Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a form of psychological treatment that comes in various forms. The best scientifically supported method for the treatment of depression is cognitive therapy. It deals with the way that people think. Psychotherapy is based on an equal cooperation between the patient and the therapist. If you are depressed, you know a lot about how it feels to be depressed. The therapist on the other hand knows a lot about the course of people's reactions and how changes can happen. In the Philippines, psychotherapists specialize in the following areas:

• cognitive behavioural psychotherapy
• psychodynamic psychotherapy
• interpersonal psychotherapy
• existential humanistic psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioural psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioural psychotherapy's goal is to:

• create a good alliance between you and your therapist
• make a thorough assessment of your problems
• find realistic goals for your treatment
• change your behaviours that contribute to depression
• change your thoughts that contribute to depression
• change your feelings that contribute to depression
• help you achieve the necessary changes

If you are suffering from depression, the therapist will teach you to:

• use methods that will reduce anxiety
• use methods that will increase your activity and lift your mood
• build up your social skills
• build up your self-esteem
• regulate your feelings
• solve problems

There are different methods which correspond to different mental problems and conditions. It depends on the individual how much therapy is needed. An average course of therapy is about 12-20 sessions if you are suffering from moderate depression. Read more about cognitive therapy in depression.

Psychodynamic therapy

The treatment is based on Freud's theory on psychosexual stages, unconscious conflicts, and defense mechanisms. In the sessions, where your therapist listens sympathetically, the emphasis is on which strategies your "conscious self" (the ego) uses to defend itself against anxiety. Your therapist puts emphasis on insight. Your therapist furthermore uses methods such as uncovering and interpretation, free associations, and interpretation of dreams. The treatment usually lasts for several years and from a scientific point of view its effect has only been limited.

Interpersonal psychotherapy

The treatment takes its starting point in your surroundings and relations with others. The therapist often works with your family. What is being said, to whom, and when? In interpersonal psychotherapy, you learn how you can change inappropriate communication and problems in relation to others. This form of psychotherapy is also suitable for working with relations and communication in organizations. This treatment varies in duration and there has been limited research in this area.

Existential humanistic therapy

Most of the psychotherapeutic schools know and use the ideas of the great humanists. In existential humanistic therapy, the therapist focuses on what is meaningful to you and on your unique way at looking at yourself and the world. The therapist works with the unpredictable and transient aspects of your life. The treatment consists of such methods as supportive conversations, role play, and psychodrama. It is difficult to do any research in this form of psychotherapy as the goals are not tangible and specific.