There are a range of health professionals who are trained to deliver talking therapy treatments. You can be referred to one by your doctor, or you can approach a counsellor or psychologist directly. All of them will spend some time understanding your situation and work with you to decide on the right therapy. The most effective therapy options include:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) works with your daily thoughts
• Problem Solving Therapy (PST) helps deal with daily problems
• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) focuses on relationship problems

All talking therapies focus on talking through the ways you currently deal with particular issues in your life, then finding new ways to approach them. This can range from practical action plans to positive thinking techniques.

Because therapy generally deals with responses you’ve had most of your life, you’ll need several sessions to give you time to make the changes and observe the results.

While each therapy focuses on a different aspect of your life, they all involve talking about how you feel, how you behave and how you relate to others. It’s vital that you open up and be as honest as you can. This isn’t always easy to do, but the more you share with your health professional the better they can help.

Like every medical treatment, talking therapy effectiveness depends on the way you work with your health professional. Research shows there are several keys to success:

• You and your health professional develop a trusting relationship and work together to find the best treatment.
• The factors that contribute to your depression are identified and worked on.
• Treatment is continued for as long as necessary to address the underlying causes, and your situation is reviewed until your mood has become stable.