Psychotherapy, plays a pivotal role in treatment for depression. The term “Psychotherapy” itself derives from Ancient Greek “psyche” (meaning “breath; spirit; soul”) and “therapeia” (“healing; medical treatment”) which can be translated as “treatment of the soul,” highlighting its profound impact on mental health.
The psychotherapy can be provided by trained psychotherapists, such as psychologists, psychiatrists or physicians educated in its use.
One of the core principles of psychotherapy is building a strong therapeutic relationship where the therapist enters the patient’s inner world with empathy and non judgmental support. This safe space allows individuals to explore their thoughts and emotions freely, which promotes self awareness and self acceptance. Many people seek psychotherapy for depression in Dubai to better understand their struggles and find healthier coping mechanisms, while working with a skilled psychotherapist depression Dubai can make recovery more manageable. With the right guidance, psychotherapy for depression in Dubai becomes a powerful path toward healing and long term emotional well being.
In the following article, we explain the methods of psychotherapy used in the treatment of depression.
Psychotherapeutic Setting in Depression Treatment
Psychotherapy offers flexibility, with options ranging from outpatient, day clinics, to inpatient care. In today’s digital age, video-based psychotherapy is also available, making treatment accessible even for those facing geographical barriers.
Psychotherapy should always be tailored to the severity of depression, the patient’s living circumstances, and their personal preferences. The type of therapy chosen and the compatibility between therapist and patient play a crucial role in how effective the treatment will be. A skilled psychotherapist ensures that patients feel emotionally supported while also trusting in their expertise. For those seeking help in the UAE, working with an experienced psychotherapist in Dubai can provide the right balance of professional guidance and compassionate care, making the healing journey more effective and sustainable.psychotherapist depression dubai
The journey to psychotherapy begins with an initial consultation in a therapist’s practice. Here, patients can discuss their concerns and needs, laying the foundation for a personalized treatment plan.
The duration of psychotherapy varies depending on the individual’s needs and the chosen therapeutic approach. It ranges from shorter-term interventions, such as acute treatment (up to 12 hours), to more extended periods, like long-term therapy (up to 300 hours).
Psychotherapy encompasses diverse therapeutic methods, adhering to two major psychotherapy schools: the behaviourism and the psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in Depression Treatment
This form of therapy combines two approaches:
- initially symptom reduction and then their full disappearance
- improving and then restoring daily routine
- preventing relapse after patient’s full recovery
Cognitive Therapy
According to cognitive therapy, it is often not the things and situations themselves that cause problems, but rather the meaning we attach to them. Our personal perspective can be a crucial starting point for change.
Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapy is based on the assumption that behaviours can be learned and unlearned. The therapeutic goal is to identify problematic behavioral patterns, work with them, and bring about change.
The core approach of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) is based on the idea that problems are the result of the way people interpret situations, thoughts, and feelings. CBT addresses the symptoms, giving the patient insight about the triggers in “her and now.” This allows the patient to control the patterns of his thinking and behaviour causing the symptoms. It helps the individual identify thoughts that make them feel bad (e.g., I am not good enough).
Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP)
The Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) is a synthesis of interpersonal, cognitive, behavioral and psychodynamic therapies developed by James P. McCullough Jr. of Virginia Commonwealth University. CBASP is the only psychotherapy method specifically developed for treating chronic depression.
People with chronic depression often lack a sense of safety in their relationships with others. This can stem from past traumas or ongoing experiences of emotional harm, like rejection, harsh criticism, or neglect by significant people in their earlier stages of life. As a result, they develop a deep fear of relationships, seeing other people as a source of pain or threat. To cope, they tend to avoid social interactions at home, work, or elsewhere, which becomes a key challenge in therapy. Addressing this avoidance pattern is crucial for helping them improve their mood and relationships.
The CBASP Technique in Treatment of Depression
CBASP focus primarily on social and interpersonal learning by combines three techniques:
1) Situational Analysis
a technique helping patients comprehend the consequences of their behavior on others and modify it.
2) Interpersonal Discrimination Exercises
examins the past traumatic experiences with others and differentiation of those from healthier relationships, and
3) Behavioral Skill Training/Rehearsal
such as assertiveness training, to help depressed individuals correct their maladaptive behavior.
