Anxiety and depression are two of the most common behavioral health issues affecting children and adults. Anxiety and depression may be treated with a number
of therapeutic approaches, including the following:
Behavior Therapy
Behavior Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on changing problematic or maladaptive patterns of behavior. This approach is based on the idea
that most behavioral problems are learned and can be unlearned and replaced by more adaptive patterns of behavior. Behavior Therapy has been found to be
helpful in the treatment of anxiety, depression, anger, stress, and relationship issues.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a highly regarded treatment for anxiety and depression. It is based on the idea that the way a person thinks and
feels affects the way they behave. The goal of treatment is to identify and change maladaptive thought patterns in order to cope more effectively with
difficult circumstances that cause anxiety and depression.
Life Skills Training
Life skills are behaviors that enable people to cope effectively with the demands and challenges of life. Specific techniques of learning and training are
used to teach children and adults how to determine and achieve personal goals. Life skills include social skills, decision-making, problem-solving, coping with
difficult emotions, self-awareness, empathy, and interpersonal skills that are necessary for success in the workplace. When children and adults learn specific
behavioral skills to successfully cope with difficult circumstances, anxiety and depression are often greatly diminished.
Supportive Psychotherapy
Supportive Psychotherapy focuses on providing emotional support during difficult life circumstances. The therapist encourages the child or adult to
talk about their feelings, concerns, and problems in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. Supportive Psychotherapy helps people deal with present issues,
such as relationship problems, family conflicts, or work-related stress. It is useful in the treatment of anxiety, depression, grief and loss, post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), and many other issues.
Insight-oriented Psychotherapy
Insight-oriented Psychotherapy helps people understand how past experiences affect their current behavior. Having this insight may enable people to change
their behavior in ways that are psychologically beneficial. This approach is used in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and relationship problems.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches specific skills to cope effectively with anxiety, depression, and problems of daily living. This approach
helps people identify life goals and remove emotional and behavioral roadblocks that prevent them from reaching their goals. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
(ACT) helps people commit to making necessary changes in their behavior, regardless of what is going on in their lives and how they feel about it. In addition to reducing
anxiety and depression, ACT may be effective in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, grief and loss, panic attacks, and workplace stress.
Mindfulness Training
Mindfulness Training is a mental health and meditation approach that enables people to relax and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. Attention is focused
on thoughts, emotions, and sensations occurring at the current moment in an accepting and nonjudgmental manner. The meditation aspect of Mindfulness Training
may be helpful to people who suffer from anxiety, depression, grief, panic attacks, high blood pressure, and sleep problems.
Relaxation Training
Relaxation Training is a type of behavior therapy that helps people reach a state of calmness. It may reduce anxiety and stress, lower blood pressure, and control
pain. Examples of relaxation techniques include learning how to relax muscles throughout the body, focusing the mind on positive images, meditation, and deep breathing exercises.
Systematic Desensitization
Systematic Desensitization is a therapy for anxiety and fears in which a child or adult is very gradually exposed to an anxiety-producing situation while being taught
relaxation techniques. It has been used in the treatment of public speaking anxiety, fear of going to the dentist, avoidance of air travel, and fears of heights, animals, and being in public places.
Marriage and Couples Counseling
Anxiety or depression in adults often leads to significant problems in relationships. Marriage and couples counseling helps couples learn to communicate more effectively,
resolve conflicts, and provide emotional support to the person with anxiety or depression.
Family Therapy
Anxiety or depression in a family member can affect the entire family. In Family Therapy, the nature of anxiety or depression is explained and discussed, and
family members are taught specific ways of helping the child or adult with anxiety or depression.
Medication
A number of medications may be used in the treatment of anxiety and depression. These medications are provided by a physician, or under the supervision of a physician.
Anxiety and depression are two of the most common behavioral health issues affecting children and adults. Anxiety and depression may be treated with a number
of therapeutic approaches, including the following:
Behavior Therapy
Behavior Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on changing problematic or maladaptive patterns of behavior. This approach is based on the idea
that most behavioral problems are learned and can be unlearned and replaced by more adaptive patterns of behavior. Behavior Therapy has been found to be
helpful in the treatment of anxiety, depression, anger, stress, and relationship issues.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a highly regarded treatment for anxiety and depression. It is based on the idea that the way a person thinks and
feels affects the way they behave. The goal of treatment is to identify and change maladaptive thought patterns in order to cope more effectively with
difficult circumstances that cause anxiety and depression.
Life Skills Training
Life skills are behaviors that enable people to cope effectively with the demands and challenges of life. Specific techniques of learning and training are
used to teach children and adults how to determine and achieve personal goals. Life skills include social skills, decision-making, problem-solving, coping with
difficult emotions, self-awareness, empathy, and interpersonal skills that are necessary for success in the workplace. When children and adults learn specific
behavioral skills to successfully cope with difficult circumstances, anxiety and depression are often greatly diminished.
Supportive Psychotherapy
Supportive Psychotherapy focuses on providing emotional support during difficult life circumstances. The therapist encourages the child or adult to
talk about their feelings, concerns, and problems in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. Supportive Psychotherapy helps people deal with present issues,
such as relationship problems, family conflicts, or work-related stress. It is useful in the treatment of anxiety, depression, grief and loss, post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), and many other issues.
Insight-oriented Psychotherapy
Insight-oriented Psychotherapy helps people understand how past experiences affect their current behavior. Having this insight may enable people to change
their behavior in ways that are psychologically beneficial. This approach is used in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and relationship problems.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches specific skills to cope effectively with anxiety, depression, and problems of daily living. This approach
helps people identify life goals and remove emotional and behavioral roadblocks that prevent them from reaching their goals. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
(ACT) helps people commit to making necessary changes in their behavior, regardless of what is going on in their lives and how they feel about it. In addition to reducing
anxiety and depression, ACT may be effective in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, grief and loss, panic attacks, and workplace stress.
Mindfulness Training
Mindfulness Training is a mental health and meditation approach that enables people to relax and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. Attention is focused
on thoughts, emotions, and sensations occurring at the current moment in an accepting and nonjudgmental manner. The meditation aspect of Mindfulness Training
may be helpful to people who suffer from anxiety, depression, grief, panic attacks, high blood pressure, and sleep problems.
Relaxation Training
Relaxation Training is a type of behavior therapy that helps people reach a state of calmness. It may reduce anxiety and stress, lower blood pressure, and control
pain. Examples of relaxation techniques include learning how to relax muscles throughout the body, focusing the mind on positive images, meditation, and deep breathing exercises.
Systematic Desensitization
Systematic Desensitization is a therapy for anxiety and fears in which a child or adult is very gradually exposed to an anxiety-producing situation while being taught
relaxation techniques. It has been used in the treatment of public speaking anxiety, fear of going to the dentist, avoidance of air travel, and fears of heights, animals, and being in public places.
Marriage and Couples Counseling
Anxiety or depression in adults often leads to significant problems in relationships. Marriage and couples counseling helps couples learn to communicate more effectively,
resolve conflicts, and provide emotional support to the person with anxiety or depression.
Family Therapy
Anxiety or depression in a family member can affect the entire family. In Family Therapy, the nature of anxiety or depression is explained and discussed, and
family members are taught specific ways of helping the child or adult with anxiety or depression.
Medication
A number of medications may be used in the treatment of anxiety and depression. These medications are provided by a physician, or under the supervision of a physician.