Types of treatment

Psychological treatments used by psychologists and psychiatrists may not only help a person to recover, but can also help to prevent a recurrence of depression.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

One of the most effective psychological treatments is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). CBT is a structured program which recognises that the way people think affects the way they feel. CBT teaches people to think rationally about common difficulties, helping a person to change their thought patterns and the way they react to certain situations.

When people are depressed, they may think negatively about:

• themselves e.g. "I'm a failure.", "No one loves me."
• the world e.g. "There is nothing good out there."
• the future e.g. "Things will never improve!".

Negative thinking interferes with recovery and makes the person more vulnerable to depression in the future. It is important to recognise unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more realistic thoughts.

As well as helping people manage negative thoughts, CBT also involves looking at behaviour. This includes helping people find new ways of going about their everyday life. This can include the way a person may react to certain people or situations and/or how a person might plan their day.

Learning these techniques can help recovery and prevent relapse. For more information on CBT see beyondblue Fact Sheet 5 - Why use psychological treatment and medications.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

People with depression may sometimes be easily upset by other people's comments. They may feel criticised when no criticism was intended. IPT helps people find new ways to get along with others. 

Family Therapy

Family and close friends of a depressed person need to know more about the illness because their support and understanding is very important. Family Therapy helps family members and close friends learn about depression. It helps people find new ways to support and get along with the family member or friend who has depression.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy

This form of therapy is usually long term and looks at how past experiences affect people. It focuses on the way childhood and earlier life experiences affect how the person thinks and acts now. It has been found to be particularly helpful in treatment and management of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and phobias, particularly those first experienced in childhood.

Where to get treatment

Psychologists

Psychologists are health professionals who provide psychological therapies and treatments. These are generally known as 'Talking Therapies'. Psychologists (including clinical psychologists) are not doctors and cannot prescribe medication in Australia. More information is available on our links page.  

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are doctors who specialise in mental health. They can make medical and psychological assessments, conduct medical tests and prescribe medication. Some psychiatrists use psychological treatments like CBT, IPT and/or prescribe medication.

When is a psychiatrist or psychologist needed?

A doctor may suggest the person sees a specialist if:

• the depression is severe 
• the depression is chronic 
• the depression is associated with a high risk of self-harm 
• the depression has failed to respond to treatment 
• the doctor feels the person requires more specialised expertise to be treated effectively.

More Information

For more information on self-guided psychological treatments visit the e-health section of our links page.