Unlike traditional psychodynamic therapy, the transference analysis in CBASP helps patients recognising transference in “here and now” during their interaction with the therapist. Transference analysis alows the patient consciously differentiate the therapist from influential figures in their past.
The Goals of CBASP Therapy:
- Reconnecting patients with their social enviroment.
- Learning how to improve their emotional well-being and maintain control over their feelings.
- Developing skills to successfully navigate relationships and achieve their interpersonal goals.
- Understanding the importance of maintaining progress after therapy by practicing what they’ve learned. This ongoing practice helps prevent relapse and ensures lasting change by replacing old, harmful patterns with healthier behaviors.
Effectivness of CBASP
Studies have shown that the combination of CBASP and pharmacotherapy with antidepressants proved to be the most successful treatment method for chronic depression.
Treatment of Depression with Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic psychotherapy relates to several methods of in-depth psychotherapy. These are classical psychoanalysis, psychoanalytical psychotherapy, and different modifications of this methods.
Despite the different approach, just as cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapist depression Dubai methods such as psychodynamic therapy also aim to bring about changes in behaviour. Unlike CBT, psychodynamic psychotherapy places a large emphasis on the psychic layer not accessible to the consciousness, especially on unresolved conflicts. Conflicts are upsetting contents such as aggressive impulses and anti-social desires “stored” in the unconscious. However, even though they are not accessible to our conscious perception, they influence our feelings and behaviour, which is why working with a psychotherapist depression Dubai specialist can help uncover and address these hidden issues.
A key requirement for psychoanalytic-based therapy is a willingness to engage deeply with past, such as early childhood experiences, current relationships and current defence mechanisms.
Reducing the intensity of the conflict, creating the underlying tension, leads to symptom reduction. Making unbearable feelings conscious and employing the Ego (the conscious part of the psyche) in understanding cause and effect brings about healing.
Efficacy of Psychodynamic Treatment of Depression
Psychodynamic psychotherapy has not been studied as extensively as behavioural therapy in the treatment for depression. Even though psychodynamic psychotherapy, including the eldest technique called “psychoanalysis”, has a long-standing history, the empirical research on its effectiveness is less large. Despite the higher number of studies referring to behavioural methods, those done for psychodynamic psychotherapy prove its efficacy. The main reason for the lower volume of research related to psychodynamic methods is explicable by the therapy setting. The psychodynamic psychotherapy done by an analyst in his private practice is less accessible for empiric evaluation.
Depression Treatment with Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Interpersonal Psychotherapy involves meeting with a group of other people who have been through the same or a similar traumatic event. It can be easier to talk about what happened if you are with other people who have been through a similar experience. An open trial of interpersonal psychotherapy reported high rates of remission from symptoms.
Treatment of Depression with Systemic Therapy
Systemic therapy places great importance on social relationships, such as those within the family, circle of friends, or workplace, as they can contribute to the development of depression. During therapy, efforts are made to improve communication within a family, for example. This is intended to help alleviate depressive symptoms.
Treatment of Depression with EMDR
Francine Shapiro developed and studied EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), which is a form of psychotherapy. This is a technique that uses eye movements to help the brain access and integrate the traumatic events “pushed” by sudden trauma (for example, by war trauma or accidents) in the unconscious in their raw, unprocessed shape. Psychologists use the eye movement to facilitate emotional processing of memories to attend to more adaptive information.
Psychotherapy in Treatment of Depression. Summary
Psychotherapy is a vital component in therapy for depression. It offers a safe space for individuals to explore and heal their “inner selves”. The success of psychotherapy hinges on the therapeutic alliance, therapist competence, and the alignment of therapy with the patient’s needs and preferences.
Each psychotherapy approach has its unique perspective and techniques. Whether it’s CBT, psychoanalysis, in-deep psychotherapy, or systemic therapy, each method contributes to the diverse toolbox of options available to individuals seeking help for depression.
Psychotherapist Depression Dubai plays a crucial role in promoting mental well-being helping individuals to alleviate suffering, enhance self-understanding, foster personal growth. It is a patient’s journey towards self-discovery and recovery, providing hope and leading to healthier life of those struggling with depression.
