I have had a total of six years psychotherapy with a very-well qualified, experienced and open-minded (with regard to methodologies) psychiatrist for bouts of depression spread over the past 16 years.
For me it has been a very positive and helpful experience but, as has been said before in this thread, it doesn't work for everyone.
The situation in the UK national health system is generally woeful in regard to mental health, which is a scandal considering the number of people afflicted by depression.