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Talking therapies

Talking therapies have emerged as the main alternative/complementary treatment to antidepressants in the fight against depression. There are several different types of talking therapy, each helping people in different ways. The Department of Health list three main types of talking therapy:

  • Counselling
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Psychoanalytical and psychodynamic therapies

Counselling

Counselling aims to help you deal with problems you are facing or difficult decisions that you have to make. Many GPs offer a brief counselling service as a preventative intervention offered to people facing stressful situations such as bereavement, divorce or redundancy. Many GPs also have access to counsellors for patients whose depression has not improved or is at risk of deteriorating.

Counselling services may also be available locally from the voluntary sector, although local coverage is patchy. Specialist counselling services for things like bereavement and relationship problems are also available in the voluntary sector. There is also a growing private counselling industry. You can search for a counsellor or psychotherapist in your area Here

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy works by helping you address the negative beliefs, thoughts and behaviours associated with depression. A course of CBT lasts from 8 to 12 weeks, during which you learn to monitor negative thoughts and behaviours, and identify the unhelpful beliefs that often underly these. This, in turn, can help you change to more helpful thoughts and behaviours in future.

Although CBT has become very popular among politicians and journalists as a one-size-fits all approach, there is little evidence to show that it is better than any of the other talking therapies that are available. There are also debates between psychologists about the relative importance of the cognitive (changing your thoughts) and behavioural (adopting healthier behaviour) elements of the therapy. So while CBT is effective for large numbers of people, it is not for everyone.

Access to CBT varies in different parts of the UK. In England, the Department of Health has opted for a "narrow front" approach to depression, investing more than £180m in the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme, which involves making CBT available through primary care practices and to people in danger of losing their jobs if their depression worsens. In Wales and Scotland, the devolved governments have taken a "broad front" approach, which includes the provision of CBT as just one of a whole range of interventions for people affected by depression.

You can search for a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Here.

Psychoanalytical and Psychodynamic Therapies

Psychoanalytical and psychodynamic therapies work by connecting your current thoughts and behaviours to past events and relationships. The way this works will vary between different therapists – some will remain aloof and distant, just listening, while others will take a lead in asking questions and being supportive. Psychoanalytical and psychodynamic therapies can be useful for people with long-term recurring problems

NHS psychoanalytical and psychodynamic therapies are specialist services provided by psychologists in specialist settings such as clinics and hospitals. They are not generally available from voluntary organisations, but there are some practitioners available privately. You can find a therapist Here.

In addition to the three main talking therapies, there is a wide range of less used talking therapies that can be effective for depression. These include:

  • Cognitive Analytical Therapy
  • Interpersonal Therapy
  • Systematic Therapy
  • Humanistic and experiential psychotherapy
  • Art Therapy
  • Drama Therapy
  • Music Therapy

These work in different ways, and address different aspects of depression. As with all talking therapies, while they are effective for some people, they are not for everyone.