Counselling to manage depression

Depression – the serious mood disorder found in both young and older individuals, affecting the way how a person think, feel, interact with others and handle the day-to-day events. Depression is of different types causing a person to feel sad, loss of interest even on the things they are good at.

Depression is a complicated disorder to understand, but with the diagnosis at the right time and adequate treatable or right counselling from the psychotherapist, counsellor or psychologist, analyse through the underlying cause of depression, help you come up with strategies to deal with the symptoms and make you feel better. Diagnosing the depression is a complex process which involves understanding the symptoms and ways to get find relief. The major depressive disorder includes the persistent depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, postpartum depression, bipolar disorder and much more.

The treatment of depression is done by counselling and taking antidepressant medications, and also includes the various therapies done by the psychotherapist, counsellor or psychologist. The antidepressant medications are available in various ranges that help in the noticeable improvement in your mental status. Therapy or psychotherapy are of various forms and are undoubtedly proven to be helpful in the treatment of short-term and long-term causes of depressions. Evidence-based approaches include cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy and problem-solving therapy.

Counselling and Psychotherapy

The first step for treating depression is the talk therapy where the experts will try talking to the individual to understand the mental status and what is happening in their mind. This is the first step to understand the person with mild to moderate depression without prescribing medicine. And those with severe depression – a combination of therapy and medication are used at the same time.

Counselling and psychotherapy are similar. Psychotherapy is done by the licensed psychologist or psychiatrist and is a long-term approach that focuses on severe depression that is significantly influencing life.

Counselling, on the other hand, is a short-term therapy that focuses on mild to moderate depression with fairly newer issues. The length and severity of the depression symptoms determine the type of therapy needed. The more recent or less severe depression can be cured with the counselling relationship by the therapist which includes the talk therapy to help you understand and work through the issues that impact the person’s life in the negative ways. During the counselling, the therapist listens, provide feedback and provides the strategies to cope with the situation. They will evaluate the progress and develop the working plan that is adjusted to each session accordingly. You would also be given the homework and includes the tracking of moods and feelings. The therapist will help you change the negative thinking and focus of the goal-oriented active role for the individuals, reduce the relapse or recurrence rates of depression even after the counselling is stopped.

When it comes to counselling for depression, finding the right counsellor, psychologist, or mental health expert is the toughest part. The counsellor should be able to connect with the patient for the success of the therapy.