Depression is one of the most common reasons that cause people to seek psychotherapy.

Cognitive-behavior therapy has been found in controlled studies to be an effective form of treatment

for depression--in fact, it appears to be as effective as antidepressant medications. Cognitive-behavior

therapy for depression focuses on the clinical observation that depressed mood often seems to result

from negative patterns of thinking and behaving. For example, depressed people often have thoughts

like, "I'm a failure," "I can't do anything right," "I'll never accomplish my goals," "No one cares about

me," "I'll be alone forever," or similar. These thoughts can feel powerful and compelling, but usually do

not tell a balanced, reasonable story. In cognitive-behavior therapy, patient and therapist work together

to determine what types of negative thinking are problematic for the depressed patient, and what types

of coping or balanced thoughts can be used to provide a better perspective, to lift the depressed person's

mood, and help him or her function better. The therapy also often focuses on helping the depressed

person increase his or her activity level or find more gratifying, pleasurable activities.

In therapy sessions, the therapist takes an active approach to teaching here-and-now coping strategies to

help patients understand and change cognitions and behaviors that contribute to depressed mood. This is

an active, problem-solving to therapy. Practicing new skills outside of sessions is a central part of

treatment.

A key goal of cognitive-behavior therapy is to provide you with tools that you can use to work

on your depressive symptoms and to prevent future episodes. Treatment can be done in individual

or group or couples format.

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