Best Type Of Therapy For Depression

How To Find The Best Therapist For You

If youre ready to talk to a therapist about your depression, youre headed in a good directionbut its important to keep in mind that finding the best therapist for you might take some time, and thats totally normal. Lots of factors, such as insurance coverage, where you live, the hours you work, the type of therapy practiced, and your overall experience with a therapist, can contribute to finding the one.

If you dont have a physician you feel comfortable talking to about your depression and you have insurance, then you can start by contacting your insurance company to ask about mental health coverage. Once you find out what types of services are covered, you can start making a list of potential therapists to reach out to by browsing your insurance companys directory or another online directory, like this one from the Anxiety & Depression Association of America. Then, when you have some promising names, youll want to reach out to them for a preliminary call or consultation. Make sure you create a list of questions youd like answered before you commit to an appointment, including whether or not they take your insurance to verify coverage.

What Does Psychodynamic Therapy Do

Psychodynamic therapy is a modern evolution of psychoanalysis, and it is similarly aimed at the development of insight into oneself, specifically understanding of the problem situations and personal vulnerabilities that set the stage for depression. The therapist takes an active role in guiding therapy, and the relationship between therapist and patient is a major conduit of recovery. While CBT and IPT are staunchly present-focused, psychodynamic therapy may examine current difficulties in the context of earlier life experiences and relationships.

What Can It Do

It’s used to help the person find ways to deal with everyday stressors. It can also encourage you to use your medications properly.

Many studies support the idea that therapy can be a powerful treatment for depression. Some, although not all, have also found that combining depression medicine with therapy can be very effective. A large-scale trial involving more than 400 people with treatment-resistant depression found that talk therapy alongside medication made symptoms easier to take.

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Individual Or Group Therapy

When you hear the word therapy you might automatically think of one-on-one sessions with a therapist. However, group therapy can be very useful in depression treatment as well. Both group and individual therapy sessions usually last about an hour. What are the benefits of each? In individual therapy, you are building a strong relationship with one person, and may feel more comfortable sharing some sensitive information with one person than with a group. You also get individualized attention.

In group therapy, listening to peers going through the same struggles can validate your experiences and help build self-esteem. Often group members are at different points in their depression, so you might get tips from both someone in the trenches and someone who has worked through a challenging problem. As well as offering inspiration and ideas, attending group therapy can also help increase your social activities and network.

When the going gets tough in therapy

Tms Therapy For Depression

If youre suffering from major depression that has been resistant to therapy, medication, and self-help, then TMS therapy may be an option. Transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy is a noninvasive treatment that directs recurring magnetic energy pulses at the regions of the brain that are involved in mood. These magnetic pulses pass painlessly through the skull and stimulate brain cells which can improve communication between different parts of the brain and ease depression symptoms.

While TMS may be able to improve treatment-resistant depression, that doesnt mean its a cure for depression or that your symptoms wont return. However, it could provide sufficient improvements in your energy and drive to enable you to begin talk therapy or make the lifestyle changessuch as improving your diet, exercising, and building your support networkthat can help preserve your depression recovery in the long term.

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What To Expect In Ipt Therapy Sessions

IPT treatment is normally provided in 12-16 individual therapy sessions, which may occur in an office, facility, or online via telehealth. Because IPT therapists believe that depression is linked to specific life events and relationships, these often become the main focus of treatment .

In an IPT session, a therapist may help a depressed client by:1,5

• Conducting a review or evaluation of current stressors, relationships, and their support system
• Assessing barriers to solving problems, processing difficult emotions, or improving communication skills
• Helping the client learn interpersonal skills that equip them to better communicate, connect, and solve problems in their lives and relationships
• Acting as a coach, cheerleader, and support person while the client works to make active changes in their life and relationships

Talking Therapies On The Nhs

You can get talking therapies like counselling for depression and cognitive behavioural therapy on the NHS.

You can refer yourself directly to an NHS psychological therapies service without a referral from a GP.

If you prefer, see a GP and they can refer you and share relevant information about you.

Psychological therapies services are also known as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services.

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Less Common Types Of Therapy

There are so many types of psychotherapy. To stop the information from overwhelming you, think about what you most want from psychotherapy then scroll through and see which keywords align with what you were thinking.

