When you have depression, the world can be a dark place. And it's easy to develop negative thoughts and behaviour, continuing the cycle of depression. That's why Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is seen to be such an effective treatment for depression, as it focuses on changing dysfunctional thinking into positive patterns of thought.
What is CBT?
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy assumes that our moods are directly linked to our thought patterns. If we feel down and have a bad opinion of ourselves, this can affect our moods, behaviour, health and physicality. CBT works by helping you recognise your thought patterns, assess whether they are valid and then swap them out for healthier, more positive thinking.
Why CBT for Depression?
Depression affects how we feel about ourselves. This behaviour pattern is known as dysfunctional thinking. It can be a tricky pattern to change, since depression predisposes the person to feeling and thinking negatively. The CBT theory is that when we change our behaviour and thoughts, we boost our mood which then helps treat depression.
CBT works by using cognitive restructuring. This involves the therapist and patient working to change thoughts and act on new behaviour. The patient learns how to overcome challenges and re-join social and other activities. It's all about the now: changing the way we think and feel in the moment and taking steps to improve it.
CBT also centres around specific issues and is very goal-oriented. You may be asked to create a goal for the CBT session and also set some long term goals. Throughout this process, the therapist will help you understand and assess your negative thoughts, understand how they affect your mood and learn how to cope with tricky situations.
It's certainly a positive experience, as you'll play a significant role in your own healing. Homework will most likely be given, so you can apply what you discussed in the session out in the world. Bit by bit, you may find your depression easing and feel more positive about what lies ahead.
To find out more, talk to a CBT practitioner near you. Or you can also try online CBT.
Originally published on Dec 06, 2013
