Depression Counseling in Scottsdale, AZ

The focus of depression counseling is to help increase insight into depression triggers, develop adaptive coping strategies to help decrease depressive symptoms, and find ways to make life changes to avoid unhealthy circumstances. Our psychologists and counselors use a variety of techniques to treat depression including cognitive behavioral therapy, relationship counseling, and life coaching.

In depression counseling we help identify the triggers for depression and help the individual begin to see the steps they can take to find healing and hope. We try to determine the source of depression and then create a personalized treatment plan based on the individuals needs. If the source of depression is related to a medical condition, we can coordinate care with a medical provider for treatment. If depression stems from a history of trauma or distressing life events, we process through these events to decrease feelings of shame and self-doubt.

Depression can start in our family. Negative family dynamics that were abusive, neglectful or unsupportive can create shame and self doubt in the individual. If we don’t grow up knowing what we need and what we are worthy of, we may never ask or advocate for things that would make us happy or keep us from being depressed.

Depression can start in our thoughts. Self-critical views, hopeless outlooks on life, and fear can create a cycle of negative thoughts that can make us feel depressed. In therapy, we may look at how our thoughts influence our experiences and how our experiences influence our thoughts. From a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach, we can learn to identify these negative cycles of thinking and re-frame to a more healthy and accurate view.

Depression can start in our emotions. Many bright, thoughtful, and insightful people can know how they are “supposed” to think, and yet they still feel sad, disappointed, and upset. Through an emotion focused therapy approach we can best understand how to changes our emotions even when they defy all rational thought.

Depression can start in our relationships. So often our mood is influenced by the quality of our intimate relationships. When our marriages, relationships, and friendships are on the rocks, it becomes increasingly more difficult to view ourselves, our future, and our world in a positive light. When appropriate, our therapists can do both individual and couples therapy to help treat symptoms of depression.

Individuals with Depression typically experience at least five of the following symptoms:

• Depressed mood throughout the day, every day
• Decreased interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Physically feeling agitated, slowed down, difficulty “getting going”
• Intense feelings of worthlessness and inappropriate guilt
• Decreased ability to think or concentrate
• Recurrent thoughts of suicide or death
• Insomnia (difficulty sleeping) or hypersomnia (sleeping a great deal)
• Fatigue and loss of energy

Depression can develop for many different sources. Some depression can present from chemical changes that occur after a pregnancy, or due to a neurological condition such as Parkinson’s disease. Other forms of depression can start from a history of trauma or negative relationships. While others can begin from a negative view of the self and hopelessness for the future. While there are many different etiologies for depression, our counselors create individualized treatment plans for each person they are seeing.

Depression can often come after major life difficulties such as a loss of job or end of a relationship. Yet, depression can also put great strain on our relationships and responsibilities. While many are able to maintain their job, relationships and daily functioning, they do so with great snuggle and effort. Depression can often cause relationship difficulties as people tend to be more apathetic, frustrated, agitated, less empathetic and less flexible when depressed. Depression can also cause physical difficulties leaving people feeling sick, tired, and more prone to infection. Lastly, it can impact life satisfaction leading to feelings of worthlessness and lack of hope.

The treatments for depression include talk therapy and medication management. Talk therapy will focus on the specific type of depression and will help the individual deepen their insight into their distress, identify the triggers for their depression, develop adaptive coping skills for these circumstances and look at overall life circumstances and how these may be adjusted to avoid feelings of depression in the future.

Many people choose to seek counseling and treatment for depression when they feel like they are losing control over their depression. Seeking treatment for depression before symptoms become severe is often recommended. When people are in a hopeful place, they may be in the best position to avoid thought patterns, relationships and life choices that can lead to depressive symptoms.