Depression Psychotherapists in Nairobi

Effective psychological treatments include behavioural activation and cognitive-behavioural therapy ¹. Interpersonal psychotherapy and problem-solving therapy are also used. In the World Health Organization's words: ‘Psychological treatments are the first treatments for depression.’ ‘They can be combined with antidepressant medicines in moderate and severe depression.’

Effective treatment exists for mild, moderate and severe depression. A depressive episode means low mood, or loss of interest in things you enjoyed. It lasts most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.

Low mood after a loss or a hard year is not automatically a disorder, though support can help. Ask a practitioner what they would suggest, and why.

Everyone on this page describes their work as psychotherapy. A psychotherapist works through talking with you about your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

Psychotherapy usually runs longer than counselling and aims for clinical change. It works on patterns that repeat rather than on one current problem.

A psychotherapist trains in psychological treatment rather than in medicine. What that training covers, and which approach a practitioner uses, differ between practitioners. Ask which approach a psychotherapist trained in, and how long they usually work.

Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital - General Mental Health Outpatient Services. Phone +254 20 2337694. Kenya's Social Health Authority covers mental health care in its benefits package. Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital is accredited by the Authority and says so in its own public material. To use that cover you must be registered with the Authority, and what it pays for is set by its benefit rules. The hospital runs an ordinary outpatient clinic from Monday to Friday. Ring the hospital's enquiries line to arrange an appointment. It is an enquiries line, not a crisis line.

See the Kenya page for the professions that do carry a register there.