Several types of psychotherapy—or “talk therapy”— have been shown to help people with depression.
Two main types of psychotherapies—cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT)—are effective in treating depression. CBT helps people with depression restructure negative thought patterns. This helps people interpret their environment and interactions with others in a more positive and realistic way. It may also help a person recognize things that may be contributing to their depression and help them change behaviors that may be making their depression worse. IPT helps people understand and work through troubled relationships that may trigger depression or make it worse.
For mild to moderate depression, psychotherapy may be the best option, especially if it appears to be triggered by a life-event (such as the loss of a loved one, job change or change in health). However, for severe depression or for certain people, psychotherapy may not be enough.
Psychotherapy can be especially beneficial once a person’s neurotransmitter levels have been rebalanced, as they are then often in a position to take an objective look at their life. In addition, research has shown that continued psychotherapy is also effective at reducing the chances of depression recurring in the future.
