What is the role of a therapist for depression?
A therapist plays a crucial role in the treatment of depression. A therapist can help a person with depression dive deeper into the issues that are impacting their life negatively and contributing to their depression. By providing non-judgemental listening, challenging negative ways of thinking and behaving, and providing feedback, a therapist guides the person to develop coping strategies, which gradually improves the symptoms of depression.
Is online therapy effective for depression?
Online therapy has been found to be as effective as face-to-face therapy for depression. There could be individual differences in what suits better for each person, such as face-to-face sessions being an easier mode of building the initial rapport with the therapist for those who thrive on in-person communication. However, for those who may be oversensitive to eye contact as well as other non-verbal ways of communicating, it might be easier to open up to a therapist via online mode. There can be certain advantages to online therapy as well such as – reduced anxiety of leaving the comfort of one’s home and talk to a therapist in a new setting, relief of not running into a familiar face near the therapist’s office, and ease of scheduling regular sessions according to one’s convenience.
Does a psychiatrist also do therapy for depression?
No, psychiatrists do not do therapy. They are trained in assessing, diagnosing and prescribing medications for mental health disorders such as depression. However, therapists are professionals who work to understand the person’s underlying thinking, feeling, and behaving patterns that contribute to their depression and replacing them with healthier ones. When it comes to mild to moderate depression, therapy alone is the first-line of treatment; however, for more severe cases of depression, medications along with therapy are effective.
How long does it take for therapy to work for depression?
There cannot be a time limit given as it differs for each individual how long their recovery takes. Recovery happens gradually. A therapist aims at helping the individual identify, challenge, and replace their unhealthy ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving that lie at the base of their depression with healthy ways. Each individual takes a different time for this process.
