artwork, such as paintings or clay sculptures.
This therapy could help patients to resolve these conflicts, understand their own feelings and motives, which may lead to better moods.
The patient might need weekly sessions with the doctor over several months in order to overcome depressive symptoms.
Group Therapy
Group therapy focuses on having people share their feelings with each other in a safe environment where they are supported by the group as well as leaders who help guide them along the way.
Group Therapy is not limited to one on one sessions where the therapist is talking to you. Therapy involves learning how to work with others and communicating with your peers as well as yourself, which is where therapy becomes most effective.
The group setting allows individuals who are struggling to express themselves in a way that they may not be able to on their own or one-on-one can make it easier for them to feel that they are supported and not alone in their struggles.
Therapy involves a change from both sides of the equation: an outside perspective can help you see things you may have been unable or unwilling to before and having a group of people to support you can help motivate your change.
Tips for Finding a Good Therapist
A good therapist will listen to your problems and offer you guidance in helping you feel better. There are certain qualities that make up a good therapist such as someone who is caring, helpful, and empathetic.
They should be able to make you feel at ease and comfortable. Therapy should not be a negative experience, but rather one that helps you come up with ways in which to resolve your issues or problems. So if you are feeling worse rather than better after working with your therapist then it might be time to seek out another one who can help you achieve the results that you desire.
Therapy can sometimes take some time to show results. It is important for the therapist and client to work together as a team towards resolving their difficulties.
It’s best to look for someone who is licensed and has experience treating people with similar issues to yours.
Therapy can be expensive, so it’s best to ask your prospective therapist about their rates before committing yourself.
Therapy should never feel rushed or forced, so if you are not comfortable with the way things are going in therapy then this might not be an ideal fit for you.
Conclusion
Therapy is not something that happens overnight and may require a commitment on both sides in order for it to work. They can help you learn how to cope better with your problems and come up with ways in which to resolve them. They can teach you new skills that will help improve the quality of your life. Therapy is a process, but it’s one that has helped many people who suffer from mental health conditions such as depression live happier lives again!
