Depression therapy London Therapy for Depression: How a Psychologist Can Help with Treatment

Depression therapy is extremely important, however, there are still many people who end up running away from this form of treatment.

Much of this is related not only to the taboo about the disease itself, but also about therapeutic treatment.

After all, it is not common for people to feel judged and ashamed when saying that they are in therapy or that they have depression, either by their family, friends or co-workers.

That is why it is so important to talk about psychotherapy for depression, so that people can understand how this treatment is essential for the disease and how it can help the patient to have quality of life .

If you have depression or haven’t been diagnosed with the disease yet, but realize you’re suffering from symptoms of it, nothing better than seeking help from a psychologist .

This professional will assess your situation and use the best approach and techniques for your needs.

Therefore, be sure to follow this complete text until the end, because here you will be able to learn more about what depression is, how a psychologist can help in the treatment of the disease and the types of therapy indicated.

In addition, you will still know some essential tips to help fight depression and you will be able to understand more about online therapy. If you are seeking the depression therapy in London then city psychology group is the best service provider. 

What is depression?

Knowledge about what depression is is extremely important so that a person can understand when it is time to seek professional help.

Most people have heard about the disease but know very little about it, which is a huge problem.

Depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is an illness or affective disorder that has a huge negative impact on a person’s feelings, thoughts and actions.

The hallmark of depression, without a doubt, is the long-lasting intense sadness it causes, which tends to be confusing for many people.

This is because there are people who, after feeling sad for a day or two, believe they are depressed, which is not true.

Currently, more than 350 million people worldwide have some form of depression, which is a very worrying number.

These numbers mean that up to 5% of the entire general population suffers from this disease, which shows the extent of it in society as a whole and the need to treat it properly.

Depression generates many feelings such as sadness or loss of interest in activities that were previously pleasurable, in addition to leading to a large number of emotional and physical problems.

A person with depression tends to have difficulty carrying out even the simplest activities at home or at work.

There are several causes for triggering depression, such as postpartum depression .

Symptoms of depression vary greatly from mild to more severe or intense, and they can include:

• Loss of pleasure or interest in activities that were previously pleasurable
• Excessive sadness or a depressed mood
• Sleep disorders, such as insomnia or oversleeping
• Changes in appetite, which may lead to weight gain or loss, not directly related to diet
• excessive fatigue
• energy loss
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Low self-esteem
• guilt feelings
• Difficulty making decisions, concentrating or thinking

Remembering that these symptoms must persist for at least two weeks to be considered a diagnosis of depression.

How can psychotherapy for depression help?

Psychotherapy for depression is extremely important for any patient, which is why it is so indicated by professionals for people who suffer from this disease.

Depression causes changes in a person’s mood and even affects their way of being, causing various symptoms, such as loss of interest, the feeling of emptiness and constant sadness.

As mentioned earlier, this disease ends up affecting even the simplest activities that are carried out on a daily basis, causing damage to a person’s personal and professional life.

Contrary to what many still think out there, depression is not a momentary weakness or sadness, it is something very serious and requires professional help to overcome it.

Treatment for depression with psychotherapy will have the following benefits in the fight against the disease:

• Identifying triggers that may have contributed and are making the person feel depressed. The therapy aims, precisely, to help the person find ways to change these triggers, accept or even adapt to different situations.
• The reframing of beliefs, which means recognizing distorted thoughts or even harmful behaviors that are generating feelings of sadness, helplessness and hopelessness that arise in depression
• Regaining your self-control, which will bring greater pleasure in living
• Setting goals that bring motivation, always keeping them realistic, whether medium or long term
• The development of skills so that it is possible to deal with the most diverse symptoms of depression, also helping to identify possible future episodes of the disease

It is the psychologist’s role to help the patient describe and understand all the emotional processes that arise in everyday events.

This is important because the person with depression may have a greater understanding of how their emotions happen and what patterns they have regarding their feelings and actions.

The patient will be able to learn, throughout the process of psychotherapy for depression, to look at those events in his life in a different way, managing to find more practical solutions.

Psychotherapy can be used as the only form of treatment for depression in milder cases, being enough to help the patient to get rid of this disease.

On the other hand, in the case of moderate and severe cases of depression, treatment with psychotherapy is usually done together with the use of antidepressant medication.

One of the most common approaches to therapy for depression is cognitive behavioral therapy, and it is one of the most effective.

This is because it focuses on the present moment and on the search for problem solving, helping the patient to recognize distorted thoughts and, subsequently, be able to modify their thoughts and behaviors.

Although, in most people, therapy for depression only involves the patient, it is possible to include other people when necessary.

It is the case of bringing family members to a session, for example, allowing the psychologist to better understand the patient’s situation from another perspective.

The duration of treatment for depression will vary greatly according to each patient, so while some people will spend a few weeks in therapy, others may need months or years.

Depression improvements can be observed after 10 to 15 sessions, when the patient already notices changes in his feelings and thoughts.

What is the best type of therapy for depression?

There are several types of therapy or therapeutic approaches that can be used by a clinical psychologist, but not all of them help in the treatment of depression.

But the ideal type of therapy – and the one most indicated by specialized professionals – to help with the treatment of this disease is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It is a type of therapeutic approach considered brief and with a direct focus on the patient’s problem.

