What Should You Expect From Depression Counseling?

Studies show that depression affects more than 16.1 million American adults every year. We’ve all had that feeling when we battle to get out of bed in the morning. But what if that feeling doesn’t go away or even gets worse?

Chances are, you could be suffering from depression. The good news is that you’re not alone and help out there. Talk to your GP about how you’re feeling, and ask them to refer you to a therapist for depression counseling.

If you’d like to know more about what to expect from depression counseling, keep reading as we go through a brief overview.

What Are the Symptoms of Depression?

Depression can present itself differently in everybody. For some, it’s a feeling of despair and hopelessness; for others, it could present as fatigue or irritability.

When to Go to Counseling for Depression

Below is a list of common symptoms of depression, and if you experience at least five symptoms every day for most of the day for two weeks, you might get diagnosed with depression.

Disinterested in activities or hobbies
Changes in eating habits (eating less or more)
Feeling more fatigued
Sleeping more
Trouble concentrating or focusing
Feeling hopeless and empty
Irritability
Thoughts of suicide

Types of Therapy for Depression

There are two approaches to counseling for depression: individual or group therapy. Some people prefer starting with individual therapy, as it’s just you and the therapist, whereas group therapy involves multiple people and a therapist.

The benefit of group therapy is exploring others’ viewpoints who all feel the same as you do, while privacy significantly benefits individual treatment.

Let’s discuss some therapy options below:

CBT or Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Thoughts potentiate emotions, so Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) focuses on helping you identify those negative feelings and teaches you how to replace them with more objective and realistic thoughts.

DBT or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy was built off the backbone of CBT and includes elements from mindfulness techniques. DBT teaches you to accept and live in the moment, regulate emotions, find healthy ways to cope with stress, and improve interpersonal relationships.

This therapy was created and is very successful for people suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder.

What to Expect From Depression Counseling

While finding the perfect therapist isn’t easy, it is worth the effort. Asking for help is an essential step toward recovery, and you can begin by asking your GP for a referral.

Once you’ve found a therapist, your first few sessions will focus on getting to know you better, understanding your feelings, and what you want from therapy. A medical professional will also consider your medical history, other health conditions, personal preferences, and other mental health disorders.

Your therapist will then create a depression treatment plan, which may include either medication, continued therapy, or both.

Find A Therapist Today

Sticking to your depression counseling is critical to your recovery, but to do that, you need to have a counselor you genuinely connect with and trust. Finding a counselor you resonate with may take a few tries, but once you discover each other, you can work together to make fundamental changes in your life.