Reaching and Engaging Depressed Senior Center Clients

Reaching and Engaging Depressed Senior Center Clients Phase II

The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of one type of therapy session, Virtual Augmented Engage (Engage-A). The research is being done because the researchers are trying to learn if these approaches could be used by therapists in the community social service agencies to treat older adults with depression. The research will also measure clinician satisfaction after training and supervision of utilization of Engage-A.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 55 years' old
• PHQ-9 Score of ≥ 10
• English or Spanish speaking
• MOCA ≥ 24 or mini-telephone MOCA ≥ 11
• Member of/attends one of the REDS Senior Centers
• Capacity to provide written consent for both research assessment and the Engage-A intervention.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current active suicidal ideation defined by MADRS Suicide Item ≥ 4 (probably better off dead. Suicidal thoughts are common, and suicide is considered as a possible solution, but without specific plans or intention).
• Presence of psychiatric diagnoses other than unipolar, non-psychotic major depression or generalized anxiety disorder by SCID-IV.
• Severe or life-threatening medical illness (e.g., end stage organ failure).
• Currently seeing an individual psychotherapist *(if individuals are willing to go on a hiatus from their individual psychotherapist for the 15 weeks of the study, and meet all inclusion criteria, they will be considered eligible).