Everyone has their own ideas about the best ways to treat and cope with depression, so when you’re considering seeking help through a depression treatment program, it’s important to remember that they’re not all created equal. What worked for one person doesn’t just work for everyone else, but if you have a clear understanding of what you need from treatment, you’ll be better able to select the right program for your healing. These five depression treatment options provide an excellent place to start understanding what you can aim to gain.

1. Inpatient vs. Outpatient Treatment Programs

In a previous post, we outlined the key differences between inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment. When selecting a treatment program, understanding the distinction between inpatient and outpatient treatment is often the best place to start. Inpatient treatment programs are more intensive, and as a result are better suited for more intense cases of depression where individuals remain at the treatment center all day and overnight until completion. With outpatient treatment, on the other hand, individuals are free to return home each evening, and as a result, it’s often reserved for milder cases of depression.

2. Holistic Treatment

Effective depression treatment requires more than sitting in a room and sharing your feelings. While that’s an essential component of treatment, it also requires reflection, exploration, and the opportunity to discover all that life has to offer. That’s why some of the most effective depression treatment programs are those that take a holistic approach to healing. Instead of regarding depression as something that exists exclusively in the individual’s head, holistic treatment programs account for the fact that depression is almost always the cause of a variety of complex life factors and needs to be treated as such.

3. Medication Management

For many individuals, particularly those dealing with intense forms of depression, medication is an instrumental part of recovery. Unfortunately, many individuals are given the wrong medication, are overmedicated, are undermedicated, or their current medications simply aren’t delivering the intended results. It’s essential for depression treatment programs to examine the individual’s prescriptions when they enter treatment. Without proper medication, the path to healing becomes much more difficult. By correctly medicating from the outset of the program and fine-tuning the prescription as the program goes on, individuals heal faster and they’re set up for more successful recovery even after the program ends.

4. Family Resources

When an individual enters a depression treatment program, it isn’t only the person struggling with depression who needs support. The people around them, including family and loved ones, also need resources to ensure successful treatment outcomes. Whether that includes family therapy, informative courses, or the opportunity to visit during treatment, depression treatment programs should also offer guidance to families as they’re navigating the new and unexpected difficulties that come with having a family member in crisis.

5. A Therapeutic Milieu

Healing from depression doesn’t happen alone. That’s why it’s important to consider the social environment a depression treatment program offers. Milieu therapy offers individuals the opportunity to heal together. By learning, sharing, and healing together, individuals form meaningful relationships in a safe environment where they can be vulnerable without the fear of judgement or social stigma. These relationships provide them with a healthy model to build and nurture future relationships as they navigate their return to day-to-day life.

What Happened to You Matters

Ultimately, no matter which depression treatment program you choose, the most important thing is that you’re viewed as more than a diagnosis. While you may be struggling with depression, depression does not define you, and nobody else should use it to define you either. Doing so often does more harm than good because depression is not a choice. It’s often the manifestation of deeply rooted anxieties or trauma that need to be understood rather than denied. With the right support of caring professionals who care about what happened to you, you can begin to understand how past experiences have shaped your perceptions today, and that’s where healing begins.

Take the Next Step in Your Path to Healing

At PCH, we offer a dedicated depression treatment program that offers all of the above and more. Whether you know now is the time for treatment or you’re still trying to determine if you need treatment at all, our caring specialists are here to help you find the guidance you need to move forward with your life. Get in touch with us today to take the next step in the path to healing.