Note: To make the list manageable, this guide mostly focuses on talk therapy for adults and excludes forms of psychotherapy that are controversial or do not have sufficient evidence to back their effectiveness.

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What Types Of Depression Can Cbt Treat

Cognitive behavioral therapy is an empirically supported therapy style that can be used to treat and lessen the severity of a variety of mental health disorders.8 Study reviews have indicated that CBT can be effective for depressive disorders and episodes that may be impacting your life, especially in the mild to moderate range of symptoms.8

CBT can be effective in treating these types of depression:8

• Schizoaffective disorder, depressive type

Treatment For Severe And Complex Depression

If your depression is severe and complex, your doctor should refer you to specialist mental health services. They can discuss with you the following options:

• Trying talking therapies and medication again. Your healthcare team may suggest a different medication, or a combination of drugs with other treatments.
• Medication for psychotic symptoms. If you are experiencing depression with psychotic symptoms, your healthcare team may prescribe antipsychotic medication alongside your current treatment plan. See our pages on psychosis and antipsychotics for more information.
• Crisis resolution services. A crisis resolution and home treatment team is a team of mental health professionals who can support you at your home during a mental health crisis, rather than going into hospital. See our page on crisis services for more information.
• Hospital admission. If you are severely depressed and at risk of suicide, self-harm or self-neglect, you may need to be cared for in hospital as an in-patient. A hospital can provide a safe and supportive environment if you are in a state of distress. See our page on hospital admission for more information.

“A majority of the treatments I tried were ineffective but at crisis point, about to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital, I started Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Sertraline. I can honestly say that they saved my life.”

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Is Group Therapy Ever Helpful

Although depression is a very individualized disorder, with each patient exhibiting a distinctive patterns of symptoms, group therapy can sometimes be helpful. One area of special value may be group education in coping skills, problem-solving skills, and techniques for managing difficult emotions, as deficits in those areas are known to underlie most expressions of depression. Such treatment is often labeled psychoeducation and it may be especially appealing to people who cannot afford an individual course of therapy or who feel stigmatized by it. Whatever the format of depression group therapy, it can offer some advantages over individual therapy. Most obviously, it counters the social isolation that is a major precipitant of depression. Groups also allow for working though the dysfunctional relationship patterns that contribute to depression. Further, group interaction provides a forum for credible challenges to the negative evaluations depressed people make about themselves.

Norepinephrine And Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors

Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors can help with depression by blocking both norepinephrine and dopamine transporters. NDRI medications include Focalin , Ritalin , and Wellbutrin .

Wellbutrin is sometimes preferred because it is less likely to have the sexual side effects that are common in the other antidepressants. Plus, the side effects that are common this medication, which can include headache, trouble sleeping, and dizziness, generally go away within one to two weeks.

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Cbt For Postpartum Depression

Julia sought out a therapist to figure out her feelings and was diagnosed with unspecified depressive disorder with peripartum onset, more commonly known as postpartum depression. Her therapist knew that research indicated that CBT had improved long- and short-term symptoms of depression and had some impact on anxiety in postnatal depression.10

Cognitive Therapy In Primary Care

• References

Family physicians usually are the first to diagnose and treat patients with depression. They should inform patients that psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are valid options, and that cognitive therapy, and therefore CBT, is the most studied psychotherapy. If the patient and physician initially elect to use pharmacotherapy, and the patient does not respond adequately, the physician should again suggest adding psychotherapy or CBT. CBT should be strongly considered as initial therapy for patients with severe or chronic depression or for adolescents. If the patient declines referral, or if the family physician provides CBT, longer appointments could be scheduled. Resources are available for the physician and patient , and further physician training should be considered.

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Lifestyle Changes May Play A Role

People with severe depression require help from medical professionals they cant treat themselves but some lifestyle changes can supplement other treatments or counter mild depression:

• Exercise can release mood-enhancing chemicals and improve brain function.
• Yoga, meditation, or other mind-body techniques can lower stress and relieve negative emotions.
• Support groups for people with depression can be found through organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

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Other Depression Therapy Options

CBT, ACT, IPT, and MBCT are four of the most effective behavioral therapy approaches for major depressive disorder, but there are other types of therapy which have also shown promising results.1 For example, problem solving therapy is another evidence-based practice for depression. This short-term therapy aims to address immediate stressors and problems in a persons life, and may be more appropriate for those with mild to moderate symptoms.1

Other therapies are sometimes used to help people struggling with depression. These include newer therapies that are still being researched, as well as some that are effective in treating certain kinds of depression.

