Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions, affecting millions of Americans each year. According to the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), it is estimated that 21 million Americans suffer from depression.[1]
If you suffer from depression, you might experience persistent feelings of sadness, low mood, trouble completing daily tasks, and a loss of interest in things you used to enjoy. The symptoms of depression can impact your ability to function in daily life. Thankfully, depression is a manageable condition that can be treated with therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
Choosing to attend a treatment center for depression is the first step towards long-term recovery. If you are trying to pick a treatment center for depression, you should consider what type of program it is, what methods of treatment are used, whether the staff is qualified and experienced, and what insurance or payment options they offer.
Things to Consider When Picking a Treatment Center for Depression in Florida
Treating depression involves a combination of individualized treatment planning, evidence-based therapies, and sometimes medication. The services you participate in will depend on the severity of your symptoms and your goals for recovery.
When choosing a treatment center for depression, you should consider the following:
Type of Program
There are several different types of depression treatment programs to choose from. First, you have inpatient rehab centers that require you to live at the facility while you undergo treatment. Inpatient or residential programs are the most intensive level of care available.
If you want to live at home while you receive care, you should choose outpatient treatment like a partial hospitalization program (PHP) or an intensive outpatient program (IOP). These programs offer intensive care while providing a level of freedom and flexibility in scheduling. If you need to continue working while receiving depression treatment, you should choose an outpatient program.
Addiction is common among people with depression, with 16.5 percent of people diagnosed with depression having an alcohol use disorder and 18 percent having a drug use disorder.[2] If you struggle with co-occurring substance use disorder, you should opt for a dual diagnosis treatment center. They provide treatment for mental health and addiction at the same time, allowing you to overcome both conditions at once.
Treatment Methods
Another thing you should consider is the type of treatments they use to address depression. Some treatment programs only use therapy, while others use a combination of therapy and medication. Medication can be a useful tool to manage symptoms while you work on overcoming them naturally in therapy.
You should also look into the format of therapy that the program uses. For example, individual therapy, group counseling, and family therapy are all common forms of treatment for depression.
Additionally, you should choose a treatment center that uses evidence-based therapies for depression. This means the therapies they used are researched and proven effective in managing or treating depression. Examples of evidence-based therapies for major depressive disorder include:[3]
- Behavioral therapy
- Cognitive therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Supportive therapy
Staff Qualifications and Expertise
You want to make sure the treatment center you are choosing hires qualified and experienced staff members. You should be receiving care from licensed psychologists and therapists or psychiatrists if you are using medication.
The mental health professionals at the facility should also specialize in treating depression. This means they have a professional focus on managing the disorder, proving they have expertise in the field. Choosing a psychologist who specializes in depression will ensure you receive a high level of care.
Agape Behavioral Accepts Private Insurance Plans 
Insurance and Payment Options
Lastly, you want to consider whether the treatment center accepts insurance. Thankfully, treatment for mental health disorders like depression is covered by most insurance plans. You can call your insurance provider or the treatment center to verify if your insurance is accepted.
If you are not using insurance to pay for your depression treatment, you should look for a program that offers payment plans. Mental health treatment can be expensive, so finding a facility that allows you to use a sliding scale fee can be helpful.
Get Connected to Treatment for Depression in Florida
Depression can cause a wide range of symptoms that can make it difficult to cope with daily life. It can even lead to life-threatening emergencies like suicidal ideation. Because of this, you should never allow your depression to remain untreated.
Thankfully, mental health treatment programs like Agape Behavioral Healthcare offer a supportive environment for you to recover from depression. At our facility, you’ll receive personalized care, learn healthy coping mechanisms, and have access to ongoing support to ensure you remain healthy.
At Agape Behavioral Healthcare, we believe in a love that’s universal and unconditional. We are passionate about providing an opportunity for authentic transformation to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
Since 2016, our mission has remained the same: to be a guiding light on the path to recovery and wellness for those struggling with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.
Contact us today for more information on our depression treatment center in Florida.
References:
- The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH): Major Depression
- The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Mood Disorders and Substance Use Disorder: A Complex Comorbidity
- The American Psychological Association (APA): Depression Treatments for Adults
