Therapy for Depression

Depression can drain your life of pleasure and drain you of energy. It can fill your mind with repetitive worries. Or, it might empty your mind so much that functioning becomes a problem.

If you feel depressed or have a diagnosis of a depressive disorder, psychotherapy with a TPG therapist can help. Depression is treatable! Psychotherapy is an effective way to manage depression and self-criticising feelings.

What Is Depression?

Depression is not just extreme sadness; it affects thoughts, a range of emotions, and the body. Activities that are part of daily life—eating, sleeping, handling tasks related to work or school or family—can feel difficult or even impossible. Self-esteem can erode. Depression and anxiety can often coexist.

How Do Psychotherapists Treat Depression?

A therapist can help you identify, express, and work through your feelings of hopelessness and despair. They will help you word your personal experience of depression. That is the first step in helping you better understand your pain and unmet needs. Further work often involves developing skills and strategies to meet those needs. At the deepest level, therapy supports your developing a different and a more affirming perspective on yourself.

Seeing a psychotherapist for help with depression is likely to involve:

• Identifying your depressive symptoms
• Exploring the origins of your depression and depressive triggers
• Processing emotions or past experiences that are contributing to depressive states
• Exploring your relationship patterns (loss, abuse, and/or misunderstanding)
• Finding your strengths to contain and manage thoughts and emotions

Is it Better to Treat Depression with Psychotherapy or Medication?

Whether you see depression as physiologically based or not, managing it always involves addressing negative thoughts, feelings, and your emotional response. Talk therapy and medication don’t conflict. Many feel they work better together. Why? Because medication may stabilize your mood enough to allow you to more fully engage in therapy.

Note that psychotherapists cannot provide a medical diagnosis for depression. An assessment by your physician is useful.

Further Reading

A powerful piece on the capacity of depression to alter your consciousness, orientation, and perspective.