I don't think there's anything better than talk therapy.
I don't know what psychotherapy does. I have been seeing the same person for 26 years now.
I think psychotherapy saves lives and is hugely meaningful and I think that one of the unfortunate aspects of prescription drugs working well is that people tend to think that's enough.
'Psychotherapy' is a private, confidential conversation that has nothing to do with illness, medicine, or healing.
To someone who is not currently on anti-depressants, I would suggest trying other treatments first - for example, psychotherapy.
I think sometimes it's only by talking about what's really going on that you can make it less scary.
It's very important to distinguish between chemical depression that requires medication and talk therapy.
When you feel bad, find a person to talk to and cry with, to tell of your anger and other helpless feelings.
Twenty years ago I might have hired a professional listener, but somewhere along the way I had lost faith in the talking cure. A genteel fraud in my view.
Psychotherapy works, and some types of therapy have been shown to be much more effective than antidepressants over the long run.
Psychotherapy, unlike castor oil, which will work no matter how you get it down, is useless when forced on an uncooperative patient.
Believe it or not, Marshal, I believe in talk therapy, basic interpersonal skills. I have this radical idea that if you treat a patient with respect and listen to what he's trying to tell you, you just might reach him. (87)
