FAQ’s

Which form of therapy is most effective for major depression?

Psychotherapy is the most effective form of therapy for major depression. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy and is considered the most effective for anxiety and stress. 

Patients with depression often carry a negative view of themselves, their experiences, their environment, and their own future. CBT aims to identify and modify the pattern of negative thinking and behavior. CBT has been shown to be effective in all age groups and it’s currently considered the best method in preventing relapse. 

Interpersonal Therapy is also a proven treatment in this area. The goal is to treat depression through understanding and improving our relationships.

Our therapists are trained in a variety of modalities. This allows us to blend the perfect counseling experience for your specific needs and life situation.

Is it weird to go to counseling if we’re not married?

No. There’s nothing weird about pursuing couples counseling while unmarried. It works much the same way as marriage counseling, with a focus on mending damaged bonds, improving strained aspects of the relationship, and becoming a team again. We also work with couples who have no plans to get married. We respect the decisions you make as a couple. Your relationship deserves the same attention and care as any other.

What’s the difference between marriage counseling and couples therapy?

Marriage counseling and couples therapy are similar in many ways and are used interchangeably often. This makes it difficult to identify the differences between the two. According to Marriage Guardian, “Marriage counseling tends to deal with present events more than past events.” There tends to be a greater focus on the “now” and the challenges of day-to-day married life. 

Couples therapy focuses on the present but more often there is an event or history creating an unhealthy relationship. This isn’t always the case – but is often a defining difference between marriage and couples counseling. 

Our mission is to help you find rational, effective solutions to your past and present relationship issues. 

What does therapy look like for teens specifically?

Therapy for teenagers can look like a lot of different things – but that’s good news. The reason is that different teens are going to be looking for different things in their therapy. 

Let’s start with what teen therapy isn’t

• It’s not always just sitting across from a therapist and talking (unless that’s what’s most comfortable for them)
• It’s not giving them a load of advice or telling them what to do.
• There’s not a “one size fits all” methodology or approach to the individual’s needs. 

Our goal at Eclectic Psychotherapy of Long Island is to provide a safe space for your teen to be heard and understood. We find it best to start slow and easy. Next, we can better explore the areas where they are struggling. This involves talking about things that they have been nervous about or avoiding – giving them the chance to open up at their own pace. 

My son/daughter refuses to try therapy. What should I do?

We see this all the time. Adolescents, especially teens, can become defensive even at the suggestion of seeing a therapist. This is understandable and it’s easy to imagine ourselves acting similarly in our youth. 

We find the best way to manage this is to involve your child in the process. Bring them to meet their potential counselor and only make a commitment once they feel comfortable with someone. If you can get your team to the point where they say “ok, I can talk to them” – you’ve accomplished a big step already.