Types of Psychotherapy

for Depression

According to research, depression is a dominant mental health problem worldwide. It is a mood condition that induces constant sorrow and loss of interest in the affairs of life. Major depressive disorder or clinical depression, as it is known, can affect your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. In the long run, it could lead to emotional and physical problems that prevent you from living your life. Depression is more than an episode of blues. It is not like a switch that can be turned on or off at will. It may need long-term treatment; thankfully, there are effective approaches like psychotherapy to help treat depression.

What is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy, also referred to as talking therapy, is a broad term for various treatment techniques used to help people with mental health problems. It usually involves conversations between mental health professionals and people with mental health issues. These in-depth dialogues help you recognise and work towards changing negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Psychotherapy may be merged with medication or as a separate treatment. It can be beneficial in treating mental health problems like depression and anxiety. This treatment can help you identify the signs that your depression is worsening. It also helps you alleviate stress and learn how to communicate your condition to others.

Types of psychotherapy

There are various types of psychotherapy for depression. Most of these types of psychotherapy cultivate a relationship between you and the psychotherapist. During these treatments, triggers like loss or major illness are pinpointed, and you learn coping techniques that help you regain a feeling of control and happiness in life. Psychotherapy comes in diverse formats:

Group therapy

Two patients or more take part in the therapy simultaneously. They share experiences and relationships with people who have the same problems and experiences.

Couple therapy

It involves spouses or partners. During therapy, both parties learn to determine why the other person has depression. They find ways to cope and effect changes that can help.

Family therapy

Family can serve as a support system for people with depression. Sometimes it is essential to include them in the treatment to help them understand their loved ones and support them better.

Individual therapy

This therapy involves a one-on-one session between a client or patient and a professional therapist in a safe and confidential environment. Though you can explore psychotherapy in different formats, there are different types of psychotherapy treatments that a mental health professional can use to provide mental health services. After consulting with you about your depression, your therapist will decide which type of psychotherapy will suit you, so keep this in mind.

Interpersonal therapy

Interpersonal therapy is used to treat mood disorders, and it focuses on the client’s interpersonal relationships. Its main goal is to improve the quality of the client’s relationships and interactions or behaviors with family and friends. Therapy often lasts for a short period, between three to four months. The therapist helps you enhance your communication skills and self-esteem during this time.

Interpersonal therapy, also known as IPT, is structured. You are given homework, continuously accessed, and interviewed by the therapist. This approach works well for depression caused by grief or loss, relationship friction, and perinatal depression. People who benefit from interpersonal therapy include:

• Patients with eating disorders.
• Patients who suffer from chronic fatigue.
• Patients with anxiety and depression.
• Patients with mood disorders like bipolar and dysthymic disorders.

Cognitive behavioural therapy

Cognitive behavioural therapy is a psycho-social intervention that helps people with mild to moderate depression. With CBT therapy, you and your therapist will carefully analyse your feelings, thoughts, and unrealistic and unhelpful behaviors. The professional will help you change incorrect perceptions of yourself or others by helping you establish new thought patterns. Cognitive behavioral therapy is suitable for patients whose behaviour triggers a cycle of depression. Or for people who are adamant or unable to take antidepressants.

The idea behind cognitive therapy is that your therapist will help you identify these unhealthy thought patterns called cognitive distortions and help you correct them. These are some examples of cognitive distortions:

Catastrophic thinking

You continuously expect the worst in every situation. This state leads to depressive thoughts like ” What if I lose my job and end up on the streets?”

Emotional reasoning

Here, you rely on your gut feeling instead of objectively judging yourself or others with solid evidence. An example is, ” I feel unwanted. That is why my family ignores me.” This distortion can be harmful and may lead to illogical decisions or eating disorders.

Polarised thinking

This state involves when you think in black or white; that is, thinking in the extreme ends. Situations are either great or terrible, and there is no middle ground for perspectives or balanced outcomes.

“Should” statements

You have rules for what people should and should not do. You constantly blame yourself for what could have been, and this causes stress and anxiety. It is impossible to be happy when you always dwell on what “should” have been.

Psychodynamic therapy

With this approach, psychodynamic therapy concentrates on the psychological roots of emotional agony. It requires you to self-reflect and self-examine. By focusing on unresolved issues, often originating from childhood trauma, you are encouraged to talk about your experiences. Doing this will help you cope well with your feelings. Though this type of psychotherapy lasts for three to four months, it can also last for years. It relies heavily on a strong and trustworthy relationship between you and your therapist for the deep work to happen.

Those who benefit from psychodynamic therapy deal with depression, stress, pain, and relationship problems.

These types of psychotherapy for depression promote your mood positively and help you gain the confidence to manage yourself. Most importantly, they help to reduce depression and manage recurring episodes. The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies(IAPT) initiative has widened access to the treatment of psychological disorders like depression and anxiety. You can now seek a proper diagnosis from a mental health professional and start treatment for depression.