Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Understanding & Treatment

If you are suffering from depression, cognitive therapy is an option that may help you. Revolving around interaction between patient and therapist, this therapy takes an empirical view at your thoughts and how they make you feel.

Theory

• The theory behind cognitive therapy is that our thoughts about events that happen to us are what cause our emotions, not the events themselves. The therapy's goal is to change how patients think about things that happen to them.

Approach

• The therapist tries to understand the patient's thoughts from the patient's point of view. Then patient and therapist evaluate which of these thoughts are based in reality.

Homework

• The patient may be asked to do therapeutic work outside of therapy sessions, such as recording their feelings on paper throughout the day.

Criticism

• Some people think that cognitive therapists can be leading in their questions and suggestions.

Good Candidates

• Cognitive therapy is a good fit for introspective patients, as well as patients that want to take an empirical look at their problems.