Therapy For You, the NHS Talking Therapies service serving patients in North East and South East Essex, is extending a helping hand to couples whose relationships have been impacted by the challenges of depression. They are offering a pioneering, evidence-based model that is endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Through this valuable service, Therapy For You is aiding couples in better managing the complexities that mild to moderate depression can introduce into their lives, and helping them overcome the issues affecting their relationships.
While recent data suggests a year-on-year decline in depression cases in the UK, the numbers remain high when compared to 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, explains, “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 empower individuals to enhance their well-being and their relationships, Therapy For You’s Couple Therapy for Depression is a progressive, evidence-based therapy that has proven effective for many facing such challenges.
Designed for couples living together where one or both are contending with low mood, which is exacerbated by relationship issues, this therapy helps both partners gain insight into their emotions and improve their circumstances.
Laura Cocks, Psychotherapist and Service Manager at Therapy For You, elaborates, “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.”
Once a couple self-refer to the service, Therapy For You initiates with a confidential telephone assessment with both individuals. This critical step allows therapists to comprehend the couple’s thoughts and feelings.
Subsequently, one-on-one sessions are conducted to assess their experiences, challenges, and objectives. In subsequent sessions, couples work on enhancing acceptance, perception of each other’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 subsequent treatment focuses on making meaningful improvements based on the established goals. This could involve exercises to enhance communication, teamwork, or intimacy.
Jane continues, “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,”
In the final sessions, the focus shifts to relapse prevention. Therapists reinforce the lessons, skills, and techniques learned to prevent a couple 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 communities. Nationally, around 56% of individuals who complete CTfD recover from depression and anxiety – a higher rate of recovery compared to alternative treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and counseling.
Research also suggests that improving a couple’s relationship can prevent 30% of severe depressive episodes. Therapy For You highlights the immense value of this service for couples struggling to cope.
“We’re here to support anyone who is committed to rebuilding their relationship from the impact of depression,” adds Jane. “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 for free, either face-to-face or through online video sessions, to couples in North East and South East Essex.
