The success of depression treatment centers is measured by the services offered. Good depression facilities offer holistic therapy which is a complete combination of exercise and diet plans, counseling and talk therapy sessions, motivation tapes and medication among other materials. Millions of individuals are affected by depression each year but only about 29 percent seek help from depression centers according to CDC. The remaining percentage is either ignorant of their depression status or cannot afford depression treatment.
Visiting depression treatment centers is a voluntary process which calls for commitment from both the patient and the therapist. The mode of action of each depression center is different. When some of the centers are run privately, others are charitable organizations. Some are run by universities and others by Christian missionaries. Besides, there are day treatment as well
as residential depression treatment centers to cater for the needs of all individuals.
Treatment Options: What to Expect when you Visit Depression Treatment Facilities
The series of services offered in depression treatment facilities is almost similar. First off, a psychiatric examination will be offered. This assists the facility in knowing the cause of your depression. That is, if the depression is medical or psychological. This is important in setting a plan of action.
Individual and Group Therapy
Individual therapy follows psychiatric examinations where the therapists determine how the negative thoughts influence behavior and the best way to correct this. This stage uses a cognitive-behavioral therapy approach. Group therapy as the name suggests is for those recovering from depression. Patients are brought together to enhance communication between them and for motivation. When together with individuals struggling with different or same challenges as yours, you will learn many things such as medication, coping skills and most importantly motivate your through the therapy session.
Family Therapy
The family comes handy when a patient is recovering from mental health disorders. In most cases, the family helps the patient get through aftercare. The depression treatment centers teach the family members to look out for signs of a relapse. To ensure that the services offered are holistic and the patient fully benefits, the facilities offer extra services including massage therapy, exercise therapy, music therapy, pet therapy, activity therapy, relaxation therapy and spiritual counseling among others. The services will vary from one depression treatment center to another.
Discerning the Best Depression Treatment Center
Telling upscale centers and poor depression treatment centers apart can be a daunting task to a newbie. In most cases, luxury depression centers boost of seamless services and even allow you to take an on-site tour that familiarizes you with their system. However, knowing the doctors and the equipment a facility has is not enough. There are a myriad of factors to consider before settling for a specific center. These are:
The History of the Facility
A simple search on the internet will show you the various details regarding a facility. Check whether the facility is licensed in the state it operates in, conduct a background check on their doctors, how long the facility has been in operation and any reviews from third party sites regarding the facility.
Request an On-site Tour
Tours give you the chance to ask any questions that you may have about a facility. Most of the depression treatment centers will offer on-site tours to prospective clients. While at it, ask about the facilities and the amenities the center prides on, the current programs and the charges for the specific therapies. If allowed, you can interview some of the doctors/therapists or staff. Ensure that the center you choose has enough facilities to cater for emergencies.
Understand the Depression Treatment Program
Though the family will be informed of the therapies and the procedures to be involved in depression treatment, it is up to you to find how the current programs run. Learn about the medications and the therapies involved. Check whether there are specialized programs for individuals of different ages.
Aftercare and Privacy
Depression treatment centers should hold the privacy of the patient highly. The privacy should not only be maintained during the treatment but also after treatment to ensure the patients get back to their jobs. In most cases, the patient will attend group therapies inside the facility and later a therapist will offer aftercare at their homes. You can read the privacy policies of different depression centers to learn more.
