Effective Treatment for Depression

Sadness and depressive disorders
‍Everyone gets sad sometimes. It's a normal human emotion and serves a helpful purpose. However, if the emotion persists to the point where it begins to interfere with life or the individual becomes really bothered by it, then there may be a depressive disorder. Major depression is accompanied by depressed mood or an inability to feel pleasure from previously enjoyed activities. Some experience depression as a "blah" mood, an absence of emotion, or increased irritability and anger. Others may experience a persistently reduced mood lasting across a few years or more.

Many people make the mistake of waiting until it gets too bad until they seek help, or they may take the approach of waiting to do tasks until they feel like it. However, this only makes the mountain bigger over time and more overwhelming. By seeking the guidance of a professional trained specifically to help you get better, you can expedite the recovery process much faster than if you were to go it alone. Treatment can help to move your world away from grey and help bring color back into your life.

How does therapy help in the treatment of depression?

‍Research shows that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective treatment for depression. This consists of examining the role that thoughts and behaviors have on your feelings. It is an active, present-focused, and goal-oriented treatment. While some time is used to understand how problems developed, the factors maintaining difficulties are in the present.

Therapy is active in that it takes work and includes regular skills practice outside of session. By experiencing temporary discomfort, clients often find that tasks begin to get easier and less overwhelming with time. By taking small, manageable steps, you can build the skills to more effectively manage the hurdles you are facing. Gradually, we can work towards a more meaningful, purpose-filled life led by what is most important to you.

Using your treatment goals to set a personalized treatment plan

We want you to feel seen, heard, and understood. This is why we start with a 2-4 session, thorough assessment and evaluation of your symptoms to understand how to help you get better and before diving into treatment. Before your first appointment, you will be asked to complete several questionnaires as part of the evaluation phase. Some of these measures will be completed on an ongoing basis as part of measurement-based care. Routine outcome monitoring allows your psychologist to evaluate if treatment is working and to inform what we do in treatment.
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We start by identifying your treatment goals, informed by your values and behaviors you would like to see changed. Each treatment plan is personalized to the mechanisms maintaining the individual's depression. It is not a one-size-fits-all approach. In fact, often there may be other issues that led to the depression that need to be addressed, such as anxiety.