Therapy For You, the esteemed NHS Talking Therapies service serving patients across North East and South East Essex, is providing vital support to couples grappling with the impact of depression. Their innovative and evidence-based approach, approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), is helping couples effectively manage the challenges presented by mild to moderate depression and its repercussions on their relationships.
While recent data indicates a decline in depression rates in the UK year-on-year, figures still remain considerably higher than pre-pandemic levels. Depression not only affects individuals but can also become a significant hurdle for couples. Research indicates that individuals in troubled relationships are at least twice as likely to experience depression compared to those in stable relationships.
Jane Barham, a High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Couple Therapy for Depression (CTfD) Therapist at Therapy For You, notes, “When one or both parties in a relationship are dealing with depression, it can put a strain on that couple, leading to issues such as a lack of communication, a reduced interest in intimacy or sex, or a feeling of increased distance between the two,”
“Managing depression can be hard for any relationship, and when one or both parties are struggling to cope, it can chip away at their foundation, and cause conflicts that maintain their low mood.”
To guide individuals towards improved well-being and healthier relationships, Therapy for You offers Couple Therapy for Depression, a progressive, evidence-based therapy that has proven effective in addressing these difficulties.
Specifically designed for cohabiting couples where one or both partners are contending with low mood influenced by relationship issues, Couple Therapy for Depression assists both individuals in understanding their emotions and enhancing their circumstances.
Laura Cocks, Psychotherapist and Service Manager at Therapy For You, explains, “While Couple Therapy for Depression shares similarities with couple counselling, this is a service specifically for relationships where one or both are experiencing challenges related to mild or moderate depression,”
“To ensure Couple Therapy for Depression is as effective as possible, couples should ideally be living together and be ready, willing and able to practise the techniques they learn outside of weekly sessions in their day-to-day life.”
Upon referral to the service, Therapy For You initiates the process with a confidential telephone assessment involving both partners. This crucial initial step allows their therapists to gain insight into the thoughts and emotions of the couple.
Subsequent one-on-one sessions enable therapists to evaluate their experiences, difficulties, and objectives. In the following sessions, couples work on enhancing their acceptance, perception of their partner’s circumstances, differences, and needs.
Jane explains, “Whether it is arguments over money, parenting, or daily responsibilities, these sessions aim to promote positive behaviours that strengthen the awareness and understanding of a couple,”
The next phase of treatment focuses on making tangible improvements aligned with the goals outlined earlier. Therapy For You indicates that this may involve exercises aimed at enhancing communication, teamwork, or intimacy.
“As well as teaching partners how to improve their wellbeing and relationship, Couple Therapy for Depression encourages people to put what they learn into practice outside of their sessions. In many ways, this is where the real therapy happens,” continues Jane.
In the final sessions, the treatment concentrates on relapse prevention. Here, Therapy For You’s practitioners reinforce the lessons, skills, and techniques the couple has acquired to prevent them from reverting to old patterns.
According to Therapy For You, Couple Therapy for Depression has already had a significant impact on numerous relationships within their local communities. As a NICE-approved and evidence-based treatment, it boasts a recovery rate of approximately 56% for individuals who complete the therapy—surpassing the recovery rates of alternative treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and counseling.
Research also suggests that improving a couple’s relationship can prevent approximately 30% of severe depressive episodes. Therapy For You underscores the immense value of this service for couples facing the challenges of depression.
Jane adds, “We’re here to support anyone who is committed to rebuilding their relationship from the impact of depression. Whether a couple wants to improve communication, become more aware of each other’s needs, or work on their intimacy, we are fully committed to helping them achieve their goals and restoring their foundation for the future.”
Therapy For You’s Couple Therapy for Depression is available at no cost, offering face-to-face or online video sessions to couples in North East and South East Essex.
