What are early goals of a clinical psychology session for depression--change behavior or thoughts?

Why Behavioral First: When depression is too intense or dysfunctional thoughts are too rigidly intrenched, start with behavioral interventions such as physical activities, leisure activities, social interactions and activity scheduling. This activity will improve the patient's receptivity to cognitive treatment.

Both: Cognitive behavioral therapy addresses changing both cognitive distortions (thoughts, thinking) and also changing behaviors (actions) that are involved in depressed feelings ( mood). The early goal is to start and commit to the process and also includes "homework". Keeping it simple is often the most easy to follow approach.

To get to know : The person and begin to develop a treatment plan with the new client. Therapy is a process and is founded on building a good working relationship with the client based on trust. The therapist first takes a history of the problems that are of concern to the client. The therapist makes recommendations and the client decides with the therapist what goals are best for them.

It depends . . .: Depression can be effectively treated by focusing on either behavior or thoughts. The particular approach in any case will depend on the details of a person's depression. A skilled clinician will join with the patient in devising a plan suited to the individual. If one is attempting to self-treat, behavior is perhaps easier to manage without the coaching of an expert.

Depression: Clinical psychologists can follow many different therapy approaches to work with patients with depression. I mostly utilize cognitive/behavioral therapy(cbt) when working with depressed patients. Cbt's basic tenet is the core thinking has to be changed first. When thinking is more positive the behaviors will follow. When behaviors are improved the person will find their lives more enjoyable.

Depression: Find a reputable psychotherapist in your area to discuss what depression means to YOU. It means different things to different people. Thought processes are usually explored in session to determine how the depressed patient is thinking, how those thoughts and internal dialogue developed, and how to get the patient to eventually experience themselves differently through recognizing other ways.