Behavioral Activation for Depression

Behavioral Activation is a practical and evidence- based treatment of depression based on the work of Peter Lewinsohn and colleagues. It is based on the premise that depression leads to “inactivation” in the individuals afflicted by it. When depressed, we become less active and have less opportunities to engage in positive and rewarding things, which further lowers our mood resulting in a vicious cycle of worsening mood and inactivity. 

Behavioral Activation helps reverse this vicious cycle and brings us back out of depression. Behavioral activation for depression is about making your life meaningful and pleasurable again, it involves these steps:

• Learning about the vicious cycle of inactivity > depression > inactivity and understanding that we need to activate ourselves to feel better again

• Monitoring our daily activities to understand the relationships between our activity and our mood

• Identifying our values and goals (working out what really matters to us)

• Simple activation (scheduling and carrying out meaningful activities to boost our experiences of pleasure and mastery)

• Problem-solving any barriers to activation

Behavioral Activation focuses more on behaviors rather than cognition/thoughts, hence some people find it more feasible but it can be incorporated as part of Cognitive Behavioral Treatment as well.

Click on the links below to learn more about this treatment:
How To Use Behavioral Activation (BA) To Overcome Depression
Behavioral Activation for Depression

Hoping this will get you “activated”. See you on the Tennis court tonight !!