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Depression Counseling

Depression Counseling

Depression Therapy

Life is never perfect 100% of the time. Events outside of your control are going to happen no matter what. Certain events can make anybody feel sad or even numb for a time—it’s just part of being human.

But sadness and grief aren’t the same as depression. This mental health issue is incredibly common and can be very serious.

If you’ve spent more than 2 weeks grappling with feelings of persistent sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness, you may be suffering from a form of depression. When you’re feeling this low, it can be hard to picture ever feeling better.

But you should know that seeking therapy for depression ,with a depression therapist, is one of the most powerful tools for treating depression. Working with an experienced and compassionate mental health professional gives you unbiased guidance on a regular basis.

And this is exactly what our certified depression therapists are here for. We specialize in the many proven modalities for treating the full spectrum of depression disorders.

When you work with us, you can expect a real partnership—you’ll never be just another patient to us. Our unique holistic approach means your treatment plan is always customized for your unique needs and goals.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Depression?

The main signs and symptoms of depression are:

  • Ongoing feelings of sadness, anxiousness, and/or emptiness
  • Feeling persistently frustrated, irritable, or restless
  • Hopeless or pessimistic feelings
  • Difficulty making decisions, concentrating, or thinking in general
  • Changes in appetite or rapid weight loss
  • Struggles with sleeping or oversleeping
  • Thinking you’re worthless or helpless
  • Losing interest or not enjoying your hobbies and normal activities
  • Feeling fatigued, slow, or lacking in energy
  • Suicide attempts or thinking about suicide/death

It’s true that depression is a recognized illness. But you should also know that there are several forms of depression, such as:

  • Major depression disorder or MDD
  • Persistent depressive disorder (also called dysthymia or PDD)
  • Perinatal depression (also called postpartum depression or PPD)
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD)
  • Depression with psychosis symptoms
  • Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
  • Co-occurring depression with anxiety disorders

And the symptoms of each form are different. But if you’ve been struggling with any of the symptoms listed above for 2 weeks or longer, you’re likely dealing with some form of depression. The label is not important. What is important is that your persistent feeling of sadness is trying to tell you something. It’s telling you that something is not right and needs attention.

How Do You Know if You Need Depression Counseling?

The best way to know if you need depression counseling is by considering how long your symptoms have been present.

If you’ve struggled with hopelessness, feeling empty or directionless, or apathy regarding your usual interests for longer than 2 weeks, it’s time to seek depression therapy. Leaving these symptoms unchecked can pose a serious risk to your physical and mental health. It will likely worsen and not resolve on its own if you continue to ignore it.

And you don’t deserve to suffer this way. Remember, another common symptom of depression is feeling guilty or worthless.

Feeling like you don’t deserve depression counseling or like you’d be wasting the therapist’s time are clear signs to ask for help. Regular sessions with one of our certified holistic therapists can help you reclaim the beautiful joy of living.

How Do Therapists Help People with Depression?

Our depression therapists will:

  • Get familiar with you and what you’re going through right now & meet you where you are at
  • Collaborate with you to uncover your goals with depression therapy & take baby steps towards reaching them
  • Support your recovery with therapies like CBT, talk therapy, brainspotting, and more
  • Take a holistic approach to adjusting your treatment whenever necessary
  • Empower you to recognize and potentially avoid major depression episodes in the future, even if you’re no longer attending regular therapy sessions

You see, a skilled and empathetic depression therapist understands that you’re so much more than your diagnosis. They understand that every single person on this planet is one of a kind, and therefore you need a completely custom mental health strategy.

All in all, we help with your depression by looking at how it impacts every aspect of your life.

Our top goal is helping you move forward, make progress, and enjoy all the wonderful things life has to offer—Even if you can’t remember the last time you felt that happy, please know that it is possible to recover with the willingness and the right therapist.

Effectiveness of Depression Therapy

When you’re carrying the heavy burden of depression, even brushing your teeth can feel like an impossible hurdle. When it’s hard to get out of bed and get ready for the day, it’s even harder to think about adding another responsibility.

We understand how hard it can be to visualize the effectiveness of depression therapy. Let’s dive into some data on what to expect.

Studies have found that therapy—especially when paired with a holistic perspective—reduce the risk of you relapsing back into depression, even after your treatment ends.

Meanwhile, only 40 to 60% of people who take antidepressants report any kind of improvement.

