Not only can counselling help someone who is experiencing depressive episodes, but it’s actually one of the most effective methods of treatment in both the short term and the long term.
By finding the right counsellor for your individual needs, they will help you work through the underlying reasons for your depression, and help you develop skills for better management of the symptoms associated with depression.
But first, a few notes on depression in Australia:
- One in seven Australians will experience depression in their lifetime
- One in 16 Australians is currently experiencing depression
- The rate of people seeking support for their depression appears to be rising rapidly, with approximately half of all people with a condition now getting treatment
The point of mentioning these statistics is to illustrate that depression is not uncommon, and seeking support for it is completely normal.
What is depression?
There’s a significant difference between feeling slightly down occasionally, and experiencing clinical depression.
Depression can impact the way you think and feel, the way you interact with others, and the way you go about handling everyday life. It can cause you to feel low-spirited, and lose interest in hobbies and activities that you used to thoroughly enjoy.
Depression affects people of all ages from all walks of life, and it’s important to note, counselling can be very beneficial to reduce the impact of the symptoms. In fact, numerous studies report a 90% success rate among patients seeking treatment for depression.
Counselling for depression
There are a variety of approaches to depression counselling; including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), psychodynamic psychotherapy and problem-solving therapy.
Depression counselling is typically tailored to a client’s specific needs, based on the length and/or severity of their symptoms and depressive episodes.
For instance, at Ashcliffe Psychology, we utilise a variety of techniques and methods to help clients manage their depression and improve the quality of their day-to-day life. If you’ve been feeling this way for a long time and your symptoms are severe, we’ll work closely alongside you and your doctor to help stabilise symptoms and integrate positive coping strategies.
Depression treatment can also involve investigating historical triggers which may underlie the onset of depression symptoms. Grief and loss are common experiences which contribute to and can exacerbate depressive symptoms.
Having a deeper understanding of your depression, can bring about insights in to your past which may allow an opportunity for healing and personal growth.
As part of depression treatment we aim to equip you with the emotional tools to cope with current issues and to challenge old patterns of thinking. Our depression counsellors listen, provide constructive feedback and help you acquire evidence based strategies for coping.
We’ll keep track of your progress and adjust the structure of our one-to-one sessions accordingly. Sometimes, we may ask you to keep a journal that helps with tracking your moods, thoughts and feelings outside of the sessions as well.
Speak to a trained and experienced depression counsellor in Perth
If you’re experiencing depression and seeking counselling, the relationship between yourself and your counsellor is a crucial part of the puzzle. It’s imperative that you feel relaxed, comfortable and open with your chosen counsellor. At Ashcliffe Psychology, our team is highly qualified and experienced in providing evidence based depression counselling to anyone seeking assistance.
Book a consultation, or get in touch for more information. We also provide alcohol counselling, drug counselling, PTSD treatment and anxiety counselling.