Who Treats Depression?
Depression is a real and treatable mood disorder that can cause feelings of lethargy, anxiety, and hopelessness. Finding the right help is crucial on the journey toward recovery. There is no one-size-fits-all cure, so it’s important to find a professional who best meets your individual needs.
Click through the slideshow to learn about the professionals who treat depression.
Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication and are well suited for treating complicated disorders that require physical exams and interpretation of laboratory tests. Although psychiatrists can also offer talk therapy, they tend to favor a more medically oriented approach.
Psychologist
A psychologist is a nonmedical doctor who may specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of depression. As mental health professionals, psychologists help patients change behavior patterns that contribute to depression. They provide analysis or counseling and work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts. Because psychologists are not medical doctors, they cannot prescribe medication. If a psychologist feels that prescription medicines may be necessary, they can refer patients to a medical doctor for an appropriate prescription.
Psychoanalyst
Psychoanalysts explore the repressed or unconscious impulses, anxieties, and internal conflicts of troubled patients. This mode of therapy seeks to release pent up psychic energy to allow for self-growth through free association, dream interpretation, analysis of infantile sexuality, and the examination of resistance and transference. Psychoanalysis explores deep psychological and emotional problems that may be suppressed in the mind and cause inadvertent patterns of destructive or disturbing behavior.
Psychotherapist
Psychotherapists are licensed professionals who provide depression treatment through talk therapy and specialize in cognitive-behavior therapy, psychodynamic therapy, biofeedback, group therapy, relaxation and meditation training, or self-help groups. These mental health professionals might be licensed counselors, licensed clinical social workers, psychologists, or any other licensed therapist. They interact with patients through therapeutic conversations in order to initiate change in a patient’s thoughts, behavior patterns, and feelings.
Psychiatric Nurse
Psychiatric nurses are specialized registered nurses or physician’s assistants who care for patients with mental illness or distress. These mental health professionals often practice in mental health facilities under the supervision of medical doctors and are trained in complex disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, depression, and dementia.
Marriage and Family Therapist
A marriage and family therapist (MFT) works with families and couples in intimate relationships. These licensed professionals encourage change and development both individually and as a couple or family unit. This type of therapy usually involves direct participation between all members of a family or couple. If a person is dealing with depression, an MFT can treat the depression and help the family or partner understand how best to provide support.
Clinical Social Worker
Clinical social workers work toward improving the quality of life of individuals, groups, and communities. A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) holds a master's degree and a license in clinical social work and can administer therapy to children, adults, victims of abuse, the disabled, and the unemployed. Social workers are well versed in many specific fields, including mental health, substance abuse, medical and public health, and child and family education.
Mental Health Counselor
Mental health counselors are certified professionals who work in personal or community settings and practice dynamic, holistic, strengths-based psychotherapy. Mental health counselors may specialize in addiction, substance abuse, families, relationships, job stress, and suicidal impulses.
Religious Counselor
Many depressed people choose to seek help through their faith in an organized religion. Religious or spiritual counselors are ordained priests, ministers, rabbis, or other similar leaders, not licensed mental health professionals. Often, religious organizations will hold group meetings to encourage and promote conversation and communal therapy. Religious counselors primarily focus on crises of faith, family, and marriage and solving emotional and mental problems through spiritual training.
Finding the Right One
Because there are many different types of mental health professionals who treat depression, choosing the one most suitable for you might seem daunting. The most important factor is to make sure you feel comfortable, safe, and connected to any therapist you choose.
