Behavioral Activation for Depression

When kids are depressed, they often withdraw from activities that they normally enjoy — spending a lot of time alone in their room instead of seeing friends, for example. Not doing things that make them feel good in turn makes them more depressed. That’s why there’s a form of therapy called behavioral activation, which focuses on getting depressed children and teenagers active again as a way to improve their mood.

This week we offer a new piece exploring how behavioral activation helps depressed kids focus on things they care about doing and take steps to start doing them again. We also look at other treatments for depression, how to tell if your teenager is depressed — not just cranky or moody — and ways to help kids get out of negative thinking spirals.