Depression Treatment & Counselling

When to Seek Depression Counselling or Therapy

When should you seek depression counselling and therapy treatment?

If depression is affecting your work, relationships, or daily life, it may be time to seek support in managing it. Even if you’re not facing major life events or significant stress, depression can still emerge. When feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or low energy become excessive, persistent, and interfere with your daily functioning, they can develop into a depressive disorder.

It might also be helpful to explore other potential factors contributing to your symptoms of depression, such as low self-esteem, unresolved grief, difficulties in setting boundaries, or a lack of support in your personal life. By combining a personalised approach with the most effective therapeutic methods for you, we can identify and address these underlying issues in a safe, supportive space. Remember, depression doesn’t have to define your life.

Our Melbourne psychologists for depression and anxiety use a personalised, evidence-based approach to explore underlying factors and support recovery in a safe, non-judgmental space. This helps us understand your unique experiences and how these factors impact your daily life. With a GP referral and mental health treatment plan, you will be able to utilise Medicare rebates with one of our psychologists at our Melbourne VIC psychology practice.

Recognising the Symptoms of Depression: Emotional, Cognitive, Behavioural, and Physical Effects

Emotional Symptoms of Depression:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, or emptiness
• Loss of interest in most things
• Feeling a persistent feeling of general unease and nervousness
• Feelings of hopelessness and thinking that positive change is unattainable
• Feeling a constant sense of failure and lowered self-esteem
• Lowered self-confidence and reduced self-worth
• Compliments might trigger discomfort or you doubt the sincerity behind it
• Heightened irritability and easy frustration especially in children and teens
• Overwhelming guilt or feelings of worthlessness
• Everything feels like an effort disproportionate to the task
• The simplest tasks can feel overwhelming, prompting a desire to retreat and avoid interaction

Cognitive Symptoms of Depression:

• Difficulty experiencing pleasure or interest in activities that were once enjoyable
• Reduced ability to focus and concentrate on tasks, even routine ones
• Struggles with making decisions, regardless of their significance
• Persistent feelings of worthlessness and self-criticism
• View yourself as a burden or hindrance to others
• Negative self-perceptions dominate your thoughts
• Frequent self-doubt, negative internal dialogue about oneself, and heightened sensitivity to criticism
• Negative thoughts and negative interpretation of events, often perceiving them in a pessimistic light
• Diminished self-confidence due to self-doubt and a sense of inadequacy
• Cognitive rigidity, finding it hard to adapt to new situations or perspectives
• Impaired memory, leads to difficulty recalling recent or past events
• Suicidal thoughts, ideas or behaviours
• Recurrent thoughts of death, dying, or a desire to escape
• Loss of purpose might lead to thoughts of suicide or self-harm
• If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings, it is important to reach out to somebody you trust, or ideally, a trusted doctor or mental health professional

Behavioural Symptoms of Depression:

• Getting out of bed, socialising, showering, or cooking might become challenging
• Withdrawal from social activities, friends, and family
• Social isolation from others that in turn exacerbates feelings of flatness and daytime sleepiness
• Experiencing a persistent lack of motivation to maintain your usual routines
• Reduced participation in once-enjoyable hobbies or interests
• Difficulty concentrating at school, work, or higher education settings
• Increased outbursts or disproportionate emotional responses
• Sleep problems and changes in sleep patterns such as insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Reduced or increased eating habits, or change in appetite, often resulting in a increased or reduced weight
• Decline in personal hygiene and self-care habits

Physical Symptoms of Depression:

• Increased fatigue and reduced energy
• Sleep patterns, impacting significantly impact daily functioning
• Mental fatigue and a feeling of mental cloudiness or fogginess
• Frequent tearfulness or excessive crying
• Some people notice headaches, body aches, and pains
• You may feel heavy in your body, or lethargic and un-rested

Positive Wellbeing Psychology is not a crisis support service. In an emergency, dial ‘triple zero’ (000).

If you need support or someone is at risk, call Lifeline at 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service at 1300 659 467, or Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636. For additional information on immediate support, click here.

Types of Depression We Treat

What types of depression can your team of psychologists and psychiatrists help with?

At Positive Wellbeing Psychology, our Melbourne psychologists provide depression therapy, counselling, and support for a range of depressive disorders, including:

• Major depressive disorder
  
• Persistent depressive disorder
  
• Bipolar disorder
  
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
  
• Postpartum depression
  
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Our in-person and online psychiatrists are able experienced to assist with depression as well as treatment resistant depression. 

How can depression treatment with a psychologist help?

At Positive Wellbeing Psychology, our Melbourne psychologists are trained in evidence-based depression treatment to support individuals experiencing persistent low mood, depressive disorders, and other mood-related difficulties.

Treatment typically begins with a detailed assessment to identify your symptoms, functional impairments, and the severity of challenges in daily life. Through comprehensive history-taking, our psychologists can collaboratively set therapy goals and recommend the most suitable depression therapy and counselling options for your needs.

For individuals experiencing persistent or severe depression, a combination of talk therapy and medication may be considered. Our team works closely with your GP and psychiatrists in Melbourne to facilitate referral documentation and ensure access to Medicare rebates under the mental health treatment plan when residing in Australia. Collaboration with your GP and Melbourne psychiatrists also allows for ongoing monitoring of symptom changes, ensuring a holistic and coordinated approach to care. 

What are the evidence-based approaches we use to treat depression?

Our therapy approaches will depend on the individual therapy goals and are discussed in your initial appointments to support you on your mental health journey. Our Melbourne psychologists may incorporate a diverse range of therapeutic approaches as part of providing depression counselling. These may include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, and mindfulness techniques.

CBT may be utilised to improve your mood, self-esteem, and motivation, and rekindle your interest in enjoyable activities. Behavioural Activation may be used to help you engage in pleasurable activities and boost motivation. Interpersonal Psychotherapy may be incorporated to focus on improving your relationships and reducing distress. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy may display the benefit of helping foster present-moment awareness and prevent future episodes of depression. 

CBT may be utilised to target depression symptoms, improve your mood, self-esteem, and motivation, and rekindle your interest in enjoyable activities. Behavioural Activation may be used to help you engage in pleasurable activities and boost motivation. Interpersonal Psychotherapy may be incorporated to focus on improving your relationships and reducing distress. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy may display the benefit of helping foster present-moment awareness and prevent future episodes of depression.