If you have persistent depression, you are not alone. Feelings of hopelessness and tired of struggling with your life is a reason for participating in this group. In this persistent depression group you may find others that have similar ways of feeling and it could be reassuring to know that you are not alone. By participating in this group there is a great possibility of improving your mood and your ability to function. I utilize the evidence-based Group-Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy because of it’s well-researched and proven treatment effectiveness with client’s diagnosed with persistent depression.
What is Persistent Depression?
According to Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysthymia, “Persistent depressive disorder (PDD), formerly known as dysthymia, is a mood disorder consisting of the same cognitive and physical problems as depression, with less severe but longer-lasting symptoms. The concept was coined by Robert Spitzer as a replacement for the term “depressive personality” in the late 1970s.
According to the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published in 1994 (DSM-IV), dysthymia is a serious state of chronic depression, which persists for at least two years (one year for children and adolescents). Dysthymia is less acute and severe than major depressive disorder. As dysthymia is a chronic disorder, sufferers may experience symptoms for many years before it is diagnosed, if diagnosis occurs at all. As a result, they may believe that depression is a part of their character, so they may not even discuss their symptoms with doctors, family members or friends.
Dysthymia often co-occurs with other mental disorders. A “double depression” is the occurrence of episodes of major depression in addition to dysthymia. Switching between periods of dysthymic moods and periods of hypomanic moods is indicative of cyclothymia, which is a mild variant of bipolar disorder.”
About Group-Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP)
According to Liliane Sayegh, PhD and J. Kim Penberthy, PhD, (2016), “CBASP is the only psychotherapy treatment developed to treat persistent depression with its focus on the interpersonal impact of this illness on the overall functioning of the individual. CBASP is most successful when combined with medications that are prescribed and monitored by your doctor.
CBASP is best learned and practiced within an interpersonal context. You will learn adaptive interpersonal problem-solving skills within adaptive relationship experiences in the group. This will help you feel empowered to then respond to people in your environment who are important to you and to break away from isolation and entrapment brought upon by persistent depression.
CBASP is a highly structured, skills-oriented, interpersonal approach that will teach you concrete skills to help you overcome interpersonal problems, improve your functioning and mood, and help you reach tangible and attainable life goals.”
Why Group-CBASP Therapy for Depression?
As mentioned in the CBASP workbook, The group is where each group member learns about consequences of their interactions with themselves and others and works together toward interpersonal cohesion and improved interpersonal outcomes. This kind of group provides the opportunity for each member to develop their sense of belonging, acceptance, commitment, and allegiance to the group. Group members work together or separately through behavioral interpersonal exchanges that can be engaging or distancing. Attachment, support, and attraction are felt toward the group members’ efforts towards resolving difficult issues. Group-CBASP provides the opportunity to learn with and from others, to maximize rewards, and increase pleasures that have been missing due to persistent depression. It is a place to unlearn maladaptive avoidance and isolation behaviors and increases the ability of acceptance and frustration tolerance as well.
Group-CBASP Therapy for Depression
EACH POTENTIAL GROUP PARTICIPANTS INTAKE SESSIONS 1 AND/OR 2
* Initial intake questionnaire
* Intake forms reviewed and signed
* Initial diagnostic assessment
* Clinical evaluation of intake questionnaire and diagnosis/es
* Developmental history called Significant Other History (SOH)
* Interpersonal Questionnaire (CIQ)
* Scoring of SOH and CIQ
* Construct of transference hypothesis
GROUP SESSION 1
* Group-CBASP Therapy Sessions Outline
* Group Agreements
* Assessment of your Current Depressive Symptoms
* Persistent versus Major Depression
* Do you have Major Depressive Disorder?
* Do you have Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)?
* Course Profiles for Persistent Depressive Disorders
* Two Types of Persistent Depression
* What has been the Course of your Depression?
* Depression Timeline Worksheet
* What has been the Cost of your Depression?
* Mood Chart
* Medication for Depression
* What about Medication? How much and for how long?
GROUP SESSION 2
* The Interpersonal Domain
* Your Interpersonal Domain
* Your Activity Log
* The Cycle of Depression and Inactivity
* Deal with Anxiety that is Linked to Depression
GROUP SESSION 3
* How Maladaptive Thinking can Lead to Maladaptive Coping
* The Cycle of Hopelessness and Powerlessness Leads to Persistent Depression
* What is your Cycle of Hopelessness and Powerlessness?
* How can we Break the Cycle?
* The Situational Analysis (SA)
* There are Several Benefits Gained from Learning to do Situational Analyses
* The Situational Analysis (SA) (For Group Therapy)
* Understanding Steps of the SA Within a Group
GROUP SESSION 4
* Remediation Phase of the Situational Analysis (SA)
* Future Situational Analysis (SA)
GROUP SESSION 5
* Practicing the Situational Analysis (SA) with Elicitation and Remediation Phases
GROUP SESSION 6
* Your Interpersonal Domain
GROUP SESSIONS 7 & 8
* Practicing the Situational Analysis (SA) with Elicitation and Remediation Phases
GROUP SESSIONS 9 & 10
* Understanding our Interpersonal Interactions
* Your Interpersonal Circumplex–Values/Motives
* Your Interpersonal Circumplex–Efficacy
* How is your Interpersonal Profile Related to your Interpersonal Behaviors within this Group?
* Eight Styles of Interpersonal Relating
GROUP SESSIONS 11 & 12
* Your Interpersonal Circumplex–Interpersonal Problems
* Understanding Extreme Scores of Interpersonal Conflict
GROUP SESSIONS 13 & 14
* Complementary and Non-Complementary Interactions
* Hidden Motives
GROUP SESSIONS 15 & 16
* Putting it all Together
* Your Interpersonal Profile
* Your Interpersonal Profile: How can it Help Get What you Want?
GROUP SESSIONS 17 TO 20
* Prepare for Closure (Termination)
How long?
1-2 individual sessions for assessment and diagnosis of each group participant
20 weekly group sessions that equals to almost 5 months in duration.
2 hours each group session
How many members a group?
From 3 to 6 participants per group.
How much?
$90 for initial intake, assessments, evaluations, and
$35 for each 20 group sessions ($700 total), or
$140 per month for 5 months, or
$650 total if paid in full prior to first group session.
When are Group-CBASP sessions
Tuesdays from August 6, 2019 to December 17, 2019 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Wednesdays from August 7, 2019 to December 18, 2019 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Tuesdays from January 14, 2020 to May 26, 2020 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Wednesdays from January 15, 2020 to May 27, 2020 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Tuesdays from August 4, 2020 to December 15, 2020 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Wednesdays from August 5, 2020 to December 16, 2020 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Where?
Hackberry Crossing Office Park
9555 Lebanon Road, Building 4, Suite 402
Frisco, Texas 75035