When Counseling For Depression Is Necessary
Everyone may feel sad at times, whether because of a romantic or professional setback or for no apparent reason. Feeling sad can be normal, as it is a human emotion that may be alleviated through depression self help or counseling.
Clinical depression is a diagnosable mental health condition that often requires treatment to be managed. If you're experiencing symptoms of depression, knowing when to ask for support can be valuable in reducing the severity of your symptoms. Mental health professionals can help you treat depression effectively through various therapeutic modalities, such as family therapy.
If you experience depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, discuss your symptoms with your healthcare provider. They may consider utilizing the mental health services that are available to you. Your primary care provider can support you in finding a licensed psychologist or specialist. There's often no risk in reaching out for effective treatments. If you start feeling better once you find a counselor, you can choose not to continue therapy sessions. Online counseling for depression is an option if you want to address negative thinking and life stressors from the comfort of your own home. Below, we’re discussing how therapy and other mental health services can help people with depression best address their symptoms.
What is depression?
Depression is not just an emotional state; it is a mental health condition that affects the mind and body, impacting over 280 million people worldwide. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), various factors contribute to an increased risk of developing depression, including genetic, biological, and environmental factors.
- Persistent sadness
- Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or low self-esteem
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Changes in weight or appetite
- Intense boredom
- Physical pain or inflammation
- Suicidal thoughts*
If you relate to the above symptoms of a depressive episode, seeking mental health treatment may be rewarding. Treatment for depression could prevent symptoms from worsening and shorten the period that you experience depression.
At times, depression may result from an adverse event, a significant life change, or a build-up of stress. Other times, the reason may not be apparent. The tendency toward major depressive disorder is biological, and a person with mental illness does not have control of the chemicals in their brain contributing to their diagnosis. Depression can also physically change the brain. Those who have a family history of depression or bipolar disorder may also be at increased risk of developing a depressive disorder.
When you are experiencing depressive symptoms, it may feel challenging to maintain your previous levels of functioning. If you have noticed difficulty functioning due to mental or physical health concerns, consider seeking treatment. Thoughts of suicide are one of the severe symptoms of a major depressive episode. If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself, seek professional help immediately.
Substance use and depression
Depression may lead to substance use in some cases. Individuals may utilize substances like alcohol to attempt to self-medicate symptoms of their condition. The American Psychiatric Association says that "the identification of two distinct disorders that are present in the same person at the same time, for example, the coexistence of depression and a substance dependence disorder," is a dual diagnosis.
You can find more information on substance use on the National Institute on Drug Abuse website. You can also learn more about the connection between substance use and mental health conditions on the National Alliance of Mental Health website.
Medication for depression
How to stop being depressed? There are several types of antidepressant medications that may be prescribed to treat symptoms of depression. One class of medications is called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs work by preventing your body from reabsorbing a chemical messenger called serotonin before the brain has a chance to use it. Antidepressant medication like SSRIs may allow your body to use its naturally occurring serotonin. Further, by acting on specific serotonin reuptake points, this newer class of antidepressants may have fewer and milder side effects than older antidepressants.
Medication can be a valuable tool in treating mild to moderate depression when used alongside therapy, such as cognitive behavior therapy. However, no medication may prevent depression from reoccurring, and medication may stop being effective with time. If you are taking medication, follow your prescriber's instructions. Do not stop, change, or start a medication without medical permission and counsel.
Medications for depression require a prescription. To get a prescription for an antidepressant, you may need a diagnosis of depression or a related condition by a doctor. This doctor may be your primary care provider (PCP) or a psychiatrist, who can assess common mental disorders. Please consult your doctor or primary care physician before considering any medication options as they can guide you in overcoming depression and managing the condition effectively.
Talk therapy for depression
Counseling by a qualified therapist could be an effective treatment for depression. Studies show that standard therapy methods like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy are effective in treating symptoms. If you see a therapist to discuss depression, you may be asked about the following symptoms:
- Potential causes for your symptoms or past stressful events
- Depression thought patterns
- Specific triggers that make your depression worse
- Areas of your life that have helped you manage depression
- Coping skills and social skills you currently use
- Methods to deal with behaviors that have been unhealthy for you
- Your support system including family members
- Depression warning signs
Depression may affect a person's ability to solve problems and contribute to behavior patterns that are detrimental. It can impact concentration, make it difficult to see problems realistically, lower energy levels, and feel so overwhelming that other aspects of life such as dealing with chronic diseases, are often ignored. Working with a counselor may help you learn new problem-solving techniques on how to deal with depression and tackle substance abuse issues, if present.
Combined approach to treatment
People with mental disorders, such as depression may utilize counseling and medication options simultaneously. Antidepressants can change your brain chemistry and make you feel more receptive to talk therapy, potentially preventing the depression from getting worse. If you feel calm or happier, your therapist may be able to help you start to make lifestyle changes that you can implement in the future. In some cases, family therapy or interpersonal therapy could be a valuable addition to the treatment plan.
