psychological treatments for depression

Last reviewed 01/2018

These are treatments in which the therapist employs psychological techniques to ameliorate distress and disordered psychological processes in the patient such as symptoms, personality problems, or disturbed patterns of relating.

Psychological treatments involve:

  • the formation of a relationship between the patient and therapist
  • talking - with action on behalf of the patient
  • a central aim of helping and change, the change relating to behaviour, beliefs and emotion or feelings