Yes, the goal of any kind of therapy should be to empower the person. As far as type of therapy, it's whatever works! Some do well with CBT, and others just with talk therapy. Others don't do well with talk therapy or digging up past traumas. There's so much out there in terms of therapy that it's a virtural smorgasbord of therapies to choose from. Occupational therapy is self-empowering because it's entire goal is to help the patient become more self-reliant and as high-functioning as possible and to maintain that as long as they can. Of course, a lot of it has to do with the therapist and it's important to find one that is good. I personally have also had several bad experiences with therapists I went to for some of my own issues. It's rare that one finds a really good one.
RE: Depression and Suicidal Feelings