“Does psychotherapy really work for depression?”

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Yes, psychotherapy really works for depression! Exploring how a person thinks and feels, examining avoidances, discussing past experiences, and focusing on relationships helps them notice patterns that can be helpful to become aware of so they can change anything unhelpful or maladaptive. There are lots of different kinds of psychotherapy including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT), family systems, psychodynamic or psychoanalytic, humanistic-existential therapy, group therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, play and art therapy, interpersonal therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and motivational interviewing.

Almost anyone can benefit from psychotherapy, as it is designed to help a person deal with a variety of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, eating disorders, substance abuse, personality disorders, relationship problems, stress management, anger and irritability, ADHD, behavioral issues, adjustment issues, etc.
I hope this information has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Cognitive and cognitive-behavioral therapy have proven very effective in treating depression. Some people suffering from depression will also benefit from supplemental antidepressant medication, and others with more serious major depression can't really do well without it. Psychotherapy for depression tends to focus on what I call depressogenic thought patterns, helplessness, and hopelessness and on behavioral strategies such as walking, exercise, yoga, and other practices that focus on being active and engaged in the present. Mindfulness practice is also helpful for getting the person 'out of their head' and less preoccupied with negative thinking.
I hope this is helpful.

Psychotherapy very much works for depression, in particular cognitive behavioral therapy. The specific treatment for depression is called behavioral activation. The idea would be to pick something small that you would enjoy and would be doing if you were not depressed, and to do that one small thing. It's like playing "as if", the "fake it until you make it" strategy. There are also some CBT strategies for challenging negative thinking that can be very helpful with shifting your mood and consequently your behaviors. I would recommend looking for a CBT therapist if you were interested in trying psychotherapy.

It absolutely can. I feel it is important to try psychotherapy and see if it can relieve the depression before going to medication as an option.

Sara Cole LPC CACIII NCC

Hello and thank you for your question,

Psychotherapy can be helpful for treating depression. It is important to know that much of psychotherapy is based on your ability to engage with your therapist and use the interventions outside of sessions. Psychotherapy is also a different experience for everyone; therefore, a good connection with your therapist, regular attendance, and personal steps all impact the outcome.

Thank you,

Patricia Harris | MA, MS, LPC

I would recommend starting with a visit to your primary care practitioner and discussing your feelings with him/her. They would be best to point you in the right direction depending on the type of depression you are experiencing. There are many types of depression and letting your primary care provider know would be a sound place to start in addressing your concerns.

All the best!

Psychotherapy combined with diverse interventions can be assistive in decreasing and eliminating symtoms of depression, also combined with client committment to treatment.

Some perspective on your question can be found at this link:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/9300--psychotherapy-for-depression
or
https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/treatment-resistant-depression-psychotherapy#1