Talk therapy is a common treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), sometimes referred to as clinical depression. In talk therapy — also called psychotherapy — you meet with a trained mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed therapist to talk about how MDD affects your life. Some people try talk therapy on its own, and others combine it with medication.

Members of MyDepressionTeam sometimes discuss their experiences or ask for advice about different types of talk therapy. One member asked, “Has anyone here tried dialectical behavior therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy? I have tried every medication on the market and transcranial magnetic stimulation, with no results. Any helpful suggestions out there?”

This article explores five types of therapy commonly used to treat MDD. You and your healthcare team can work together to find the best type of therapy for your major depressive disorder.

How Different Treatment Approaches Work

Depending on your needs, your therapist may recommend a specific type of psychotherapy. These interventions can help you talk about the past, learn new coping skills, and boost your well-being. Mental health professionals often use five types of therapy to treat major depressive disorder. Each one teaches different skills to help you manage depression.

Talk therapy can be delivered in different formats, such as:

• Individual therapy — You meet one-on-one with a therapist.
• Group therapy — You and at least one other person meet with a therapist together.
• Family therapy — You and one or more of your family members work with a therapist to build stronger support and communication.
• Couples therapy — You and your partner meet with a therapist to better understand MDD and how to support each other.

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used types of talk therapy for treating major depressive disorder. Unlike other forms of therapy, CBT has a clear plan and goals to help you feel better. It helps people with depression become more aware of their thoughts and emotions, especially inaccurate or overly negative thoughts.

CBT is based on the idea that how you think affects how you feel and act. You work with a therapist to identify unhelpful thought patterns — often about yourself or your surroundings — and replace them with more realistic, balanced thoughts.

In CBT sessions, you and your therapist talk through your thoughts, past experiences, traumas, and fears. Most people attend between five and 20 therapy sessions. It takes time to change how you think, but it can lead to lasting changes.

CBT is especially helpful for people whose thinking patterns, emotions, or behaviors contribute to their MDD. While you can’t always control what happens in life, you can learn to manage how you respond. CBT teaches skills to identify and reframe your thoughts and behaviors, helping you feel better prepared to handle stressful or difficult situations.

MyDepressionTeam members have shared how CBT has helped them. One member said, “CBT has done wonders for me — lots of online resources as well as books from the library.” Another wrote, “I just had one year of weekly CBT sessions with my clinical psychologist. I found it helped me immensely with dealing with my major depression.”

2. Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Depression often affects your relationships, which can add stress and strain. Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is designed to help you improve communication with your family, friends, and co-workers and address your MDD.

IPT focuses on identifying current or recent life events that may have triggered your depression, such as losing a job, moving, or ending a relationship. By understanding what’s causing your MDD, you and your therapist can work together to develop better ways to express your feelings and manage relationships.

IPT is usually a short-term treatment lasting three to four months. If you’d like to continue therapy afterward, your therapist can help you decide which type is best for your situation.

Like CBT, IPT is an evidence-based treatment. One systematic review of 11 studies found that IPT helped reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety and improved social functioning in people with depression. IPT can be used alone or combined with antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or tricyclic antidepressants.

3. Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is closely related to CBT. Although DBT is often used for people with borderline personality disorder, research shows that this type of talk therapy can be an effective treatment for MDD, especially for those who feel emotions very deeply or intensely.

DBT focuses on four key skill areas:

• Emotion regulation — Recognizing your emotions and learning how to manage them in healthy ways
• Mindfulness — Staying focused on the present moment rather than worrying about the past or future
• Distress tolerance — Learning healthier ways to handle your emotions in stressful or difficult situations
• Interpersonal effectiveness — Asking for what you need and setting healthy boundaries in your relationships

Your therapist will help you find a balance between accepting your current situation and working to change unhelpful behaviors. DBT focuses on teaching you better ways to cope with intense or negative emotions that led to major depressive episodes in the past.

Therapists offer DBT in one-on-one and group settings. However, group DBT is different from group therapy — it’s more like a class. The therapist teaches specific coping skills rather than facilitating conversations between members.

Many MyDepressionTeam members have found DBT helpful. “I finally completed my DBT group,” one member shared. “I feel like I learned many new behaviors. I just need to remember when to use the skills to my advantage.”

4. Problem-Solving Therapy

Problem-solving therapy helps you develop skills to identify and solve problems — big or small — as they arise. Learning to cope with stress is an important part of managing major depressive disorder.

This therapy focuses on the present rather than past issues. Your therapist will help you stay positive when coming up with solutions. You may learn how to identify a problem, fully understand it, and then take steps to address it without falling into negative thinking patterns that may contribute to MDD.

Problem-solving therapy aims to help you feel more confident and capable when facing challenges throughout your life. Research shows that as few as six sessions can help treat depression.

5. Psychodynamic Therapy

For some people, past experiences can influence present emotions. Psychodynamic therapy helps you explore how your past, such as childhood trauma or unresolved conflict, may be linked to your depression.

By addressing the source of certain thoughts or emotions, you can start to change how they affect your present life. This type of talk therapy helps you understand yourself better and notice patterns you might not be aware of that may be contributing to your MDD.

Psychodynamic therapy can also help you improve your relationships with others. Unconscious thoughts and behaviors can influence how you relate to family and friends. A therapist can help you recognize these patterns and give you the tools to change them.

Talk to Your Doctor About Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder

Talk therapy tends to be most effective when it’s used along with antidepressant medications. Your team of healthcare professionals can help you find the right mix of treatments to help you break through your depression. If your current treatment isn’t helping enough, you can explore other options.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyDepressionTeam is the social network for people with depression and their loved ones. On MyDepressionTeam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with depression and bipolar disorder.

Have you tried therapy to treat your major depressive disorder? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.