Treating Depression

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Therapist: Janet: Therapist: Janet:

What do you think of the future? Im scared, no future. Dont want to live like this. Im stuck, not worth making any efforts. Do you blame yourself for anything? Its my fault Im like this. I must be weak. I blame myself for everything. Ive been a horrible mother.

The author also uses the Barber Suggestibility Scale (BSS; Barber & Wilson, 1978/79) to measure hypnotic suggestibility. Patients scoring low on the hypnotic suggestibility scale are not offered the hypnotic component of the treatment package; instead they are offered relaxation training as a substitute, if required.

Session 2: First Aid for Depression

Since depressives tend to be overwhelmed by feelings of low mood, hopelessness, and pessimism, any immediate relief from these feelings provides a sense of hope and optimism. Overlade (1986) described a First Aid for Depression technique for producing immediate relief from the depressive mood. The goals of First Aid is to (a) break the depressive cycle, (b) to produce positive (nondepressive) feelings, (c) to develop antidepressive pathways, (d) to establish therapeutic alliance, and (d) to produce positive expectancy in the client. Alladin (1992, 1992a, 1994; Alladin & Heap, 1991) expanded the First Aid technique to seven stages. 1. The client is encouraged to talk about the trigger that exacerbated the depressive affect and to ventilate feelings of distress and frustration. 2. A plausible biological explanation (a tucking reflex) of acute depression is provided in order to reduce guilt for feeling depressed. 3. The client is helped to alter the depressive posture or tucking response. 4. The client is encouraged to make deliberate attempts to smile. 5. The client is encouraged to imagine a funny face.