There are as many 'styles' of therapy as there are therapists. You therapist can give you more detailed information about the type he or she is using. In addition, there is group therapy, led by a psychotherapist, which provides the additional support of a group that some people may find especially helpful, and there are support groups, led either by a therapist or by group members who take turns as leaders. The good news is that therapy for depression can show results quickly, usually in a matter of weeks. You may opt for brief therapy, to help you get through a rough period and learn skills for coping in the future, or you may choose to stay in therapy as a means of continued personal growth.
Caution is needed, however, since drugs are often overprescribed for women.
Women who are drug or alcohol abusers are at risk for harmful drug interactions, as are the millions of women who take diet pills. In addition, many of the psychotropic drugs can have serious side effects, particularly if the patient is taking other prescription medications. On the other hand, for people who are so depressed that they cannot function, or are suicidal, antidepressant drugs can literally be a lifesaver. It is extremely important that the prescribing doctor be very will trained in psychopharmacology and fully understand the proper dosages, possible side effects, and interaction with other drugs, and that he or she explain all of this very clearly to you. Therapy for women of different ethnic backgrounds must be 'culturally embedded,' in other words, it must translate the concepts into a cultural context that is meaningful.