Depression

Depression affects some 15 million Americans each year. Feeling a little “down” at times is normal, but if these feelings become more intense and longer lasting you may be experiencing depression. Depression manifests in a variety of physical and emotional symptoms. You may feel lost and hopeless, or feel that life is not worth living. You may feel overwhelmed, exhausted and empty or lose interest in activities you previously enjoyed and may experience unhealthy changes in sleeping and eating patterns.

If you notice that depression is affecting your daily functioning, or you have been experiencing physical or emotional symptoms for several weeks you should seek help. Today, depression is a recognized and highly treatable medical condition for which counseling is an integral part of the recovery process.

There are four major types of depression: Major Depression (Clinical Depression), Chronic Depression (Dysthymia), Bipolar Depression (Manic Depression), and Seasonal Depression.

(To read more about these types of Depression click on the text links above or the buttons on the left menu)

Counseling for Depression

Counseling for depression begins by determining if the onset of symptoms is tied to an event or series of events in your life. If this is the case, counseling can help you resolve the implications of the events and understand the emotional reactions you’ve been experiencing. Whether your depression is tied to an event or not, counseling can help you find ways to regain control and direction in your life and help you to find purpose and meaning to motivate you through this difficult time.

Counselor Rick A. Combs uses a combination of traditional talk therapy and a cognitive behavioral approach for treating depression. This combination has proven effective in treating even the most Chronic Depression as well as Bipolar Depression. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used and effective treatment methods for improving symptoms of depression. CBT addresses both the thoughts and behaviors that keep depression active.  Through weekly therapy sessions you will learn to identify unhelpful thought patterns that affect how you feel. Counseling will also teach you coping strategies for dealing with life’s ups and downs so that in the future you will be better prepared to handle difficult times without falling back into depression.

While in therapy for depression, many people respond well to having “homework” assignments that allow them to continue their  progress between counseling sessions. Often these assignments can provide you with a much needed sense of having some control over your current experience and playing an active part in your recovery from depression. For other people, their life situation and personality might be such that this is not the best approach for them. Whatever your situation, in your initial counseling appointment Rick will carefully listen and quickly evaluate your needs and with your input, develop a unique treatment plan for you that addresses your specific needs and concerns in counseling.