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Depression & How Therapy Can Help

Apr 23, 2026 | Depression, Uncategorized

depression and how therapy can help

Depression is a common mental disorder. It involves a depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods of time. Depression is different from regular mood changes and feelings about everyday life. It can affect all aspects of life, including relationships with family, friends, and community. It can result from or lead to problems at school and at work.

Depression can happen to anyone. People who have lived through abuse, severe losses, or other stressful events are more likely to develop depression. Women are more likely to have depression than men. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) an estimated 3.8% of the population experience depression, including 5% of adults (4% among men and 6% among women), and 5.7% of adults older than 60 years. Approximately 280 million people in the world have depression (1). Depression is about 50% more common among women than among men. Worldwide, more than 10% of pregnant women and women who have just given birth experience depression (2). More than 700 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15–29-year-olds.

In 2025, a concerning number of U.S. children and teenagers are experiencing depression. CDC data from 2021-2023 indicates that more than 1 in 8 Americans aged 12 and older have experienced symptoms of depression, and a significant portion of these are adolescents. Mental Health America reports that 20.17% of teenagers (approximately 5,217,000) reported having at least one major depressive episode in 2024. Additionally, data from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows that in 2023, 4 in 10 high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

Therapy can be a very effective treatment for depression. It provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors related to their depression. Therapy can help individuals in various ways to manage depressive symptoms. Here’s how therapy can help with depression: 

1. Identifying and Challenging Negative Thoughts:

Therapists help individuals identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to depression. They teach coping mechanisms to replace these thoughts with more positive and realistic ones. Ernest Hemingway wrote in ‘Farewell to Arms’, “The world breaks everyone and afterwards many are strong in broken places.”

2. Improving Coping Skills:

 

Therapy focuses on developing healthy coping skills to manage stress, deal with difficult emotions, and improve overall well-being. This may include techniques such as relaxation, mindfulness, and problem-solving. 

3. Understanding and Modifying Behaviors:

 

Therapists help individuals understand how their behaviors may be perpetuating their depression. They work together to identify and modify unhealthy behaviors, such as withdrawal, avoidance, and procrastination. 

4. Gaining Insight and Self-Awareness:

 

Therapy provides a platform for individuals to gain insight into the underlying causes of their depression. This includes exploring past experiences, relationships, and personal patterns that may be contributing to their symptoms. 

5. Building Support and Empowerment:

 

Therapists provide emotional support and encouragement. They help individuals feel empowered to take charge of their mental health and make positive changes in their lives. 

6. Developing a Treatment Plan:

 

Therapists work with individuals to create a personalized treatment plan that may include medication, therapy, or other interventions tailored to their specific needs. 

 

Therapy can be an invaluable tool for managing depression and improving overall mental health. It provides a structured and supportive environment for individuals to work through their challenges and develop healthier coping mechanisms. 

Skilled therapists can work with depressed individuals to:

Pinpoint the life problems that contribute to their depression and help them understand which aspects of those problems they may be able to solve or improve.

A trained therapist can help depressed patients identify options for the future and set realistic goals that enable them to enhance their mental and emotional well-being. Therapists also help individuals identify how they have successfully dealt with similar feelings if they have been depressed in the past. 

Identify negative or distorted thinking patterns that contribute to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness that accompany depression.

For example, depressed individuals may tend to overgeneralize, that is, to think of circumstances in terms of “always” or “never.” They may also take events personally. A trained and competent therapist can help nurture a more positive outlook on life.  According to Maya Cook-Stroupe of Garrett Counseling, Jasper,  “Therapy can be beneficial for clients struggling with depression. Therapists can help clients understand and explore their self-defeating thoughts and how they contribute to their depressive state.”

Explore other learned thoughts and behaviors that create problems and contribute to depression.

For example, therapists can help depressed individuals understand and improve patterns of interacting with other people that contribute to their depression. Garrett Counseling Jacksonville’s Jamie Thompson noted that “depression is a thief of motivation,” which can be an issue in just initiating any interaction. 

Help people regain a sense of control and pleasure in life.

Psychotherapy helps people see their choices and gradually incorporate enjoyable, fulfilling activities back into their lives. Chloe Johnson, LMSW of Garrett Counseling, shared that “When I think of depression, I think about the increase in isolation. I’ve seen people benefit from therapy simply by getting up once a week and coming to talk to someone instead of choosing to stay in bed or at home by themselves.”

 

How do I know if I need to seek therapy for my depression? 

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental health professionals recommend that if you have been feeling down most of the time for 2 weeks or more, this is a reason to seek help.  Other people do not feel down for days at a time, but instead have a longer-term pattern of bad days, weeks, or years. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between normal sadness and clinical depression. Below are 3 criteria to consider when deciding if you should seek help:

  1. If you’re unsure:
    If you’re not sure whether your symptoms warrant therapy, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional, such as a doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. 
  2. When symptoms persist:
    If you’ve been experiencing symptoms for two weeks or more, it’s time to seek professional help. 
  3. If your symptoms are severe:
    If you’re having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, seek immediate emergency help. 

Other Resources for Depression

Books to help with your journey to overcome your depression:

  • Rise from Darkness by Kristian Hall
  • The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time by Alex Korb
  • Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
  • Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David Burns
  • The Mindful Way Through Depression- Freeing Yourself From Chronic Unhappiness by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal, and Jon Zinn 

Podcasts that may be helpful for your depression:

Although self-help podcasts are not a substitute for professional help, they can be a very helpful tool to use alongside regular sessions. If you think you might have depression, please make sure to consult a mental health professional. 

Healthline has compiled a list of the best podcasts for depression and related symptoms:

To read more about depression from our team, click here. If you are looking for a therapist in Alabama, we serve the state with multiple in-person offices and telehealth options. Contact us to learn more!

References

Linde K, Sigterman K, Kriston L et al. Effectiveness of psychological treatments for depressive disorders in primary care: systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Fam Med 2015; 13(1): 56-68.

American Psychological Association. (2024, March 28). Depression and how psychotherapy and other treatments can help people recover. https://www.apa.org/topics/depression/recover

https://www.healthline.com/anxiety-and-depression

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression

https://www.who.int/health-topics/depression#tab=tab_1