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Book Review: The 10 Best-Ever Depression Management Techniques

Article  in  The Family Journal · July 2012

DOI: 10.1177/1066480712449801

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342 The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families 20(3)
Conclusion
In conclusion, the editors of the book provide the reader
with practical information about developing, fostering, and
applying one’s mind-set. This book is appropriate for clini-
cians working with individuals on career-related issues or
concerns. It certainly presents a refreshing, comprehensive
approach related to job procurement. This book could be a
helpful resource for clinicians who want to foster self-
awareness and career perspective taking in their work with
clients.
The 10 Best-Ever Depression Management Techniques. (2011).
Margaret Wehrenberg. New York, NY: Norton. 287 pp., $19.95,
ISBN 978-0393706291.
Reviewed by: Kenyon Knapp, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
DOI: 10.1177/1066480712449801
Initially while reading the title, The 10 Best-Ever Depression
Management Techniques, it sounded a bit gimmicky, but Dr.
Wehrenberg’s book ended up being a very pleasant surprise.
The book is laid out in a very straightforward manner with the
first chapter discussing the biological aspects of depression
and the second explaining how psychotropic medications
work. The depth and clarity of explanation was something that
the general public or a beginning mental health professional
would appreciate and understand. Dr. Wehrenberg consis-
tently offers a balanced viewpoint on depression regarding the
nature–nurture debate as she says ‘‘depression is always bio-
logical and biology is always affected by life experience’’
(p. 11). Chapters 3 through 12 are the 10 recommended tech-
niques, a chapter each. It would be more accurate to call the
‘‘10 . . . Techniques’’ the ‘‘10 best categories’’ of help, as a
number of them are fairly broad. However, my previous com-
ment is a slight critique of the format rather than the content,
as the book is very comprehensive with dozens of evidence-
based techniques presented.
The book assists the reader in helping to alleviate depression
from numerous angles. Wehrenberg states ‘‘delaying thoughts
about disappointment can eliminate triggers to feel depressed
because often in the moment of expecting to be disappointed,
your neural networks light up as if you already were disap-
pointed, which leads to inaction’’ (p. 57). The author helps the
reader work on identifying triggers for depression, plan healthy
responses to those triggers, establish healthy self-care, end/
diminish isolation, and numerous other approaches which are
beneficial.
The ‘‘10 Best-Ever Depression Management Techniques’’
are:
1. identify triggers, plan new responses;
2. start where you already are;
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3. cool down burnout;
4. mobilize your energy;
5. end isolation;
6. balance your life;
7. prevent destructive behavior;
8. broaden your perspective;
9. increase flexibility;
10. learn to live fully (p. viii).
The topics are somewhat broad, yet each chapter generously
illustrates how to achieve each goal. For example, with tech-
nique #2, the author states ‘‘Doing what we are good at is a
motivation booster—it helps us feel worthwhile and adequate
at something, even if not in all ways’’ (p. 79). In regards to han-
dling burnout, the author defines burnout, suggests self-care
accountability, offers a self-care checklist, discusses sleep
hygiene and related biological components, offers sleep regi-
men guidelines, as well as identifying and increasing rejuvenat-
ing activities. The chapter on technique #4 offers easy to
understand cognitive behavioral therapy suggestions.
The author also offered timely advice on the potential ben-
efits and detriments of online social activity, noting that ‘‘Many
end up feeling more isolated than when they began their session
on-line. Social-networking sites can increase feelings of lone-
liness as you see that others are interacting in person, attending
activities, or dating’’ (p. 143).
The book had a hopeful and tentative approach toward depres-
sion treatment, repeatedly offering small ways to reframe and
break out of repetitive dysfunctional behaviors. There were
numerous appendices at the end, offering all kinds of exercises for
the techniques mentioned throughout the book. Though the book
was close to 300 pages, which might discourage some depressed
readers, it was generally easy reading with helpful analogies and
illustrations for the more complex topics. Most readers would
benefit from the pragmatic and user-friendly approach of the
book, and it warrants a positive recommendation.
Pragmatics of Human Communication: A Study of Interactional Patterns,
Pathologies, and Paradoxes. (2011). Paul Watzlawick, Janet Beavin
Bavelas, and Don D. Jackson. New York, NY: Norton. 284 pp., $21.95.
ISBN 978-0393707076.
Reviewed by: Carlos M. Del Rio, Southern Illinois University Carbondale,
IL, USA.
DOI: 10.1177/1066480712449802
Pragmatics of Human Communication: A Study of Interactional
Patterns, Pathologies, and Paradoxes (2011) is the theoretical
contribution of Paul Watzlawick, Janet Beavin Bavelas, and
Don D. Jackson to the systemic therapeutic paradigm regarding
their schematics of human communication. The first two
authors published a synthetic version of this work titled Some
Formal Aspects of Human Communication (Paper) in The