Other tools to treat depression
With lifestyle changes, depression symptoms may lessen for some individuals. Mindfulness practices such as yoga, meditation, and breathing work may reduce stress and improve mood and concentration. Setting healthy boundaries with people in your life may also be helpful.
If you can, establish a regular sleep schedule and spend time outdoors, as sunlight provides vitamin D, an essential nutrient for your brain. Additionally, consider joining a volunteer organization, as helping others can positively influence how we feel about ourselves. While beginning a new habit might not seem easy, setting minor goals at first may feel more manageable.
Find counseling for depression
If you are diagnosed with depression, your primary care provider may help you find a therapist in your area. Without a diagnosis or insurance plan, you might still find support from a therapist, but your plan may not cover therapy in your area. Often, online therapy is more affordable and convenient than in-person therapy.
Online therapy has also been proven to be slightly more effective than face-to-face therapy. A literature review of 17 studies on the effectiveness of online cognitive-behavioral therapy or e-CBT, when contrasted with traditional therapy, found that e-CBT more effectively reduced the symptoms of depression. It was also noted that e-CBT could be less expensive than face-to-face therapy.
If you're interested in trying an online treatment modality, consider signing up for a platform like BetterHelp to get matched with a licensed therapist that meets your needs. You can meet with your therapist anywhere you have an internet connection and at a time that fits your schedule.
Counselor reviews
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Takeaway
How do counselors help people with depression?
Typically, counselors provide care for people living with depression through psychotherapy. There are several ways therapy can benefit people experiencing a depressive episode. Often, finding the source of an individual’s depressed mood can help counselors find effective solutions. This could be a specific event (e.g., a recent interpersonal conflict) or a persistent challenge that impacts daily life (e.g., a physical health condition).
When treating depression, counselors often try to help clients identify the negative thought patterns that may be underlying their symptoms. By replacing unhelpful beliefs, participants may then reduce maladaptive thoughts and feelings. Therapy can also help clients recognize certain behaviors that may be exacerbating symptoms. For example, some people use drugs as a way to cope with their feelings, which can worsen the low mood that typically accompanies a major depressive episode.
Depressive disorders are considered highly treatable mental health conditions. In some cases, acute treatment can help individuals not only recover from their symptoms but also avoid experiencing recurrent depression.
What are the 5 types of therapy?
The American Psychological Association has identified five general categories of therapy. These methods include psychodynamic therapy, behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, humanistic therapy, and integrative therapy.
What are the six methods of counseling?
Six of the most common forms of therapy are cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, humanistic therapy, existential therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
What are the four counseling techniques?
Depending on how it’s being categorized, counseling can be separated into more than four categories. However, four of the most common counseling techniques include cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy.
What exactly causes depression?
While there is no unified theory as to the precise cause of depression, experts have identified several elements that contribute to its development. There is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and biological factors that can cause depression.
The heritability of depression is approximately 40-50%, suggesting a strong genetic component. Additionally, challenging life events (e.g., the death of a family member in the past year) can cause an individual to experience depression. There is also a connection between depression and an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.
What are the 7 principles of counselling?
The American Counseling Association identified seven principles for the profession of counseling in a statement of principles, which is quoted below:
- Sharing a common professional identity is critical for counselors.
- Presenting ourselves as a unified profession has multiple benefits.
- Working together to improve the public perception of counseling and to advocate for professional issues will strengthen the profession.
- Creating a portability system for licensure will benefit counselors and strengthen the counseling profession.
- Expanding and promoting our research base is essential to the efficacy of professional counselors and to the public perception of the profession.
- Focusing on students and prospective students is necessary to ensure the ongoing health of the counseling profession.
- Promoting client welfare and advocating for the populations we serve is a primary focus of the counseling profession.
What are counselling strategies?
Counseling strategies are approaches to the counseling relationship that are employed to foster mental and emotional wellness in the client. Such strategies can benefit participants by helping them learn more about themselves, address mental health concerns, and work through a range of common life challenges. For example, a common strategy many mental health care providers utilize is cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help individuals better understand how their thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected.
How do counselors help clients?
There are several ways counselors can benefit their clients. Often, simply providing clients with the time and space to discuss their challenges can help them feel better. The right counselor can also help their client learn more about the sources of current mental health challenges. For example, through therapy many clients are able to identify events that occurred when they were children that continue to affect them as adults.
Counselors can also give emotional support to clients who are living with complex feelings that may be the result of a mental health condition. Some counselors specialize in certain disorders, while others are generalists. Additionally, many counselors help clients address concerns related to their career, relationships, or schooling.
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