Depression is a severe mental health condition that can cause a total disruption of a person’s life. If you or someone you love is struggling with depression, you might ask, “how does therapy help in the treatment of depression,” “does therapy help depression without medication,” or “will therapy help depression if I only go to group sessions”?
At our mental health retreat in Pennsylvania, we put the needs of the individual first. Water Gap Wellness Center offers many forms of depression treatment and can help you start therapy today.
What Methods of Therapy Are Used to Treat Depression?
Depression looks different for everyone. People struggling with major depressive disorder might need medication in addition to therapy. There are multiple methods of therapy used to treat depression, including those under the category of psychotherapy and holistic treatments.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is one of the primary forms of treatment for depression. It is a form of talk therapy where you get a chance to explore the underlying reasons for your symptoms and develop coping skills.
With talk therapy, you can sit in a room with a trained psychotherapist. They can help you resolve personal issues, create positive changes in your life, and recover from depressive symptoms.
There are group versions of psychotherapy where you can come together and participate in a joint discussion facilitated by the group mediator.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
A meta-analysis of over 115 studies demonstrated that cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment strategy for depression. That same study found that CBT when combined with medication, is significantly more effective than medication alone. Evidence also suggests that the relapse rate is lower in patients treated with cognitive behavioral therapy than in those treated with medication.
Research indicates that cognitive behavioral therapy with a focus on positive emotions can effectively counter depressive symptoms.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Studies indicate that dialectical behavioral therapy is another primary method used to treat depression with success. This is an offshoot of cognitive behavioral therapy, but it focuses more on practicing validation to come to terms with your negative emotions, cope with regular stress, and even improve your relationships.
A central tenant of dialectical behavioral therapy incorporates mindfulness practices so that you can be mindful of your emotional state during difficult situations.
Holistic Therapy
Holistic therapy can cover a wide range of treatment options:
- Mindfulness
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- And more
These holistic therapy treatments complement things like cognitive behavioral therapy or group and individual psychotherapy by giving you similar skills that help you focus on the present, apply coping strategies to symptoms of depression as they arise, and identify ways that you can improve your emotional capacity.
How Does Therapy Help in the Treatment of Depression?
Many other branches of therapy can help with the treatment of depression. What’s more, there are multiple approaches to therapy.
Individual
Individual therapy can help you uncover underlying factors that might contribute to your depression, like unresolved trauma. Individual therapy involves one-on-one work with a trained therapist. The therapist gives you their full attention, observes you individually, and has an opportunity to develop an ongoing relationship built on trust and communication.
Group
Group therapy sessions can involve anywhere from three people to 15 people. These sessions can build off skills acquired in individual therapy by giving everyone a chance to support and receive support from one another. Therapists get a chance to observe how you react in a group setting with other people. This information may be useful in your individual applications.
Family
Family therapy can be particularly helpful in treating depression among adolescents. In some situations, depression can be hereditary, and working on the dynamics and relationships within the family unit can help resolve communication or behavioral issues that might impede your recovery and positive mental health.
Couples
Similarly, couples therapy can help those in committed relationships or marriages improve their functioning as a couple while also getting the necessary mental health treatment.
How to Find Therapy For Depression near New York
Many people suffering from depression can benefit from our New Jersey area outpatient mental health services. With Water Gap Wellness Center, we can help you find therapy for depression near New York. All our staff members are highly qualified, with credentials applicable to their therapeutic fields.
Therapy for depression needs to be safe and supportive no matter what therapy you choose. That is why we help you create a personalized mental health treatment plan with therapists who make you feel at ease.
When you reach out to our team, we can help you determine what your insurance provider covers mental health services and what out-of-pocket expenses might remain.
If you are ready for help, Water Gap Wellness Center is here.
