The Experiential and Strategic Treatment of Depression

Depression is the most common mood disorder in the world, one that is still growing steadily in both prevalence and severity. How a clinician thinks about the nature of depression and answers fundamental questions - such as what causes depression - naturally determines what treatment approaches they are most likely to take. Regardless of one’s preferred theoretical orientation, however, depression experts agree that treatment needs to be multi-dimensional and active in teaching skills in key areas such as coping, social, and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, the more we learn about the neuroscience of mood, especially neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, the more important well designed experiential learning processes become in treatment. These include the use of task assignments and focusing processes such as hypnosis and mindfulness, which can be applied in treatment to teach mood self-regulation skills. Learning to think strategically requires a better-than-average understanding of the patterns that regulate depression as well as an appreciation for how active the client needs to be in the treatment process. Such approaches are unapologetically goal-oriented because the larger goal is obvious: We want the client to not only feel better but be better. A video demonstration of a clinical hypnosis session addressing depression will be included.