Psychotherapy for Depression

the symptoms of depression

Some of the typical symptoms of depression include:

• You feel hopeless and think that nothing can be done to improve your situation.

• You don’t take pleasure in any activity, including hobbies, sports, socialising or sex.

• Your appetite has changed: you’ve gained a lot of weight or you are not eating much anymore.

• You have no energy and trouble sleeping: you either can’t sleep at night, or you sleep too much.

• You feel tired, heavy and sluggish.

• You get easily angry or irritated, even at small things.

• You feel insecure, guilty or worthless, and criticize yourself for the way you feel.

• You try to “escape” by drinking alcohol, taking drugs, gambling, or other activities you know are not good for you.

• You have trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.

• You have aches and pains in your body that you can’t explain, such as headaches, stomach aches, or muscle pain.

• You are having suicidal thoughts.

Depression feels terrible, and although it’s one of the more common mental health problems many people suffer through it in silence. 

This is usually because they don’t recognise it as depression and are trying in vain to “snap out of it” or “get their act together”. Other people feel the negative stigma around seeking mental-health support, or they know they need help but they just don’t know who to turn to. 

It’s important to remember that if depression is left untreated, it can lead to health complications, relationship problems, and inability to carry out daily tasks. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide.

If you think you may be suffering from depression, now’s the time to reach out and seek help.

Overcoming Depression

As terrible as depression feels when you are experiencing its symptoms, the good news is that it has been the object of scientific studies for decades now, and research shows that psychotherapy is one of the most effective treatment options for mild to severe depression.

Finding a compassionate, understanding and experienced mental-health professional can help you find your way to a life of optimism, energy and self-confidence.

PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR DEPRESSION

There are a few different levels to treating depression, depending on your personality, your current situation, the amount of support you have (or don’t have), and your personal history.

This is why in the first session we assess the situation and decide which level of work is best suited for you. Therapy usually addresses the following levels:

1. Strategies to cope with depressive symptoms: the first priority is to help you take the edge off the pain you are going through. We work to identify activities, situations, people and thoughts that can help you feel better in your day-to-day life. We also work on figuring out how to practice self-care and remove anything that may be “toxic” to you in this particular moment of your life. In this process you will also begin to view yourself in a more positive light.

1. Understand and work through the causes of your depression; an accurate assessment at the beginning of therapy is very important to understand what you’re struggling with. 

Your low mood may depend on a recent loss, and you may need support to process your grief, or may result from culture shock if you have recently moved to a new country.

If you’ve been through a traumatic event, you may be experiencing the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which needs to be addressed with trauma-focused therapy.

Another common factor that leads to depression is having had a difficult childhood - examples of difficulties in childhood may include: moving around a lot; having a family member with an illness or an addiction; living in a home with frequent fighting or abuse; being bullied; or having had parents who were frequently absent. If this is your case, we would work on processing these early experiences so that they no longer have a negative impact on your current mental health.

If there are other underlying issues, such as bi-polar disorder or more complex mental health problems, then I will refer you to a trusted psychiatrist who can undertake a specific evaluation and collaborate on creating the best treatment plan for you.

1. Natural remedies vs. medication for depression: talk therapy for depression does NOT require medication, and in the process we discuss the importance of self-care and healthy lifestyle so that you can reduce the risk factors associated with depression.

However, you may be considering taking medication (i.e. antidepressants) to treat your low mood. If your symptoms feel crippling and are getting in the way of the important things in your life (for example, looking after your children or carrying out your job), I can refer you to a trusted psychiatrist who can prescribe medication while you are going through therapy. Together we will support you until your depression has been cured and you no longer need therapy or medication.

a safe space to recover from depression

Therapy should feel like a safe space where you can talk about what is going on, and know that the therapist understands you and has the necessary experience to help you.

It can be very scary to reach out to a stranger when you are feeling hopeless, scared, and insecure, but you shouldn’t have to continue suffering. You CAN recover from depression, and I am here to help you.

If you want to find out if therapy is right for you, you can schedule a session or you can write to me and let me know what’s on your mind.