It is very important to know it, because the patient will be able to arrive at the therapist’s office with greater familiarity.

It helps the patient to improve his relationships with other people, being able to express his emotions better and solving his problems in a healthier way.

Therapeutic treatment through CBT focuses on working on the individual’s adaptation to events that have a greater potential to trigger or even aggravate the depressive condition.

In addition, it is still possible to develop the most different social skills, build a support network and better face the symptoms of depression through this type of therapy.

This type of therapy helps people achieve greater self-control, better identify and deal with negative thoughts and behaviors that can trigger or exacerbate depression.

The psychologist’s goal is to help the patient realize what are their beliefs and behaviors that can lead to depression, and transform them, so that the patient can interact positively with other people.

How can a psychologist help in the treatment of depression?

A common doubt that people have about therapy for depression is how the psychologist can help with this treatment.

The psychologist’s job is to help the patient to find ways to feel better, through guidelines for him to find alternatives that ease the feelings of pain, pessimism or sadness.

There is no denying that follow-up with a psychologist in consultations does help in solving the patient’s problem, but it is important to know that this process requires time, patience and a lot of determination.

Studies in the area of ​​Psychology show that there is a tendency in the thoughts of people who suffer from depression that can contribute to the disease remaining.

These tendencies are related to negative thoughts about oneself, about the environment in which the person lives and about one’s own future. The patient with depression then starts to always see all situations in a negative way.

This is why treatment with a psychologist is so important and, even more so, with the right type of therapy, so that it is possible to correct those negative thoughts of the depressed person.

Simultaneously, the psychologist must work to stimulate certain attitudes that combat these negative ideas and thoughts, allowing the patient to overcome the disease.

Thus, with all this, it is very clear that the role of the psychologist in the treatment of depression is focused on helping the patient to get in touch with his deepest anxieties, so that he learns to deal with all of them.

4 Tips to get rid of depression

Did you know that there are many ways you can get rid of depression?

It is important to make it clear that they are more effective when they are put into practice together, so be careful not to focus only on one and believe that the others are unimportant.

Here are the top tips:

do psychotherapy

The first tip on how to fight depression is through psychotherapy, being possible – and the most indicated – cognitive behavioral therapy.

This is a very important tip, since depression is a disease that is directly related to psychological suffering resulting from anguish and melancholy.

Professional follow-up with a therapist is essential so that it is possible to combat this disease, both through speech and other techniques and approaches.

Without the support of a specialized psychologist, it will be much more difficult to overcome depression, there is no doubt about that.

Practice meditation and mindfulness

Meditation is a practice that, with each passing year, stands out more as a way to reduce anxiety, manage stress, reduce insomnia and increase focus and memory.

In addition to all that, she still helps in the fight against depression, so this is a golden tip for you to put into practice.

Research in the area has already shown that meditation, through mindfulness or full attention, has great success in helping to fight depression, even more so when associated with therapy.

practice physical activities

The practice of physical activities is another tip that can help a lot in the fight against depression, mainly due to the fact that one of the most common symptoms of this disease is precisely the loss of energy.

Doing some physical activity that you enjoy can help a lot to reduce sedentary lifestyle and reduce your suffering, having a very positive impact on improving self-esteem and even impacting social reintegration in people who end up isolating themselves.

One tip is that you look for an exercise that is collective, as it is through it that you will have contact with other people – but if you prefer an individual sport, such as running or cycling, this is also a great step.

Practicing physical activities will help to increase the production of endorphin and dopamine, hormones of well-being and happiness, directly helping to fight depression more effectively.

improve your sleep

Many people do not pay attention to this, but sleep and mood are interconnected and it can be said that they go hand in hand. So, improving your sleep hygiene is a very important practice against depression.

Sleeping badly every night could end up influencing your mood and, in the medium and long term, could exacerbate the depressive condition.

With good sleep hygiene, you will not only be able to sleep more, but you will also have a higher quality of that sleep, which is extremely important.

One tip is to always turn off your electronic equipment one hour before going to bed, and use your bed only to sleep, avoiding working in it, as this should be a place for relaxation only.

online depression therapy

And did you know that it is possible to do psychotherapy for depression through the internet? Online therapy is a modality of therapy that has grown a lot.

There are still many people who do not know or are suspicious of online therapy, but you need to know that it is just as effective as traditional therapy, that is, the one that is done in person.

Anyone (children, teenagers, adults or seniors) can be assisted through online psychotherapy, which is great news for everyone.

This type of therapy allows you, for example, to schedule your therapy session at an alternative time, if it is not possible to go to the psychologist’s office during business hours.

This makes it much easier and more comfortable for you to have the flexibility to make an appointment on the day and time you want, making it possible to do it directly from your home.

The duration of each online therapy session is around 45 minutes and it is more accessible than in the case of face-to-face therapy, mainly because it has a huge cost reduction due to displacement, for example.

If you are interested in doing online psychotherapy, then Psicotér can help you!

You will be able to take care of your mind through online depression therapy within your time and in your environment, counting on a great specialized professional.

The initial evaluation is the time to talk about how the therapy works, to clarify any doubts with the professional and to start an evaluation of the case so that the psychologist can develop an individualized treatment plan.