You may be wondering why working with a caring and focused depression therapist is more effective than medication for so many people. It all comes down to what you’re treating.

Medication can help treat the symptoms of depression, especially if it’s caused by a chemical or hormone imbalance. But they don’t have staying power. Once you stop taking the medicine, you lose the benefits.

Depression therapy, on the other hand, teaches you systems and methods to work through those same symptoms. You build what’s called resilience, which means the skill to successfully adapt to any difficulties or challenges life throws at you.

Even once you’re no longer attending regular therapy sessions, you still benefit from the knowledge and tools.

Insurance and Costs for Depression Counseling

Cost can be a huge barrier to entry when it comes to depression therapy. It’s even possible that financial challenges are fueling your symptoms. We understand how frustrating this paradox can be.

We do our absolute best to help the costs align with your budget.

If your insurance provider offers out-of-network benefits, we’re most likely one of their out-of-network options. With these benefits, you can usually expect coverage between 30 to 60% of each session’s cost.

If we’re in your insurance network, all you’re responsible for is your assigned co-pay.

Don’t worry if you need to make cash / out-of-pocket payments. We’ll privately collaborate with you to determine your price per session.

It’s also important that you have the right perspective on our pricing. For us, it isn’t about the money. It’s about standing by the effectiveness and caliber of our services. Our experience and training in working with depression has helped many of our clients see results and get relief.

And we know that just “talking it out” is rarely enough. This is exactly why we take a holistic & somatic perspective—so we can provide you with a wide range of powerful and effective treatment options. If you’re ready to start living a life of happiness and meaning, just contact us to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you permanently treat depression?

Yes, especially considering that 80-90% of people with depression respond well to treatment, certain forms of depression can be permanently treated. It all depends on your specific diagnosis and the root cause.

Most importantly, you have to consider what “permanently treated” looks like. If you’re diagnosed with SAD, you’re at risk of falling back into those feelings during certain seasons.

But being aware of this means you and your counselor can be proactive with your depression therapy. You might establish systems and tools to use on your own during these times or schedule your sessions to get support when you need it most.

So long as you’re open minded to what wellness means for you, you stand a real chance of permanently moving past your depression.

How long does it take therapy to work for depression?

On average, people with depression report feeling better after 1-2 months or 6-12 sessions of therapy.

Imagine feeling better and starting to enjoy life again just a month or so from now. Everything is within your grasp—all you have to do is get in touch with us.

That said, you most likely won’t be “done” with therapy once you start feeling better. You wouldn’t stop learning a language just as you start to grasp the basics. The same is true for depression counseling.

As your journey towards wellness unfolds, you and your therapist will continue discussing your goals and progress. You can adjust the frequency of sessions as you work through your depression and learn resilience.

And know that our door is always open for you. Everyone can benefit from talking with an unbiased mental health professional now and then.

What happens in depression counseling?

During depression counseling, you can expect:

Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event

  • Talking with your therapist about who you are and answering questions about yourself
  • Sharing the goals you have for depression counseling, or working with your therapist to discover your goals
  • Talking about your feelings, recent experiences, and personal history
  • Learning new things about yourself and your thought patterns
  • Practicing new skills like mindfulness, visualization, and positive self-talk
  • Working through problems you’re experiencing at home, work, or anywhere else
  • Discovering your strength, resilience, and other positive qualities you may not be aware of

All in all, therapy isn’t always easy. It takes work, effort, and dedication. But your therapist understands your current limits and the burden you’re carrying. You won’t be expected to do more than you can handle at any given time.

How do you find the right mental health professional?

The right mental health professional for you should be open-minded, empathetic, familiar with the many forms and symptoms of depression, and certified to offer several different types of depression therapy and interventions.

Depression is anything but basic. Your therapist will need a comprehensive understanding of you as an individual and your symptoms before they can suggest effective treatment.

Many of our certified mental health professionals specialize in depression counseling. This issue plagues people of all ages, genders, cultures, and backgrounds. We’re here to help them all, including you.

Our biggest belief is that wellness is one of your most important birthrights. You deserve to love life and feel the full range of human emotions. Not just the negative ones. When you choose Mental Health Counseling Services NY as your mental healthcare team, you’re choosing to invest in yourself.

The next step is simple. Just click the button below to start your healing journey with us by your side.

Just click the button below to request your first appointment.