How Does Counseling for Depression Work? You have felt depressed for a long time, and you are ready to fix it. You may have looked at dozens of different treatment options, only to reach one single conclusion: Depression counseling is the most effective manner of treating depression. But, … how come? How does depression counseling work? What can you expect from it? We will answer these questions and a few others you may have in this helpful guide. How depression counseling works The circumstances of your depression are unique to you. You have your own unique set of memories, experiences, traumas and emotions. All of these add to the current state of your mental health. This is why there is no exact process to help those with depression. Therapy is tailored to suit the individual’s needs. With this in mind, there are some things which you should expect from therapy that deals with depression. Firstly, you will be matched to a licensed depression therapist who has trained to be able to help you in counseling. For example, if your depression is rooted in grief from the loss of a spouse or loved one, you may be paired with a counselor who specializes in grief. If your depression is from work related stress then you may be paired with a stress management expert. Once you have started counseling, you can discuss your struggles one-one-one. Your therapist will ask questions which will provide you with insight to help you get to the root of your depression. The goal is to figure out what is causing your depression so that you can pinpoint solutions to address the causes. Depression therapy is effective for this reason, as it gets to the root of the matter. Long does therapy for depression take? This is not a simple question, as once again, every person is different. You might resolve one element of your depression in a few weeks, while another element might take several months to resolve. You might find that while you are in therapy you discover issues that you had not been aware of. A discussion during one of your therapy appointments might remind you of events from the past. These events may not have seemed traumatic when it happened, but now you are able to see that it was. These layers of discovery ultimately lead to a better quality of life. However, there is no simple way to determine how long that might take. Is therapy a cure for depression? Therapy can give you the tools to manage your depression on a daily basis. You are able to find coping strategies that suit your lifestyle, and you can gain closure from difficult moments from your past. Could you describe this as a cure for depression? Not necessarily. There isn’t a guarantee that your depression will not pop up again some time in the future. However, you can be assured that the tools which you learn in therapy are able to prepare you for personal obstacles you may experience in the future. The experience of depression people and experts that research depression suggests that depression is a treatable illness. With treatment and support, you will be able to move beyond the physical and mental effects of depression. A day at a time, you might find yourself feeling a little more hopefully, and slowly find greater enjoyment in life, even if things seem difficult. What type of therapy can I try?  Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The cognitive part helps you in developing helpful thoughts and beliefs about your life. The behavioral side of this assists you in learning healthier ways to act.  Interpersonal therapy. The focus is on improving your relationships and helping you to express your emotions in more healthy ways.  Family therapy. This can assist you and your family in better communication, helping you to navigate conflict and solve problems better  Psychodynamic therapy. Assists you in exploring unconscious emotions and motivations that affects both thoughts and actions  Art therapy: Involves using music, dance and drawing to express your emotions and to promote healing  Psycho-education. Helps you to understand different mental health ailments and ways to recover from them Summary Getting therapeutic support is perhaps more important than the type of therapy that you choose. One clinical study randomly gave participants one of three treatments: CBT, psychoanalytic therapy and psychosocial intervention. Researchers discovered that 70% of the participants from each group improved. In those who benefited from their treatment, their symptoms declined by an average of 50% over the next year.