While medication is extremely important in the successful treatment of depression, supportive psychotherapy may also be helpful.

It's not uncommon for older people who are depressed to resist the idea of psychotherapy. You may not "believe in" psychotherapy as a way to resolve your problems. You may feel uncomfortable about discussing such personal, private matters with a stranger. Or, if you're extremely depressed, you may simply find it difficult to summon up enough energy to see a therapist. But psychotherapy, which involves regular sessions of talking and listening to a therapist over a period of months, is extremely useful in treating depression for a number of reasons. It can help you identify negative patterns that may be contributing to or aggravating

your depression. For example, you may tend to put down your own accomplishments while at the same time you exaggerate how happy and successful other people are. You will be encouraged to understand these patterns in relation to your life experiences, including your childhood and your relationship with your family. This can relieve guilt and also help you start thinking more realistically and positively . Psychotherapy can help you resolve current conflicts and issues that may be contributing to your depression. For example, you may be having family or financial problems, or perhaps you're experiencing stress due to retirement, chronic illness or the death of a spouse.

Finally, psychotherapy can help you deal with the negative emotional consequences of depressive illness. If you've been depressed, it's not uncommon to feel a sense of guilt and worthlessness. You may feel that you've let other people down by becoming ill, and you may worry that your life will never be the same. Just talking about these feelings with a supportive, knowledgeable therapist can be a great relief. Psychotherapy can take many forms and occur in a variety of settings. In some cases, a spouse or other family members may be encouraged to attend with you. It's important that you find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable, or else therapy won't be effective. Your therapist should be someone who is experienced in treating older people and who is sensitive to issues that are more likely to arise later in life.

Just as you may have to try more than one antidepressant drug before finding the one that works for you, you may also have to try more than one type of therapy or therapist. You must also be patient when it comes to psychotherapy. The process of self-discovery and change is usually slow.

Many depressed people notice that psychotherapy "begins to work" at around the same time as their antidepressant medication starts to kick in. As you start to feel better physically and emotionally, you will find yourself taking a more active role in your psychotherapy.