Living with depression drains a person of their joy of living and their hope for the future. However, using CBT for depression can make the difference between white-knuckling their way through each day trying to fake a smile for others and finding true relief from your symptoms.
Renewal Oasis understands the power of using CBT for depression because our licensed staff of therapists has experience helping people with this form of treatment. We offer CBT as part of both our residential and outpatient programs to give everyone with depression a chance at finding game-changing therapy for them. We also provide options for prescription medications that can also ease the symptoms of depression.
Benefits of Using CBT for Depression
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers measurable hope for many types of mental health disorders. Quality treatment programs use CBT for depression to help people who suffer from different types of depression. CBT is a combination of cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy and was created to help people modify how they think and establish healthier thinking patterns.
A person living with depression becomes accustomed to their negative emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. However, with the help of CBT for depression, people learn to recognize their negative thought patterns and convert them to more positive ones. As a result, their new way of thinking influences their behaviors and emotions in a corresponding positive way.
Too often, people with depression try to “just cheer up” or try harder to be happy. However, attending a formal treatment program offers the benefit of giving them a solid way to begin to heal. A skilled therapist will guide the individual through their CBT and help them set and reach their goals.
CBT Techniques for Depression
Several techniques can be used during CBT for depression treatment. These include:
- Cognitive restructuring: The individual learns to identify unproductive thoughts and replace them with productive ones.
- Activity scheduling: Schedule positive tasks and reward yourself for completing them.
- Mindful meditation: Helps a person remain in the present and recognize their negative thought patterns, but not hold onto and foster them.
- Fact-checking: People with depression often make assumptions like, “I will never feel better” or “That person hates me”. Fact-checking teaches them to separate facts from opinions that form solely based on emotions, especially depressed ones.
- Roleplay: The therapist and client roleplay a situation that causes fear or sadness in the person. Consequently, this lets the individual rehearse healthy ways to navigate the challenging situation without becoming overwhelmed by emotions.
- Keeping a Journal: A journal allows a person to express themselves privately and explore past and present challenges. They develop more self-awareness and identify their trigger points more easily.
- ABC: ABC stands for identifying the “Activating” event, the person’s “Beliefs” about it, and the “Consequences of it. This helps the person break cyclical thought patterns and develop a more realistic way of reacting to things.
- Breaking Down Tasks: There’s an old saying that goes, “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer is, “One bite at a time”. In other words, sometimes one goal can seem overwhelming, and like the person will never get it all done. However, breaking an event down into small, manageable steps makes it seem more doable.
How Long Does CBT Take to Help Depression Symptoms?
How long CBT for depression lasts depends on a few influencing factors. These include how severe a person’s symptoms are and how long they have had them. Individual CBT sessions last anywhere from six to twenty sessions that take place weekly or every other week. The sessions can last from 30 to 60 minutes. Before beginning CBT, the therapist will discuss what treatment goals the person would like to set. They discuss an approximate timeline for the therapy and make any necessary adjustments as they move through the appointments.
Can it Treat Major Depressive Disorder?
CBT treats various types of depression and depressive symptoms, including major depressive disorder. It is used to treat not only major depressive disorder, but also:
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)
- Postpartum depression
- Depressive episodes that come with schizoaffective disorder
- Depressive episodes that occur with bipolar disorder
- Situational depression
Research shows that when CBT for depression is combined with prescription medications, it proves more helpful than just taking meds. In addition, the number of people who use both CBT and medications are less likely to relapse than those who only use prescription drugs.
Contact Montare Tucson to Treat Depression
Have you tried getting help for your depression but didn’t find the right therapy for you? Perhaps you know you are depressed but don’t know where to turn for help. Renewal Oasis offers a treatment program that includes using CBT for depression to help people overcome the debilitating symptoms of depression. Our therapists help people learn the power they possess and how to change the way they think and act. In turn, this elevates their moods and makes managing depression much more manageable.
Contact us for more information about our program. Our staff can answer your questions and help you get enrolled in a residential or outpatient program quickly. Let us help you or someone you love begin to enjoy life again.
