Psychotherapy (Individual and Group)

Psychotherapy is a foundational component of care at the UTHealth Houston Center for Interventional Psychiatry and is integrated across all levels of treatment within the Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) Program. Psychotherapeutic interventions are delivered in individual and group formats and tailored to each patient’s clinical needs, level of care, and stage of illness.

Individual Psychotherapy

Individual psychotherapy provides a structured, one-on-one setting to address:

  • Depressive symptoms and associated cognitive, emotional, and behavioral patterns
  • Coping strategies for chronic or treatment-resistant illness
  • Functional recovery and goal-directed behavior
  • Engagement with pharmacologic and interventional treatments

Therapeutic approaches are evidence-based and may include cognitive-behavioral, behavioral activation, supportive, or other structured modalities, selected based on diagnosis, symptom profile, and patient needs. Individual psychotherapy is closely coordinated with medication management and interventional treatments to support comprehensive care.

Group Psychotherapy

Group psychotherapy plays an essential role in treatment at the Center, particularly within IOP and PHP levels of care. Group-based interventions focus on:

  • Skill development for mood regulation and stress management
  • Behavioral activation and functional recovery
  • Peer support and shared learning
  • Relapse prevention and long-term coping strategies

Groups are structured, goal-oriented, and facilitated by experienced clinicians. Group therapy provides patients with opportunities to practice skills, reduce isolation, and reinforce treatment engagement in a supportive environment.

Integration Across Levels of Care

Psychotherapy is delivered across outpatient, IOP, PHP, and inpatient settings, with intensity and format adjusted to clinical need. Treatment goals and therapeutic focus evolve as patients move through different levels of care, supporting continuity and sustained improvement.

Coordination With Interventional Treatments

Psychotherapy at the Center is not delivered in isolation. It is integrated with:

  • Medication management, including optimization and augmentation strategies
  • Interventional psychiatry treatments, such as ECT, TMS, and ketamine-based therapies
  • Ongoing measurement-based assessment and treatment planning

This coordinated approach helps patients make sense of their treatment experience, consolidate gains from interventional therapies, and develop strategies to support long-term recovery.

Through individualized and group-based psychotherapy, the Center aims to enhance treatment response, improve functioning, and support durable outcomes for individuals with severe and treatment-resistant psychiatric illness.