Depression can be a debilitating condition, causing those who suffer from it to feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with everyday life. Fortunately, there are many different types of evidence-based therapeutic models available that can help you overcome your Depression Disorder and improve overall mental health.
Depression affects everyone differently, so it isn’t always easy to know which treatment is right for you. That’s why it’s important to work with a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who has experience using the various types of therapy models that are indicated for the treatment of your depression. Read on to learn more about the evidence-based treatments available, how they help patients living with depression, and why it’s important to seek professional help for Mental Health Disorders.
The Importance of Professional Help
Seeking professional help for Depression Disorder is essential to returning to your normal life and developing a healthier, happier lifestyle. Licensed Clinical Psychologists have specific training, educational background, expertise, and clinical knowledge that allows them to accurately analyze, diagnose, and develop a specific treatment plan to address the underlying issues behind Depressive Disorders. This allows your Licensed Clinical Psychologist to better understand your individual triggers and be able to provide a tailored treatment plan for you.
Professional help can provide the support and guidance necessary for you to properly treat your Mental Health Disorder and achieve a balanced life. Through tailored treatment models using evidence-based therapies, you can develop a better understanding of your formal diagnosis and be able to overcome the symptoms related to your Depressive Disorder, such as mood swings, irritability, sadness, lethargy, isolation, withdrawal, loneliness, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating.
If left untreated, these and other symptoms of depression can take a serious toll on your physical health, mental well-being, relationships, and work performance. Moreover, many individuals who try to manage their Depression on their own turn to unhealthy and maladaptive coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse, alcoholism, withdrawal, isolation, or self-harm. Working with a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, on the other hand, means gaining access to the professional knowledge and valuable resources you will need to effectively deal with overwhelming emotions, understand triggers, and move forward in an adaptive, functional, and healthy manner.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of Psychotherapy that focuses on developing positive thought patterns, changing associations, targeting cognitive distortions, and making fundamental behavioral changes to properly modify maladaptive coping mechanisms and target challenging situations in your life. CBT recognizes the powerful connection between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By changing your thinking patterns and behaviors, you gain balance and control over your emotions. This, in turn, helps you overcome negative thought patterns and the harmful symptoms that stem from them.
CBT focuses on disrupting unhelpful thought patterns by retraining patient’s thoughts and modifying them through neuroplasticity. By targeting the chronic patterns of negative thoughts, emotions, and behavioral patterns behind the symptoms of depression, CBT provides sustainable and tangible results over time, making it a highly effective form of therapeutic intervention for those struggling with Depression and other Mood Disorders.
Interpersonal Treatment (IPT)
Interpersonal Treatment (IPT) operates based on an understanding that maladaptive patterns of communication strengthen negative feelings of low self-worth or inadequacy, which exacerbate Depressive Disorders and their symptoms. As such, this type of therapy centers around modifying relationship patterns and altering communication styles to help individuals identify, express, and manage their emotions differently. By confronting and improving interpersonal relationships, individuals reshape the chronic thoughts, internal working model, maladaptive beliefs, or dysfunctional behavioral patterns that strengthen feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and sadness associated with depression.
With this approach, Licensed Clinical Psychologists guide clients through daily activities, analyzing past conflicts, traumas, and determining how to handle future situations differently. This helps patients create a variety of communication patterns while modifying unhelpful behaviors such as emotionally distancing themselves from others or becoming withdrawn and isolated in social situations. As a result, Interpersonal Treatment allows patients to develop adaptive forms of thinking, feeling, and relating to others, leading them to develop healthier boundaries, adaptive lifestyles, and fulfilling relationships.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an instrumental form of evidence-based therapy model that allows Licensed Clinical Psychologists to treat depression issues. Its main purpose is to help alleviate negative and destructive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors by introducing patients to the main psychological techniques: mindfulness, emotion regulation, modulating affect, mentalization techniques, social causality, interpersonal effectiveness, low frustration tolerance, and distress tolerance.
DBT has been proven essential for helping clients effectively modify and eventually overcome the intense emotions associated with Mood Disorders like Depression. Licensed Clinical Psychologists who use DBT alongside other evidence-based therapies employ techniques that eliminate destructive behaviors and help clients gain control over their feelings, mind, and thought patterns. This teaches clients more adaptive and positive strategies to overcome life’s challenges.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy is another type of therapy that is effective for treating depression and can be an invaluable tool for individuals struggling with this Mental Health Disorder. This approach to treatment works on the belief that unresolved issues from childhood will contribute to dysfunctional behavioral patterns and psychological problems in adulthood, including Depressive Disorders and other comorbid mental illnesses or addiction issues. Through Psychodynamic Therapy, individuals become aware of these subconscious patterns and how they contribute to their present obstacles and dysfunctional choices.
Through the professional interventions and formal guidance of a skilled Licensed Clinical Psychologist using Psychodynamic Therapy, individuals can identify which aspects of their lives and behavioral patterns contribute to their depression. This helps them develop a concrete plan on how to modify negative behaviors into constructive ones. When used in conjunction with other evidence-based treatment models, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Treatment, Psychodynamic Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and other indicated therapeutic models as deemed appropriate by your treatment provider, these models have the potential to provide lasting results and significantly improve overall well-being for people struggling from depression.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of psychological intervention rooted in behaviorism and mindfulness. ACT teaches individuals to look at their fundamental values, life principles, and how they can choose to alter difficult thoughts, emotions, and internal sensations while engaging in adaptive activities. As a result, this approach provides invaluable guidance when it comes to combatting Depressive Disorders and other Mood Disorders.
ACT utilizes mindfulness practices, values clarification, and behavioral skills training to promote psychological and cognitive flexibility. Through ACT, Licensed Clinical Psychologists teach clients to accept emotional discomfort and feelings of uncertainty instead of avoiding or running away from a pattern of paralyzing or overwhelming feelings. Focusing on acceptance instead of avoidance or attempting to change distressing experiences teaches clients to develop a functional sense of control over their challenging feelings or negative thought patterns and engage in adaptive actions that are consistent with their personal values and fundamental principles.
Find the Help You Need at Blair Wellness Group
At Blair Wellness Group, we know that effective treatment comes from individualized plans that incorporate a variety of evidence-based therapies. When you need Depression Therapy in the Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Century City, Brentwood, Westwood, Irvine, Newport Beach, Orange County, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Corona Del Mar, Dana Point, Mission Viejo, and Aliso Viejo areas, reach out to Blair Wellness Group. Contact our team and start your journey to better mental, physical, and emotional help today.
