How Does Psychotherapy Help Depression?

Psychotherapy helps an person with depression:

• Understand and identify the life problems or events (a major illness, a death in the family, a loss of a job or a divorce) that lead to his/her depression and help him/her identify which aspects of problems he/she may resolve or improve;



• Identify the behaviors, emotions, and ideas that lead to his/her depression;



• Different approaches that mental health professionals can take to provide therapy.

Interpersonal Therapy for Depression

Interpersonal psychotherapy emphasizes on the behaviors and interactions a depressed patient has with relatives and friends. The primary goal of this therapy is to improve communication skills and increase self-esteem during a short period of time. It often lasts 3-4 months and works good for depression caused by loss and grief, relationship conflicts, major life events, social isolation, or role transitions.

Psychodynamic Therapy for Depression

Psychodynamic therapy is based on the statement that a individual is depressed because of unresolved, generally unconscious conflicts, sometimes stemming from childhood. The primary goal of this type of therapy is for the patient to understand and cope better with these feelings by talking about the experiences.

Psychodynamic therapy may last for a period of weeks to months to years.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression

The focus of CBT is on learning. The therapist functions as a teacher. He/she guides the client through the process of learning how to change his/her way of thinking and then how to act on that learning. There is usually a specific goal and a process for arriving at it. That is why CBT is usually more narrowly focused. It is usually completed in less time than other therapies.



CBT includes different approaches to therapy. All of them emphasize on how the way of thinking affects the way a person feels and acts. The primary assumption of cognitive behavioral therapy: "you can change your way of thinking about a situation, and when you do, you also change the way you feel and act". As a result, you can feel better, or at least remain calm, even if the situation remains the same.

Types of Psychotherapy Formats

Individual Therapy

This type of therapy means one-on-one work between patient and therapist. It allows the patient to have the full attention of the therapist. But, it does not allow the therapist an opportunity to observe the patient within social or family relationships.

Couple's Therapy

This type of therapy is geared towards married couples and those in significant other situations who wish to improve their functioning as a couple.



Family Therapy



This approach is most useful when it is important to work on dynamics within the family group.

Group Therapy

Group therapy usually involves 3-15 patients. It gives patients the opportunity to give and receive group support in coping with their particular issues as well as to observe how they interact in group settings.