Treating Childhood Depression from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach

One of the main interventions of Functional Family Therapy that resonates with me is that one of the prime goals of this model is to identify the primary focus of intervention (the family) and reflect an understanding that positive and negative behaviors both influence and are influenced by the relationships each family member has with one another. Therefore, making functional therapy a multi systemic program, meaning that it focuses on the multiple domains and systems within which families live and interact with one another. Within this context, FFT works first to develop family members’ inner strengths and sense of being

As children all develop at different speeds, a child that struggles at school and has not been identified as having any specific special needs, could suffer from depression thus affecting the child’s development.

To fully understand the effects of antidepressants on children and adolescents, proper experimentation must be conducted, which could prove challenging as to the span of years and test subjects involved in these cases. Meanwhile, some mental health professionals assert that the use of antidepressants in children may well avert the brain from developing patterns of depression as an adult, and points to studies presenting the advantages which can offset the hazards in implementing such drugs. Depression is ominous and foreboding for those who suffer with this malady; professionals contend that the vast “impact of depression is greater than the impact of the

The article “Child and Adolescent Depression in the Family” examined the positive effects that family therapy can have on a child suffering from depression. The research found that all the studies involving a family focused treatment was effective at decreasing youth depression. I think that this would be especially important for the

My first assumption of family therapy was to involve the parents and the individual that had the problem. This book explored further what it

The controversy over the use of antidepressants in the treatment of children has received a large amount of attention in the past years. Everyone has his or her own opinion of antidepressants and how they work, but no one takes time to research the claims of the treatments. Antidepressants are medications to treat depression in children, teens, and adults. The dosage given should vary on the level of depression and the age of the patient. The side effects also vary depending on the patient. One source states that, “teenagers on antidepressants should be monitored for any sign that the depression is getting worse” (HelpGuide.Org). Many teens are depressed from causes of neglect. Some may feel that their parents are not around as much as they should be. Depressed teens should be watched closely and if the parent or parents are not available to keep a close look the outcome of the teen may be in danger. If a parent pays more attention to their child, then they could intervene before the depression worsens. There is a possibility of prevention of the

Today schools are taking a much more effective role in detection of depression in the younger generations. Because school is like work for adults and is where children spend most of their days, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss a model developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner and Morris in 1979, which addresses the totality of the child’s life up to the present moment. This model gave school counselors a tool to work from while assessing the children. This model puts every aspect of the disorder on a continuum that professionals can use as a guide during questioning and diagnosis. Due to the fact that depression is hard to detect in young children, this process allows the counselor to see all symptoms present even if they don’t fit the DSM IV criteria to comprise a diagnosis. The Ecological Model takes a look at the child as a whole. This includes, home,

Some pediatric psychiatrists had been treating their patients with antidepressants for a very long time. Antidepressants such as Prozac appeared to be just as effective in treating depression in kids as it did in adults, but its long term effects in growing minds had not yet been discovered. Recent research now suggests that such drugs may interfere with

The main goal of CBT is to help individuals and families cope with their problems by changing their maladaptive thinking and behavior patterns and improve their moods (Blackburn et al, 1981). Intervention is driven by working hypotheses (formulations) developed jointly by patient, his/her family and therapist from the assessment information. Change is brought about by a variety of possible interventions, including the practice of new behaviors, analysis of faulty thinking patterns, and learning more adaptive and rational self-talk skills. (Hawton, Salkovskis, Kirk, and Clark, 1989).

J.K was administered Children Depression Inventory (CIDI) to verify the themes found in the projective tests. Children Depression Inventory assesses the presence and severity of depressive symptoms ages 7 to 17 years. It measures Negative Mood, Interpersonal Problem, Ineffectiveness, Anhedonia and Negative Self-Esteem. Her CDI total score was 42. Her scores ranged from below average to average. CDI total score reflects the number and severity of the depressive symptoms. J.K’s CDI profile is considered normal. Her highest T score was on the subscale Ineffectiveness which corresponds with her drawings that suggest that she feels inadequate. J.K’s challenge appears to be related to her view of school and her desire for a stronger relationship

Approaches to Family Therapy: Minuchin, Haley, Bowen, & Whitaker Treating families in therapy can be a complex undertaking for a therapist, as they are dealing not only with a group of individuals but also with an overall system. Throughout history several key theorists have attempted to demystify the challenges families face and construct approaches to treatment. However, there have been key similarities and differences among the theoretical orientations along the way. While some have simply broadened or expanded from existing theories, others have stood in stark

“The goal of CBT is to teach clients how to separate the evaluation of their behaviour from the evaluation of themselves and how to accept themselves in spite of imperfections” (Corey, 2009, p. 279). In CBT the clients are expected to change their current behaviour (normally full of automatic thoughts) to a more rational way of thinking. The clinician will challenge the client’s behaviour in order for the client to understand his or her behaviour and get alternatives to change his/her behaviour. When using CBT, the client’s behaviour changes when they are aware of the abnormal behaviour. This approach allows the client to focus on improving his/her wellbeing. This enhances the client’s awareness of an existing issue and that changes are necessary. The client will develop new coping skills to deal with the situation and develop a new way of thinking from negative (automatic thoughts) to positive (more realistic thoughts). Initially the client may not recognise that a problem exists, but through this process will get

I did some research on it that night after our meeting and found some very interesting facts and statistics. Family counseling can only be effective when all family members make the effort to be present. Once the clients are processing in family systems terms, it is expected that they can be more objective and avoid some of the emotional reactions that might obstruct positive treatment. Beginning with a focus on the symptomatic issue, the hope is that the system will start to reveal itself. It is then the task of the therapist to begin introducing a broader conceptualization of how the family members can and should experience these as they arise. This approach can alleviate primary problems in family functioning, scapegoating, guilt and blame, lack of empathy for differences, and nonfunctional rules, while forming new and better agreements for positive growth and functioning.

During, the contemplation stage the client may be ambivalent about change. However, they understand their negative consequences only come from the results of their behaviors so one will not make the commitment or act as to what change may need to come about because their feelings are emotions come to play. So, the techniques that the therapist must take is encouraged and if they weigh all their pros and cons of the behavior so that the goal is to help balance all the information tourist change identify and promote new positive outcomes and expectations and have the client take the next step. on the negative side, the client might refuse to change because they're not ready to be prepared for commitments or acting towards the next step basically

Within this therapy families come to find how Family Therapy can change the way they talk, oversee struggles and problems, or endure negative feelings can help in their loved one recover. Family therapy stresses a solid parental organization together, determination of family troubles and support for adolescents creating freedom, as this therapy can be beneficial for adolescents as well as children. Family therapy additionally support participants to comprehend the role the disorder has played inside of their family, what elements may be keeping up the disorder, and how to separate between their relative and their relative's disorder. (Dodge, Hodes, Eisler, & Dare,