Group Therapy's Role In Treating Clinical Depression

Depression is a mental illness that is diagnosed by a clinical psychologist or psychologist. The process of being diagnosed starts with the clinical psychologist or psychiatrist doing a diagnostic analysis on their client which would include discussing their family history of depression or other mental illnesses, what symptoms they’re experiencing, and how long they have had those symptoms. A physician will then do a physical examination of the patient to rule out any physical conditions that could be causing the symptoms the patient is experiencing. Then, one would have to get lab tests to make sure there are no “hidden” health issues and if it would be safe to put the patient on medication if they need to be. Thankfully after being diagnosed …show more content…
Individual therapy can allow the person struggling with depression to have someone to talk to about how they are feeling depressed and possibly why they are feeling that way. By opening up to their therapist and creating a relationship with them, the therapist can help their client discover why they are feeling depressed and give them helpful tips to help lower and get rid of the depressive feelings they have. Another therapy method that might be more beneficial for some, is group therapy. Group therapy can help the person with depression relate to others struggling from the same illness, give and receive advice from others, which can lead to inspiration and ideas for the client. Group therapy can also help someone suffering with depression increase their social skills and network of people. Another method for treating depression is lifestyle changes. By changing some aspects of one’s life alone or paired with another method like therapy or medication, they can lower or even eliminate their depression. Some examples of lifestyle changes to treat depression are exercise, nutrition, and sleep. Exercise has the ability to increase serotonin (which is believed to contribute to happiness) and helps with the growth of new brain cells and connections, which is what antidepressants do. By exercising thirty to sixty minutes a day, one with depression can expect the best results regarding positive changes in their mood. By eating healthy and in correct portions can also help treat depression because it keeps one’s energy up and controls mood swings. Sleep is also an important lifestyle change that contributes to depression. If one does not get enough sleep, their depression symptoms will get worse since not getting enough sleep can cause and increase irritability, sadness, and fatigue. To avoid those negative effects, someone with