[orchidlotus]

I've struggled with depression for the past 7 years. During this time I have seen 5 therapists but I have never felt any better (even when I was taking antidepressants and doing therapy at the same time). I have tried psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy. I have tried hypnotherapy and some alternative therapy (opening your chakras).

I'm just wondering [I]how[I] is psychotherapy supposed to help? I have done a lot of talking and understanding where my issues come from, but that has not changed the way I feel. How do you go from psychotherapy sessions to recovery? (I hope I'm making sense)

[CantExplain]

That's an interesting question. One theorist famously said "We do no know why therapy works."

My view is that when a receptive patient is challenged correctly, she learns to recognise damaging habits of thought and starts to think in new ways.

[Hellion]

I've been to various therapists and it's never really seemed to help...talking about things and such doesn't change how I feel about them. Honestly not even sure what I am supposed to be doing....keeping track of my mood till my next appointment at this point but not sure where there will be to go from there.

I think, without being an expert, that there are different things that make it work. A friend of mine says that for him, what works is when the therapist catches him out with contradictory or illogical thoughts, which makes him embarrassed enough to change his thinking. For me, I think it's more about changing neural pathways by rehashing and repeating the same subjects from new angles. (Thoughts and feelings are all about chemicals and hormones and electric impulses in the brain, after all.)

It is a slow process though.

[HazelGirl]

The relationship between the therapist and the client is the #1 predictor of recovery. They don't really know why that's so important, but it is absolutely essential that you and your T have a good relationship. If that hasn't happened for you yet, that might be the problem with therapy. Also, if you're unwilling to work and expect others to fix the problem, therapy won't work for you (not saying that's the case, just throwing out possible ideas). Also there's about 10% of depressed patients who, for reasons no one really understands, are totally unresponsive to all treatment. No medications work and therapy does nothing for them.

[healingme4me]

Originally Posted by orchidlotus

I've struggled with depression for the past 7 years. During this time I have seen 5 therapists but I have never felt any better (even when I was taking antidepressants and doing therapy at the same time). I have tried psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy. I have tried hypnotherapy and some alternative therapy (opening your chakras).

I'm just wondering [I]how[I] is psychotherapy supposed to help? I have done a lot of talking and understanding where my issues come from, but that has not changed the way I feel. How do you go from psychotherapy sessions to recovery? (I hope I'm making sense)

Part of recovery, is about acceptance. Not sure, what it is, you feel now, that is different, from seven years ago, but sometimes acceptance plays a role. Did something traumatic happen?

Your worldview, is it possible, it's shifted? What would you like to get back to?

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[stopdog]

I think the brain synapse thing has some scientific back up to it.
I have seen a therapist for 4 years and I would not say I feel better. I find it a curious exercise, but it has had no practical effect upon my life.

[feralkittymom]

It sounds like you have a long-standing depression, and in some people (like me), such depressions are qualitatively different. A "simple" reactive depression may respond to short-term CBT type interventions. But a deeper depression of long standing, especially if complicated by underlying issues, often doesn't respond to CBT--and may even be worsened by it.

The best evidence so far is that a psychodynamic approach within a long-term therapeutic relationship shows the best overall recovery rates. If you've had 5 Ts in 7 years, you've never experienced such a relationship. The theory is that such a relationship addresses any underlying issues, at the same time the extended contact and depth of emotional contact creates new neural pathways in the brain, also influencing neurochemical changes, independent of any meds (though sometimes meds can be appropriate and help relieve conditions that interfere with full participation in therapy.)

[Cherubbs]

My therapist is also a senior psychiatrist and he's seen plenty of people respond quite badly to therapy over the years so he's quite ambivalent about it these days. Personally I find it quite helpful but the first year or two I didn't see the point at all. I'm not sure why I stuck at it really. It seems that psychology/psychiatry has a long way to go but we can make the most of what is available to us, give it our best shot and just hope for the best. Good luck on your journey.

[orchidlotus]

I agree that the rapport you build with your therapist is very important, and that the technique they practice is also important.

I wish we would know how to implement and make the most out of the sessions! That's why I was asking

Thank you all for your replies!