What Are Creative Interventions for Depression?
In the quest to find innovative ways to support individuals battling depression, we turned to the expertise of mental health professionals. From daily positive affirmations to implementing behavioral activation strategies, here are four creative interventions shared by leading psychiatrists and psychologists.
- Daily Positive Affirmations
- Embrace Imperfect Efforts
- Utilize Expressive Arts Therapy
- Implement a Behavioral Activation Strategy
Daily Positive Affirmations
One creative intervention is to tell patients to say one positive thing about themselves a day and to write it down. They can also use positive affirmation soundtracks (from the internet) every day as well.
I also ask them how long they can go without thinking or saying anything negative about themselves or about the world around them. If they can time how long they can go without thinking or saying anything negative (even if it's for 10 seconds), then the next time they try, whether it be the same day or the next day, they can try not to think or to say anything negative for a longer time than the first time and so forth.
Embrace Imperfect Efforts
One very underrated saying I share with my clients experiencing depression is: "Anything worth doing is worth half-assing." We hear all the time that we should only do things 100%—but this is not doable for everyone all the time. Instead, we lean into the gray area by saying, "I may not be able to do this to the best of my ability, but I can still do something"—and that can make a HUGE difference. Making a sandwich for dinner is better than skipping it altogether. One minute of deep breathing is better than none. Washing your face is better than not doing any hygiene practices at all. Let's meet ourselves where we are at and stop demanding perfection.
Utilize Expressive Arts Therapy
I often use expressive arts therapy. This approach involves using various forms of art, such as painting, drawing, writing, music, or drama, as a means of expression and exploration.
I usually encourage the client to create a visual representation of their feelings through painting or drawing. This can provide a nonverbal outlet for emotions that are difficult to articulate verbally. Alternatively, writing poetry or journaling can help clients process their thoughts and emotions in a structured way, which can be particularly helpful for individuals who struggle to communicate their feelings through traditional talk therapy alone.
Implement a Behavioral Activation Strategy
One of the "gold standards" of treating depression is behavioral activation. Behavioral activation is predicated on the premise that people who are depressed are lacking in two main areas: tasks that bring them pleasure and tasks that bring them a sense of accomplishment/mastery. Its aim, therefore, is to increase both of these and, in so doing, decrease symptoms of depression.
