Behavioral Activation Therapy is an effective treatment for depressive disorders. It offers a strong partnership between the individual and the therapist to work together as a team to increase motivation and decrease avoidant coping patterns. The full treatment is usually 20 – 24 sessions, but brief therapy can be completed in 8 -15 sessions depending on the severity of depression symptoms.

• Core Concept of Behavioral Activation Treatment: When we experience depression, we increasingly disengage from our routines and withdraw from our environment. Over time, this avoidance pattern worsens depressed mood and leads to a type of cognitive atrophy. We lose our ability to be positively influenced by pleasant experiences, social connection, and outward experiences.

• The Heart ♥ of This Therapy Approach: Behavioral Activation for depression seeks to increase your contact with the outside world and get you more engaged. It is this engagement and connection that improves life’s context and content. With a brief therapy approach, we focus specifically on identifying values and daily practices to improve wellness and decrease avoidance patterns. In both short-term (first episode and mild to moderate severity depression) and long-term treatment (recurrent or persistent depression), the focus is on improving problem-solving skills and core emotional wellbeing skills.

For more information about effective treatment therapies for depression, visit the Society of Clinical Psychology’s website, which offers information on effective treatments for depression disorders. The site offers treatment descriptions, research support, and clinical resources.