Some of the other therapies being used to treat depression include:

Cost & Insurance For Ipt Therapy

IPT therapy for depression is usually provided in individual therapy sessions online or in an office setting. Most health insurance plans will cover some of the costs of IPT therapy for people with depression, but the specific costs vary depending on the details of the plan. Those paying out of pocket can expect to pay similar rates of $100-$200 per session, or possibly more, depending on the providers rates and location.

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What To Expect From A Depression Treatment Plan

Depression can make all the little things you do to take care of yourselflike sleeping enough, eating well, and finding motivation to exercisefeel so much harder. Thats why finding a therapist, psychiatrist, or doctor who can help you find the best treatment isnt easy. You simply may not feel up to it when youre depressed.

But asking for support is a critical step in feeling better. If youre just not sure where to start, visit your primary care doctor if you have one, Dr. Gilbert says. They can help refer you to a therapist who can further support you if youve had trouble finding one yourself.

During your first few appointments, your therapist will want to get to know you, how youve been feeling, and what your goals are with counseling. Heidi L. Combs, M.D., a clinical psychiatrist and director of inpatient psychiatry at UW Health Harborview Hospital, says she develops a depression treatment plan with input from her patients based on their medical history and whether they have other health conditions or mental health disorders , individual needs based on symptoms, and personal preferences.

For example, some people prefer to try talk therapy before they try medication, while others are open to including both in their treatment plan. Or, if youve had depression in the past and benefited from a particular medicine or type of therapy, it might be worth trying the same course of action if its already been successful for you.

Do I Need Health Insurance To Receive This Service

The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.

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Therapy For Certain Mental Health Issues And Illnesses

The vast majority of therapeutic approaches do not apply to only one mental health issue or illness. Psychotherapists can use an approach to treat depression, for example, but there is no Depression Therapy. Nonetheless, some types of psychotherapy are especially effective for certain issues and illnesses.

Below is a short list of therapeutic approaches and types that are especially effective for treating certain mental health conditions :

• Trauma

Alcohol Tobacco And Other Drugs

Misusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can have both immediate and long-term health effects.

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Does Therapy Help In Ways That Medication Does Not

Many studies have evaluate the effects of psychotherapy vs. medications. Medication for depression may relieve symptoms more quickly than therapy, but the symptom relief lasts only as long as medication is taken. Therapy has enduring effects it not only relieves symptoms of a current episode of depression but reduces the risk of future episodes. Studies show that both types of treatment change the way the brain functions. Therapy gives people insight into how their own patterns of reactions to negative experience set off a downward spiral of thinking that lead to depression. It also fosters the development of coping skills that interrupt the chain of reactivity. Further, therapy restores a sense of control, something no medication can deliver. Perhaps most important, the bond that develops between patient and therapist becomes an instrument of support and recovery.

Types Of Cbt For Depression

Cognitive behavioral therapy is not only a treatment type, but it is also the main branch for a number of different therapy styles. While CBT is the basis of these styles, it is not the only one that can be effective for treating depressive symptoms and episodes.

Here are the three most common offshoots of CBT used for depression:

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Depression In Men And Women

Depression is diagnosed more often in women than in men. Some researchers guess this is because men are less likely to seek treatment. Some men believe talking about their feelings would make them look weak or unmanly, so they avoid therapy. Researchers also believe men are diagnosed less because their symptoms look different.

Men with depression are more likely to show anger than sadness. They tend to have more sleep difficulties and fatigue symptoms than women. Men often cope through escapist behaviors like binge drinking or sexual affairs.

Women with depression are more likely to attempt suicide. They are also more likely to experience certain forms of depression like premenstrual dysphoria . PMDD is when someone experiences severe depression symptoms before their period. The symptoms improve once the period begins. They may even disappear for the rest of the menstrual cycle.