Therapy for Depression
Many people experience difficulties in life that affect their capacity to genuinely appreciate life or even engage in daily activities. These feelings of depression, and even of impending doom, can make navigating through life daunting and scary. It helps to discuss these feelings with a counselor to help overcome the circumstances that are creating obstacles to a healthy and fulfilling life.
As compassionate listeners and licensed professionals, our counselors can help you overcome depression and the disruptive symptoms that come with it.
Depression is a common illness affecting nearly 1 in every 10 people. It is one of the most widespread ailments, and people afflicted with depression often face difficulty with knowing where to begin or who to turn to for help. Red Cedar Counseling is committed to helping our community find the resources they need to defeat depression.
What is Depression?
Characteristics
Depression can be unpredictable and may include negative thinking or intrusive thoughts, low energy levels, appetite or sleep changes, lack of interest in normally pleasurable activities, and sometimes suicidal thoughts. Restlessness or irritability may also play a role. Our therapists at Red Cedar Counseling are ready to help you identify the characteristics that contribute to your depression and find a way out of those patterns. We can help guide you to more positive thinking patterns and inspire new ideas to regain interest in the things you love.
Common Symptoms
Depression symptoms vary from person to person, but the most common symptoms are normally centered around persistent sadness or “empty” moods, anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness or doom. Some victims of depression also experience feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness. Seeking help from a Red Cedar therapist means you don’t have to try to overcome these thoughts and feelings alone. We are ready to help you identify the negative emotions you may have about yourself or your surroundings, and help you find ways to improve your outlook and challenge those sources of sadness.
Causes
Many of us develop depression due to factors like genetics, family history, and life events. The onset of depression can happen at any time in our lives. There are other things that can cause or contribute to depression like medications, alcohol abuse, hormone levels, and stress. Our counselors are here to listen to you in order to truly understand what you’re experiencing. We can help you identify the causes of your suffering and deal with them together so you can begin leading a happier and more gratifying life.
Common Signs of Depression That Affect Day-to-Day Life
You may benefit from counseling for depression if you experience…
- Feelings of hopelessness and are pessimistic about the future
- Difficulty concentrating
- Remembering details and making decisions
- Significant changes in weight and appetite
- Lack of energy and chronic fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
Frequently Asked
Therapy is one of the most helpful strategies in overcoming depression. There are many different types of therapists who can help with depression since it is such a common disorder and is frequently treated with talk therapy. LPCs (Licensed Professional Counselors) are thoroughly trained in many types of therapy for depression. Most clinical social workers and psychologists can also help with depression. You can read more about each individual counselor on our website to see their experience and specialties with helping individuals with depression.
Yes, therapy can make a big difference. During therapy, you and your counselor can explore your thoughts and feelings about yourself, your relationships, and other parts of your life that might contribute to, or increase, the severity of the depression. Your therapist will help you process those thoughts and feelings and guide you through finding ways to encourage more healthy and positive ways of living that work for your unique needs.
Counseling sessions with a Red Cedar therapist can help lessen depression symptoms and improve overall mental wellbeing. Other methods, such as keeping a daily journal or even taking a short walk, can help reduce symptoms of depression. Disrupting intrusive thoughts or interrupting a sedentary episode by getting up and doing something active can help tremendously. It is often very difficult to take those actions in the moment, but they can make a huge difference.
Depression has many different root causes. Sometimes there are no apparent causes, while other times, depression may result from a specific life event or series of events. Speaking with a counselor often helps us identify and understand the underlying causes so we can take action to address them.
Steps To Help Reduce Depression
Therapy
Therapy for depression can help create ways to manage stress, develop coping strategies for life’s difficulties, and build on your strengths. The counselors at Red Cedar want to empower you to explore healthy and new ways to navigate your daily life in ways that work for you. We are not here to judge or tell you how to live your life. We simply want to help guide you to find the solutions that integrate well for your unique needs.
Physical Activity
Physical activity is one of the most helpful ways to manage stress and reduce depression. The release of endorphins is a great way to boost your mood and energy.
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol and drugs are often depressants themselves, which can worsen your feelings of depression.
Sleep Wellness
Your brain needs adequate rest to feel refreshed and energized. When you’re depressed, it can be hard to get enough sleep, or sometimes you have the opposite problem and sleep too much. Our counselors can also help you explore options to develop healthy sleeping habits, which can dramatically help with depression.
Healthy Eating
Making sure you are eating enough food and getting enough nutrients can also impact depression symptoms. Developing a regular eating schedule with healthy foods can help improve moods.
Preparing for Your Appointment
It can help to write down or make a mental note of your experiences when considering what to do to prepare for an initial therapy appointment. Here are some things to consider.
Symptoms
It can help to keep track of how severe the symptoms are. Check whether they’ve changed recently and whether the sadness began due to specific events or life changes.
Stressors
Talking to your counselor about specific stressors or triggers may help find ways to reduce or manage them.
Family Health History
You may want to ask your parents or other family members about their history of depression, which can sometimes run in families.
Physical Conditions
Health conditions can sometimes be symptoms of depression or potentially even cause depression. Discussing health problems with your counselor may help guide the conversation to build coping skills.
Medications
Medications for other conditions or illnesses can sometimes cause depression. While this information may be relevant or helpful in therapy, always discuss those side effects with the prescribing physician.
Questions
Writing down or making a mental note of any questions you may have for the counselor can help the initial appointment be productive. Getting those questions answered may help make the process feel less daunting.
Therapy and your privacy
The therapists at Red Cedar Counseling respect your privacy. The information shared in a therapy session is strictly confidential. The relationship between the counselor and the patient is based on trust, compassion, and respect, so that each individual feels comfortable in the therapy environment. Learn more by exploring our privacy policy.
Let Red Cedar Counseling help you manage your mental health and explore new ways of living that work for you. We serve people in the greater Lansing, Michigan area. To learn more about therapy for depression and to talk with a professional counselor in the Lansing, Michigan area, contact Red Cedar Counseling today.
Therapy for Depression at Red Cedar Counseling
You don’t have to deal with depression alone. Let the thoughtful and compassionate counselors at Red Cedar help you on your journey. Our counselors are kind, non-judgmental, and focus on improving interpersonal relationships and helping you get back to the life that you want. We believe that healing can happen through the therapeutic process. Call us today at (517)-301-5011 or request a call to schedule an appointment.