Types of Psychotherapy for Depression

Consider the "Talking Cure"

-- By Dean Anderson, Behavioral Psychology Expert

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What may be most important, however, is that you find a therapist you feel you can trust enough to be open and honest when you’re talking about what’s going on. It may take a few sessions to build up that trust, and you may even have to shop around a little before settling on someone to work with. But you probably won’t get much out of the experience if you feel like you have to hide what’s really going on to please your therapist. In fact, keeping your thoughts and feelings to yourself can worsen your depression, especially if you do so because you feel ashamed of having them, or like you ought to be able to handle things yourself. It’s important to realize that your depression is an illness, not a weakness, and that you can’t just “snap out of it.” You need to talk your way through it in order to see exactly how it is affecting you, and discover the best ways to reduce its effects on you.

Types of Therapy
The different types of therapy primarily reflect differences in the techniques and tools your therapist will be most likely to utilize. Although some therapists strictly stick to the toolbox their particular school of therapy is most familiar with, many therapists these days are able and willing to use the tools provided by several therapeutic approaches, so you shouldn’t necessarily assume that you have to pick one approach or another. The more you know about all the proven techniques and approaches, the better you and your therapist will be able to work together to find the approaches that will help you address the particular issues you need to work on. Three of the most common and effective psychotherapies for depression include cognitive/behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.

Cognitive/Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Technically, “cognitive” and “behavioral” therapies are two distinct kinds of therapy. But in practice, the two are most often joined together, because research has shown that this combination is more effective for treating depression than either approach by itself. The basic idea behind CBT is that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected together by two-way streets. Therefore, if you make a change in one area (how you think, for example), it will lead to changes in both of the others (how you feel and behave). It is a "here and now" approach—it doesn’t really matter which problem came first, or where it came from originally.
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About The Author

Dean Anderson
Dean Anderson has master's degrees in human services (behavioral psychology/stress management) and liberal studies. His interest in healthy living began at the age of 50 when he confronted his own morbid obesity and health issues. He joined SparkPeople and lost 150 pounds and regained his health. Dean has earned a personal training certification from ACE and received training as a lifestyle and weight management consultant. See all of Dean's articles.

Member Comments

DIVAFASH

Thanks for explaining the different yet complex forms of psychotherapy.

I was never presented with these types of explanations on each. I have seen at least 3 people; and most recently decided to stop seeing the last person but felt bad that I was not going to see her anymore...more because I feel that I was back to point A with my depression, however, after reading your article, I can resonate more with the two types I know will do me good! I know now that I will be looking for help and seeing the qualifications/ex
perience to feel better of the type of therapy I will have! Big ah-ha moment for me!

I will meet with my health care provider before the end of the month...looking forward to to this visit, my doctor, and will bring up my concerns with depression and treatment I have had in the past. This article couldn't have come to at a better time than now!

I have more confidence to ask questions at this visit soon. There is something more that can be done by me with the right therapy; not just taking a drug to treat depression! That is powerful to know and there is quite some work ahead for me to do, but I am excited to know more of my options; this is also liberating.

Thank you again!

*** Blessings to all who have written a comment on this article as well! Your comments encouraged me to leave a comment *** - 2/13/2013 10:28:06 PM
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DIGOPHELIADUG

Great article! I wanted to comment to let folks know that CBT has worked amazingly well for me, even though my depression is severe and has been recurring over a long period of time. I was able to work my way out of my most recent depressive episode with the help of my therapist, and am optimistic that I am better-equipped to deal with episodes in the future. I agree that trust and feeling comfortable with your therapist are absolutely key. - 7/20/2012 6:15:00 PM
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AZTLAN777

Lil pinguino, I sent you an email. - 1/30/2011 5:49:44 AM
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LIL_PENGUINO

if i dont have insurance, are there places that offer free counseling? - 3/28/2010 3:37:34 PM
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JWELL2011

I have to say...this article was excellent. I usually find this expert's articles enlightening and this one was exceptionally so. I have had bouts of mild-moderate depression for several years and now realize that they are often triggered by specific events-like catastrophic relationships. His descriptions of the different types of therapy were fascinating and have triggered my interest in perhaps returning to a counselor. - 1/9/2010 11:24:18 AM
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ENGINEERMOM

This was a very helpful article for me. A few months ago, I decided to go see a therapist because I knew I was suffering from post-partum depression, and it was starting to take a toll on my mental health, patience with my son, and patience with my husband. I have good relationships with my parents, siblings, in-laws, husband, and friends, so what I was looking for was a set of tools to use to control the suicidal/irration
al thoughts.

I realize now that I went in thinking I would be getting CBT. The therapist I was seeing was a family and marriage counselor, so she must have been trained in IPT. So the reason I wasn't getting much out of the sessions was that she was trying to get at some sort of messed up important personal relationship, and I was looking for those tools. No wonder something didn't feel quite right! I left after about 8 sessions.

Now I know to look for a CBT therapist if I end up needing one in the future. - 7/27/2009 3:03:13 PM
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KEN2009

Very Interesting article. I just completed a brief program that hit on all of these topics. - 6/14/2009 8:40:14 PM
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SHERI1969

This is very true and I wish everybody on this site would read this article; especially the people who don't think their emotions are within their control. I used to think that way but years of therapy and medication have helped. I'm not cured, but I'm at a decent level. Great article! - 1/20/2009 11:41:14 PM
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JIBBIE49

Great article. I like Dr. Phil's method "You are fat because you want to be." WOW, when he said that I thought he was crazy, but as I listened, I had to admit that it did have a "pay-off" and was serving a purpose in my life and that I first had to acknowledge the problem before I could change it. Just wasn't until I found SPARKPEOPLE that I had the tools to make it all work. - 3/30/2008 1:24:41 PM
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TRAVELYNN93

Treatments that target behavior, in my experience are the most effective. Especially if they are used in conjunction with medication. I believe my medication is what allows me to modify my own behavior.
Lynn - 2/11/2008 10:51:53 AM
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GAZELLA

Thanks, Coach Dean, for explaining the complexity of psychotherapy with such depth and clarity! - 1/13/2008 9:35:53 AM
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