Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health

Simcoe Addiction & Mental Health

Depression Counselling and How It Can Help

Client and depression therapist seated during a session.

Depression Counselling and How It Can Help

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 19% of Canadians screen positive for major depressive disorder (MDD). What’s more, depression rates have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic. Some Canadians are more prone to depression symptoms than others. For example, women have a higher risk for depression than men. People between the ages of 19 and 34 are more likely to suffer from this condition. The good news is that depression is a highly treatable condition. Depression counselling teaches clients healthy coping mechanisms. Clients also learn to identify thought patterns that could worsen their symptoms.

Are you tired of living with depression? A depression therapist or counsellor can help you regain control of your life. Keep reading this article to learn how.

What Are the Types of Depression?

The types of depression include mood disorders like major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (including cyclothymia), and persistent depressive disorder (PDD). PDD is also known as dysthymic disorder or mild depression.

Other types of depression include SAD (seasonal affective disorder), PPD (post-partum depression), and PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).

Psychotic depression, situational depression, and substance-induced depression are related to depressive disorders. However, they are symptoms of other conditions. For example, psychotic depression can be a symptom of schizophrenia.

Depression may present with typical or atypical symptoms. When the symptoms are atypical, psychologists may diagnose the person with atypical depression. Typical depression symptoms include the following:

  • Feeling sad, empty, or hopeless for most of the day
  • Unintentional weight loss or weight gain
  • Sleep disturbances, including insomnia (inability to sleep) and hypersomnia (sleeping too much)
  • Loss of pleasure or interest in activities one used to enjoy
  • Slowed-down or sped-up movements, thoughts, or both
  • Exhaustion and low energy for most of the day
  • Feeling worthless or excessively guilty
  • Inability to concentrate, make decisions, or think clearly
  • Suicidal ideation or attempts to commit suicide

Are you or your loved one experiencing thoughts of suicide? Call the Talk Suicide Canada hotline at 1.833.456.4566 or text 45645. A crisis responder is waiting for your call.

For emergency mental health situations, call 911 immediately.

What Causes Depression?

The causes of depressive disorders are not fully understood, but we do know that genetics and environment play a role. Research on people with depression has uncovered brain abnormalities, too.

For example, people with depression tend to have reduced levels of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters (NTs) are chemicals that deliver messages between brain cells.

Specifically, depression is associated with lower serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels.

When these three important NTs get disrupted, it’s like a domino effect. They lead to secondary changes to other NT levels. One of these changes is GABA, glutamate, and glycine concentrations, which are also NTs.

How do these NTs get so low in the first place? Genes may lead to changes in levels of these chemicals. Additionally, studies show that early childhood trauma may play a role.

Trauma does not just alter levels of NTs. Early childhood traumas can also literally change the structure of the brain.

Genetics and trauma increase individuals’ risk for depression. However, someone with genes for depression who experiences childhood trauma doesn’t always get depressed. Additional factors may play a role.

What Is Depression Counselling and How Does It Work?

Depression counselling is a therapy that helps clients reprocess negative thought patterns that could be causing their depression symptoms.

Talk therapy is one of the top treatments for people suffering from depression. People with mild forms of depression may find relief from counselling alone. More severe disorders may require medication, too.

Therapy for depression works, too. Mental health professionals report that depression is one of the easiest mental health conditions to treat. Up to 90% of people respond well to counselling, medication, or a combination.

When someone seeks counselling for depression, the therapist will first ask questions. For example, a counsellor would ask about the client’s experience with depression. Clients should expect to discuss their symptoms and medical history.

A counsellor will also want to understand the potential causes of the disorder. They may ask clients about their family’s history of depression. Lifestyle factors, traumatic life events, and psychosocial conditions are also important.

Using this information, counsellors develop custom treatment plans for their clients. They will then recommend weekly or monthly sessions using a combination of therapy approaches (more on this later).

The Benefits of Depression Counselling

The goal of depression counselling is to reduce symptoms of the disorder. Therapy can help people with depression recover from their symptoms in the following ways.

Identify and Accept Traumatic Life Events

Traumas can happen during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. As mentioned, traumatic life events may increase someone’s risk for depression. A therapist can help clients understand why and how these events contribute to depression.

Once clients identify these life events, they can learn to accept what happened. If the trauma is ongoing, a counsellor can help traumatized people learn how to change or adapt.

Pinpoint Negative Thought Patterns

Certain negative thought patterns can make depression symptoms worse. A counsellor can help people with depression identify these thought patterns. Then, they encourage clients to understand why these patterns are unhelpful.

For example, some people with depression may feel unworthy of love. A therapist can help these people understand that this thought is unhelpful and untrue so that they can begin to heal.

Develop Positive Coping Skills

Identifying traumas and negative thoughts or behaviours is only the beginning. The next step is learning to manage symptoms through healthy coping mechanisms (e.g., exercising or asking a loved one for support).

