Brilliant Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, 2nd Edition

Behavioural strategies for tackling depression

Behavioural approaches are indispensable when tackling depression. One study found that people who used the behavioural techniques described below reported higher rates of symptom relief than those who exclusively used a cognitive approach. Obviously this is a bit of a false distinction since, as you have learned, behavioural interventions do directly impact on our thoughts and feelings. However, the point is that when it comes to sorting out depression, what you do is just as important, if not more important, than mental strategies alone. Behavioural techniques include:

1. activity scheduling
2. behavioural experiments to challenge depressive assumptions
3. exercise.

1 Activity scheduling

This is one ...