Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by deep sadness and feelings of hopelessness. It has numerous causes, and sometimes medications are a necessary step in treatment. However, psychotherapy and depression can go hand-in-hand as well. It is possible to see significant improvement in symptoms with the use of appropriate talk therapy. Our team at Serenity Light Recovery can help make that possible.
How Does Psychotherapy and Depression Work?
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States. For some, it can be debilitating and impact every facet of life. However, it is treatable, and psychotherapy can be a big part of that process.
For those with mild to moderate depression, talk therapy, as it is often called, is one of the first steps, even before medications are used. This often begins with counseling, which is slightly different than psychotherapy. Counseling generally offers insights into helping a person overcome short-term struggles. It is best for mild cases.
Psychotherapy is more focused on the long-term outcome. Instead of fixing the symptoms of mental health issues, it is focused on uncovering the underlying cause of the depression and other factors affecting your life. While it can offer short-term benefits as well, many people with more serious forms of depression need the more advanced care that psychotherapy offers.
Depression Treatment Using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
One of the most common tools for treating depression is cognitive-behavioral therapy. This evidence-based therapy provides a range of benefits, including:
- Gaining awareness of negative thoughts that often lead to poor behaviors
- Learning to recognize those thoughts as they begin to happen
- Gaining skills to change those thoughts into better or more accurate thought patterns
- Creating goal-focused strategies
- Build coping strategies for dealing with symptoms and challenges
- Better management of stress
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is just one component of psychotherapy that may help men and women to improve depression symptoms. Yet, it can be one of the best choices, especially as a tool for long-term management of this condition.
What Can Psychotherapy for Depression Do for You?
It’s likely that those who are using this type of therapy for depression will see changes happening throughout the course of care. The goal is to ultimately reduce the risk of relapse and recurrence of symptoms. To get to that point, a number of strategies may be used. That includes cognitive-behavioral therapy, but also others such as:
- Trauma therapy programs
- Biofeedback therapy programs
- Yoga therapy programs
- Equine therapy programs
- Individual therapy programs
- Group therapy programs
What does all of this mean for you in the long term? In most situations, psychotherapy works to provide strategies and education. You will learn about depression, why it is happening to you, and what the symptoms are. Then, you’ll learn methods for dealing with it. This means strategies for managing negative thoughts when you start to have them.
Keep in mind that many people find help in psychotherapy, but they may also benefit from the use of medications. If your depression is brought on by chemical imbalances in your body, for example, medications can help improve that. Additionally, if your symptoms are not managed fully with talk therapy, medications can ease some of those, too. Often, it is a combination of medication and therapy that provides the best mental health treatment.
Choose to Get the Help You Need – Call Serenity Light Recovery Now
When it comes to psychotherapy and depression, our trusted team of therapists and clinicians can offer help. Don’t put off your mental health needs any longer. Instead, reach out to Serenity Light Recovery to learn more about if our therapy programs are right for you. Call our compassionate counselors at (281) 431-6700 or connect online with us today.
As our CEO, Heather’s main calling is to stay true to the vision of the organization, which is saving lives and striving to redefine statistics by raising the standard of care with evolving treatment methods. Heather studied psychology at LSU and both the main and Clear Lake campuses of the University of Houston, and she is a certified IASIS provider and CPI instructor. She’s been helping people in recovery since 2011. Heather’s motto to live by is “I am not what I’ve done; I am what I’ve overcome.”