Coping skills can help clients deal with depression symptoms when they happen. Over time, these coping mechanisms may also prevent depressive symptoms altogether.

What Is the Difference Between Depression Therapists and Counsellors?

Therapists and counsellors differ in their education and credentials. They also tend to serve different types of clients.

People may consider “therapist” and “counsellor” synonyms. However, it is important to understand the difference when choosing mental health services.

Therapists are also known as psychotherapists. These professionals tend to be psychologists or psychiatrists.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors with MD degrees. Psychologists hold PhDs in psychology or a related field. Importantly, these professionals are qualified to prescribe antidepressants.

Alternatively, counsellors are master’s-level mental health professionals. They usually hold degrees in counselling, social work, or a related field. These professionals may have  LPCs, LMHCs, LCSWs, or other credentials.

Aside from education and licensure, these mental health professionals use different treatment approaches. The right professional for you depends on the severity of your symptoms and goals.

Counselling is a short-term treatment for mild to moderate conditions, including depression. A counsellor aims to help clients function better in their daily lives.

Psychotherapy is a longer-term solution for individuals dealing with severe mental health symptoms. Psychotherapists prescribe medication to clients when talk therapy becomes insufficient to resolve their symptoms.

How to Choose a Depression Therapist

The first step to choosing the right therapist or counsellor is understanding the type of depression treatment you need. Review the above section on therapists vs. counsellors to help you do that.

We hope the above information helps you decide whether you need psychotherapy or counselling. Here are our top tips for finding the best mental health professional.

Ask for Referrals

Do you have friends or family members who have sought therapy for depression or another mental health condition? If so, ask for a referral to the therapist or counsellor that treated them. Also, consider asking your physician.

Remember that the professional who worked for your loved one may not be your best counsellor. Feel free to schedule appointments with multiple therapists. You can ask questions and determine if it’s the right fit.

Consult Your Benefits Advisor

Are you planning to pay for counselling with insurance? If so, your insurance provider should offer access to a benefits advisor. You can speak with a professional advisor or use an online directory.

Insurance companies provide online directories to help you find mental health services your insurance will cover. You can also learn how many sessions your insurance will pay for and any out-of-pocket fees you need to know about.

Search for Specialized Help

A licensed mental health professional may be trained to work with people with depression. Yet, not all therapists and counsellors specialize in treating this condition.

You can contact depression-focused organizations in your area if you want specialized treatment. An example is Depression Hurts, a subsidiary of the Mood Disorder Society of Canada.

Types of Therapy for Depression at Simcoe

There are dozens of treatments for depression. In addition to medication, mental health professionals recommend the following for the treatment of depression:

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
  • Art therapy
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Light therapy
  • Mindfulness and meditation
  • Self-care

At Simcoe, we offer many types of therapy for our clients. The exact type of therapy depends on each client’s needs. Below, we discuss the top approaches we use for our clients with depression.

CBT

CBT is one of the most common types of therapy for depression. This approach helps clients identify negative thoughts and behavioural patterns. Then, the therapist teaches the client to change those patterns in a healthier way.

Studies show that cognitive behavioural therapy is the most effective treatment for depression symptoms.

Family Sessions

Depression does not just hurt the person who has it. It can also throw interpersonal relationships into turmoil.

At Simcoe, we know the effects depression can have on families. So, we offer family therapy sessions. Clients and their loved ones can learn how depression impacts the person diagnosed with it and how to provide support.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of focusing awareness on the present moment. At the same time, a therapist will direct the client to acknowledge their feelings and thoughts calmly without judgment.

This approach benefits people with depression symptoms like rumination or insomnia.

Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-occurring disorders are mental health conditions that commonly show up together. For example, depression often co-occurs with substance use disorders (SUDs). 10–30% of people with depression also have SUDs.

At Simcoe, we offer treatment for people with depression and SUDs. It is critical to get treatment for both conditions. After all, addiction can cause depressive-like symptoms, and depression can make SUDs worse.

Depression Resources

Are you looking for a depression therapist or counsellor? If so, we want to help you find the best professional for your unique needs.

Online options are available if you want to receive therapy from the comfort of your home. Head to Better Help to access virtual depression therapists.

Many people prefer to attend in-person therapy sessions. If that is the case for you, head to Psychology Today to search for licensed mental health professionals near you.

Still haven’t found the help you need? Check out our Information and Support resources. We can connect you with crisis lines, support groups, and more.

Are You Searching for Depression Therapy in Toronto?

Depression is a mood disorder that affects how people feel about the world and themselves. If you have depression, you may feel hopeless. Yet, depression counselling can help you get back on your feet.

Do you need a depression therapist in Ontario? Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health offers counselling and rehab services to the Greater Toronto Area. Contact us today to learn more about our mental health and addiction services.

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