Session P3 I Day 2 Opening Plenary I Keynote Presentation 3
Tracks
Stream A
Stream B
Stream C
Stream D
Stream E
Stream F
Stream G
| Saturday, May 17, 2025 |
| 8:50 AM - 10:00 AM |
Overview
Keynote Presenter I Dr. Michael Yapko
Details
Clinical Psychologist, Developer of Claria for Mental Health
Presenter
Dr. Michael Yapko
Dr. Yapko & Associates
Depression is Contagious: Have We Been Looking at Depression Through the Wrong Lens?
9:00 AM - 10:00 AMAbstract
For decades social psychologists have described the phenomenon known as the “contagion of emotion,” referring to how a mood state can be spread from one person to another through social interaction. Two recent events have forced mental health professionals to re-think what we thought we knew about depression that lend support to the phrase “depression is contagious.” The first event is the huge jump in the rates of depression worldwide as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The second is the widely disseminated authoritative research that has ultimately shown the “chemical imbalance/shortage of serotonin” hypothesis of depression to be mostly or even entirely incorrect. Given that antidepressant medications are the most common form of treatment, we are at a new nexus for re-defining how we think about the nature of depression and the individuals who suffer with depressed mood. What is emerging is a new clarity of how depression is socially defined and socially generated in ways that will be discussed in this timely keynote address. The implications for therapists are profound when viewing depression as far more a social than medical problem and these will be considered in detail.
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Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist residing near San Diego, California. He is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work in applying clinical hypnosis in outcome-focused psychotherapy, especially in the active treatment of depression. He has been invited to present his innovative ideas and methods to colleagues in more than 30 countries across six continents, and all over the United States. He has been a frequent presenter in Australia (76 times!); his popular hypnosis training program as well as other clinical trainings have been sponsored by APS. His highly practical YouTube lecture on “How to Recover from Depression” sponsored by APS has now been viewed more than 5.3 million times.
Dr. Yapko is the author of 16 books, three edited books, and nearly 100 journal articles and book chapters. His most recent book for professionals is the just-released updated 6th edition of his classic hypnosis textbook, Trancework. His popular general audience books include Depression is Contagious and Breaking the Patterns of Depression. His works have been translated into 10 languages. Dr. Yapko is also the developer of the popular digital hypnotherapy mental health app called Claria in association with the Australian digital therapeutic company, Mindset Health (www.mindsethealth.com).
More information about Dr. Yapko’s work is available on his website: www.yapko.com.
Session chair
Anthony Cichello
Senior Lecturer RMIT University and CAPSA
