Depression Treatment
Are you feeling stuck in a negative place? “It doesn’t matter what I do or what happens, I just can’t seem to feel happy”. Are you isolating yourself and either oversleeping or not sleeping enough? “I don’t want to see family and friends…I just want to be alone/I’m always tired and cannot get restful sleep” Do you feel unmotivated and have no “get up and go”? I don’t have the energy to care about the things that used to matter…I’m struggling just to make it through the day.
Depression is one of the most common mental health illnesses in the world.
More than 264 million people suffer from depression worldwide and depression is the leading cause of disability in the world (WHO, 2020). The causes of depression are as varied as the people who experience this disorder. Causes include personal or family history of depression, major life changes, trauma, stress, and even certain medications that may contribute to having a higher risk of developing depression. People struggle with various symptoms of depression for months before they attempt to get help. Symptoms of depression include lack of motivation, hypersomnia/insomnia, isolation, appetite changes, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, feelings of hopelessness/worthlessness, increased crying/irritability, etc. The symptoms are broad and therefore may often be attributed to other causes, but depression can wreak havoc on clients’ lives and relationships.
Our Approach
At Bridges to Wellness we use Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy, and Client-Centered Treatment to treat depression.
We emphasize the relationship between the client and the therapist to create a supportive space for our clients.
We work with them to help them identify patterns that may be contributing to some of their depressive symptoms (negative self-talk, all-or-nothing thinking, behaviors established in childhood, etc). Once we’ve identified the source of these symptoms we can work to create new ways of thinking and new behaviors that are more conducive for our clients and their positive mental health practices. We institute everything from talk therapy to journaling and mindfulness practices (just to name a few).
There is hope for you.
Once clients have identified and implemented more effective ways of managing their depression symptoms, they often feel a sense of relief. Clients have described feeling that there is a “light at the end of the tunnel” and a feeling that they can experience happiness again and get back to doing the things they enjoy.
You may believe therapy can help you but you still have questions about depression treatment.
If I am depressed, will I be pressured to take medication?
We do not prescribe medication at Bridges to Wellness. We are open to discussing with our clients whether medication can be helpful to them and to work with them in the process of speaking with a psychiatrist if they are interested in pursuing medication. We do not pressure our clients to try medication before a full assessment is done. Any discussion of medication is a collaborative one and one in which the client is always in control.
As a part of treatment for my depression, will I be asked to do “homework” assignments?
Generally speaking, we do not require homework as a part of treatment. We often find that trying to get through our days and doing so in ways that are healthy is “homework” enough. However, if our clients are requesting specific tasks to work on in between sessions we are more than willing to work with them to create meaningful work for them to do until we meet again.
How long will I need to be in therapy for my depression?
As with most mental health concerns, this will depend on the person. Some people may find that their symptoms begin to alleviate after a few sessions, while others may feel that it takes them a much longer time to feel relief. Depression can be cyclical at times and reoccur when certain stressors arise. It is not uncommon for folks to feel better and then return later for follow-up treatment. We will be there for our clients when they need us whether it is the first time or the fifth!
Want to schedule an appointment?