Experiencing depression can be a debilitating process that can go either untreated or improperly treated. Many people who experience depression leverage the help of a medical professional, who subsequently wind up prescribing them an antidepressant. While antidepressants can help those suffering from depression, treating the ailment sometimes requires a more targeted and focused strategy that stems beyond solely medication. 

 

In this article, we’ll explore the highly beneficial practice of cognitive behavioral therapy. Specifically, as a way to combat feelings of depression. 

 

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? 

As a form of psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy modifies cyclical thought patterns in order to positively alter someone’s mood or behavior. This type of psychotherapy is based on the idea that negative actions or feelings are the result of current feelings, thoughts, and experiences – not any repressed memories from the past.

 

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a blend between cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy. It combines a therapeutic approach that focuses on emotional state and thoughts, as well as actions and behaviors. A cognitive behavioral therapist will work with you in order to specifically identify any negative thought patterns or behavioral responses to situations that can be challenging or stressful. 

 

A cognitive behavioral therapist will develop a treatment that finds constructive and balanced ways to respond to major stressors in order to help minimize or eliminate the troubling behavior. 

 

How Does CBT Help Overcome Depression?

It’s important to remember that cognitive behavioral therapy is a short-term approach to overcoming depression as opposed to psychoanalysis or psychodynamic therapies. These areas of therapy will require work over an extended period of time in order to help patients overcome hardships. However, cognitive behavioral therapy could require anywhere in between ten and twenty sessions.

 

These sessions will give the patient the opportunity to identify any current life situations that may be triggering feelings of depression. As these situations are identified, it’ll help the therapist in finding the patterns of someone’s thinking that are leading to depression. 

 

How is this different from psychoanalysis? Psychoanalysis works by going backward throughout someone’s life to identify moments that could be contributing to depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy, on the other hand, looks to identify current situations that are causing the onset of depression in order to overcome those thoughts and feelings. 

 

In addition, practices that are included in cognitive behavioral therapy that may be used to combat depression are:

 

• Learning how to control the thoughts and reactions that are contributing to depression
• Learning how to accurately assess situations and how to react to them
• Practicing positive self-talk

 

Cognitive behavioral therapy is not just for those who are experiencing depression. If you are feeling anxiety, any specific phobias, sleep disorders, substance abuse and more, then you can get involved in cognitive behavioral therapy. 

 

For more information on cognitive behavioral therapy and how it can help combat your depression, My Winnipeg Therapist is an expert in helping reduce and eliminate depression. Depression can be overwhelming and feel as if nothing will ever stop it, but with My Winnipeg Therapist, we understand the steps that need to be taken to help our patients live a life free from depression. Contact us now for information on our comprehensive and professional therapists.