Depression is a condition that affects people in different ways, which means it requires a tailored approach when it comes to treatment.
Therapy is commonly used to aid the recovery of someone experiencing depression. As a result, the goal of a therapist is to foster an environment of healing by creating a safe space. However, therapists need to remain diligent in addressing the challenges that come with this responsibility.
How many people suffer from depression in the UK?
Depression is one of the biggest mental health challenges suffered in the UK today. Statistics show that one in six people aged 16 or above has experienced symptoms of a common mental health problem, such as depression or anxiety.
Reports suggest that there is also a link between recent cases of depression and the cost-of-living crisis. For example, around 24% of those who reported difficulty paying their energy bills experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms, which is nearly three times higher than those who found it easy to pay their energy bills.
Regardless of the cause of depression, therapists can help patients in several ways.
Building a therapeutic alliance
Much of a therapist’s role involves being an ally to a patient and ensuring they feel heard. This is the first step in effective treatment. After building trust over time, patients will be more willing to open up and get to the root of the issue. Every session represents a stepping stone – and the more comfortable a patient feels around their therapist, the more they’ll benefit.
Cognitive behavioural therapy techniques
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) revolves around patients identifying and managing certain habits that might contribute to their depression. Examples might include addressing negative thoughts or reframing a particular issue to help someone move past it.
Other examples of these techniques might include:
- Exposure therapy
- Guided discovery
- Roleplaying
- Journalling
- Techniques to reduce stress
Incorporating mindfulness and relaxation
It is believed that practising mindfulness can help people manage symptoms of depression. When done consistently, it can act as a natural healer for reducing negative thoughts, maintaining self-care and refocusing your sense of self. Acts of mindfulness that can be practised outside the therapy room include meditation, journalling and creating gratitude lists.
Consider professional protection
As reckoning with depression can be emotionally volatile, it’s worth preparing for the possibility of an unpleasant fallout so, as a therapist, you should set strategies to protect your professional activity against civil claims. You might consider taking out counsellor’s insurance for peace of mind in the case that someone makes a claim against you. Claims can stem from a client saying they received bad advice or that their treatment was prolonged unnecessarily. Many therapists choose to take out insurance to help protect their professional integrity.
Support systems and community resources
An important part of a therapist’s role is to ensure that patients have a good support network during and after therapy. Otherwise, there could be risks of people falling back into similar routines that lead to their depression in the first place. A good support network, whether this represents family, friends or an organised local group, will help patients find a healthy outlet to express any troubles they may be experiencing. While the therapist plays a crucial role in someone’s recovery, it’s equally important to encourage patients to leverage support elsewhere too.
