There are many difficult situations adults and children face when navigating through life. Job loss, financial struggle, difficulties with interpersonal relationships can all cause emotional challenges for those that may be new to mental health or even those that have been in treatment for some time.
About 16 million U.S. adults had at least one major depressive episode in 2012. That makes up approximately 6.9% of adults in the country. While both men and women suffer from depression, women are 70% more likely than men to experience depression in their lifetime. In the world, 350 million people are affected by some form of depression.
The difficulty, or one of the difficulties, with depression is that many who go through it and suffer from it do not seek treatment. While the annual cost of depression in the United States is $80 billion due to work productivity loss and healthcare costs, 50% of those suffering from depression do not seek support.
One of the more difficult aspects of depression are the causes. While many types of depression surround the ‘chemical’ component, once called clinical depression, other types surround job loss or a loss in the family or others.
Marriage difficulties can also lead to depression. Often, a long term relationship can lose that initial fire that was present at the beginning of the relationship. Time, responsibilities, conflict, long-standing resentment, or simple lack of communication can all take a toll when it comes to the health of relationships.
That’s all even before the prospect of infidelity. According to one statistic, the average length of an affair is two years. This can damage a relationship often so badly that separation or divorce is considered. No matter which partner cheats, the effect can be devastating.
There are some types of psychotherapy fortunately that have been shown to help. As always, whenever seeking therapy, it is important to try different therapy services or therapists to decide which types of psychotherapy will work best for you and your situation. Anxiety, depression, traumatic situations may all have different types of psychotherapy that are utilized to treat the conditions.
Here are some statistics regarding couples therapy that may be useful for you to find the right fit with a therapist and type of treatment:
- According to the Chicago Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy, research shows that 50% of couples who participated in emotionally focused therapy recovered upon completion of therapy, while 70% recovered within the next three months.
- If you choose a marriage or family therapist, you’ll spend 20-40% less time than with a traditional psychotherapist.
- According to the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, over 98% who underwent couple’s therapy reported they received good or excellent help, with 97% saying they got the help they needed.
The benefits of psychotherapy and counseling are improved wellness and possibly better quality of life. For those seeking psychotherapy for marriage or family reasons, improved relationships might also be a benefit.