3 Types of Psychotherapy That May Help Treat Depression

If you’re starting therapy for the first time, you may be surprised to learn that there are different types of psychotherapy that can potentially help to treat depression. The type of psychotherapy refers to the approach that your therapist uses to help you improve your mental health.

Many therapists specialize in one or two types of psychotherapy. Some use a blended style, in which they pull from different therapy types when they think it’s a good fit. Understanding the different types of psychotherapy may help you select a therapist who is going to be the right fit for you.

How does psychotherapy help treat depression?

Psychotherapy is the medical term for mental health therapy (as opposed to physical therapy, speech therapy, etc.). Psychotherapy can be part of a treatment plan for many types of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, personality disorders, eating disorders, and more.

“Psychotherapy involves going to see a therapist on a regular basis, often [around] once a week,” says Susan Samuels, Psychiatrist at Weill Cornell Medicine. 

Through psychotherapy, a mental health professional may help you identify what’s triggering or adding to your depression. This may help you heal and manage your mental health going forward. A psychotherapist can help you learn:

• How to process traumatic events

• How to make meaning from difficult memories

• Ways to cope with stress

• Tools for navigating major life changes

There are many types of psychotherapy for depression, but three common types include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy

• Interpersonal psychotherapy

• Psychodynamic psychotherapy

What is cognitive behavioral therapy?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns in the way that you think — and how those thoughts affect your emotions and actions. A therapist will help you identify unproductive thinking patterns (called cognitive distortions). Then, you’ll learn ways to reframe those thoughts to be more helpful for you.

“The theory behind cognitive behavioral therapy is that if we can change how we think about something, then we can also change how we feel and then how we act,” says Dr. Samuels.

Examples of cognitive distortions include:

• Black-and-white thinking, such as “I’ll never succeed at this; it’s impossible”

• Catastrophizing, such as “If I try, I’ll fail, and everyone will laugh at me, and I’ll never be able to make any friends; I’ll be lonely forever”

• Overgeneralizing, such as “My boss gave me feedback, so I must be horrible at my job”

• Projection or mind reading, such as “My friend isn’t saying much so she must be mad at me”

In reality, these extreme thoughts are often not fully accurate. Reframing these thoughts in CBT may change your mood, decisions, and actions. Over time, this may improve your mental health.

What is interpersonal psychotherapy?

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) helps focus on your interactions with others and your expectations related to those relationships. The underlying belief is that your interpersonal relationships are having some effect on your current mental health.

Some people may find that they struggle with relationships in many areas of their lives. They may have strained friendships, conflicts with family members, and frequent disagreements at work.

“Interpersonal psychotherapy can really help people understand where those conflicts [with others] might come from and how they might better improve their conversation skills,” says Dr. Samuels.

Having strong interpersonal skills and better relationships may help your depression in many ways, such as:

• Growing your support system

• Helping you have more realistic expectations regarding your relationships

• Improving your sense of belonging

• Reducing unnecessary conflict and stress

• Increasing your awareness of how you’re presenting yourself to others

What is psychodynamic psychotherapy?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a common type of psychotherapy. The goal is to understand how your life experiences may be influencing your current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Your therapist will ask you questions about your life and memories. You may talk about your childhood, including your time in school or relationships with family members.

“Understanding your life story in therapy can really help you understand maybe your deeper rooted causes of depression that you might not even be aware of,” says Dr. Samuels. “You might really need somebody to help you explore where all of those thoughts and those feelings have actually come from.”

How do I know what type of psychotherapy is right for me?

It’s not always necessary to pick a style of psychotherapy. Some people do find that they prefer a certain type of therapy, but others find it more important to find a therapist who is a good fit.  

If you’re not sure, it may help to start with a therapist who uses psychodynamic therapy since this is the most common type. If your therapist thinks you might benefit from another type of therapy, they may be able to recommend it to you. They may also be able to refer you to a therapist who specializes in that style.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, you’re not alone. Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 988.