Do you like dictionaries? There is something very satisfying about the precision, and clear boundaries set by a good definition. These sparse pronouncements can clarify, and expand our understanding of words. Sometimes they jar me, just enough off dead-center, to sense new layers of meaning. I can speculate and play with concepts – ‘Thinking Things’ – within the safety of the dictionary’s alphabetical limits.

I’ve been playing with words – seeking the perfect lead. Check it out…

Treatment: 1) The act, manner, method etc. of treating or dealing with a person, thing or subject in art or literature, etc. 2) Medical or surgical care, especially a systematic course of this.    Webster’s New World Dictionary, Second College Edition

My recent discovery of more than one hundred ‘therapies’ listed on-line, sent chills and thrills through me. Thrills, that so much information was so readily available (talk about options!), and chills – thinking about doing justice to the topic, without drowning all of us in the myriad of details.

Webster’s definition suggests an outline we can use as a roadmap through this topical territory. Score!

Let’s break it down: The subject (or thing) is Depression and Anxiety. The persons include yourself, and your supporting cast of characters – counselor, pastor, family, or friends.

The act is what it’s all about. Whether you choose to work with help, or on your own – recovery begins when you recognize need and seek relief or support, through prayer and counsel or self-help guidance.

You must choose to move – and if you’re reading this, you have already made that choice and are on your way. Congratulations!

The Manner and Method: These include the therapeutic approach, or philosophy, you will engage – the ways you will explore your needs, and the things you will do to meet those needs.

So, what does the research tell us about successful manners and methods? Basically, that there are many different designs for successful treatment – and that finding the right fit is important. One Size Does not fit all.

When we shop – we may look for “brand” names.   As odd as it may seem – we can do the same when considering approaches to psychological treatment.

Psychodynamic approaches are promoted as being thorough and comprehensive.

Behavioral therapies advertise cost effectiveness as well as their scientific basis for success.

Humanistic therapies are based on the assumed goodness of mankind, and so on…

There are behavioral therapists, biblical therapists, Gestalt therapists, hypnotherapists, rational emotive therapists, integration therapists, and cognitive therapists – to name a few.

We look for “Brands” – and we also shop for quality. ‘Evidence-based’ treatment is a systematic course of actions that have been evaluated and found to be effective. These may involve comparisons of one activity or approach with another – or reviews of single case-study reports.

Despite all of the differences in methodology – there is agreement on what is required for success.

In his book, Cognitive Therapy Techniques In Christian Counseling, Dr. Mark McMinn outlined six active ingredients found in all effective emotional healing techniques. They are:

• Trust, unconditional positive regard (empathy and emotion) and confidentiality.
• Explanations, or ways to understand complaints – and guidance for building relief.
• The ability to understand problems in new ways – and learning of new ways to cope with them.
• Real hope, beyond wishful thinking – a reasonable expectation of improvement. This is crucial.
• Success: We need to experience and recognize Building our evidence of success helps to keep hope alive, and improvement going.
• Emotional arousal is a necessary part of the process – and provides MOTIVATION.

Whether you are engaged in a therapeutic process on your own or with counsel, it’s going to be an emotional experience and, if it proves effective, you will be stirring and tasting all ingredients.

A great philosopher, Winnie the Pooh, asked: ‘Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?’

That’s a danger I sense may be lurking in investigating too many details, of too many therapeutic approaches,  to be included in one book.  In OVERCOME DEPRESSION With Brain Science, Strategies and Scripture, I hope to heighten awareness of the great scope of potential – while saving the details for a select few.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy will be included.  Here’s why: It is one of the most studied and recognized effective approaches for treating Depression and Anxiety.

It’s called cognitive therapy because it’s concerned with changing thoughts, and thoughts always relate to feelings. This is old wisdom.

A noted, and much-quoted, Roman philosopher (Epictitus – born in 55 AD) said: ‘Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them’.

He also said: ‘It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters’.

You may have read some of his most quoted ideas in Greeting Cards, or on Bumper stickers and T-Shirts … paraphrased by many.Such 21^st century marketing success is not bad for a man of his age!

Wisdom never goes out of style, and these ideas come close to illustrating the base of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).This approach lines up nicely with Christian principals since CBT directs clients to compare their thoughts with truth – for accurately understanding reality. Christians accept Scripture as our source of truth – So, we have a trustworthy standard for comparison.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”     2 Timothy 3:16

In our God – believers also have a ready, unlimited and unshakeable supply of Grace – purely unconditional love – which supports us in disputing faulty beliefs that call our worth, or ability to love and be loved into question. These are powerful benefits.

“Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever”. Psalm 136:26

“… neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.     Romans 8:39

Once released, the book will be available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, Kobo, and Apple iBooks.  I hope you will enjoy it.

Blessings, Love and Laughter,

Marge

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