Depression Treatment Melbourne

A psychologist provides evidence-based talk therapy to help you understand and manage depression. At Positive Wellbeing Psychology and Psychiatry, our Melbourne psychologists draw on approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and other evidence-based therapies, tailored to your individual needs.

Therapy can help you identify unhelpful thinking patterns, build practical coping strategies, improve emotional regulation, and gradually reconnect with the activities and relationships that matter to you. You can attend in person at our Armadale clinic or via telehealth across Australia.

Yes. With a referral and a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate on psychology sessions, up to 10 sessions per calendar year. This makes seeing a depression psychologist in Melbourne more accessible and affordable.

To get started, book an appointment with your GP to discuss a Mental Health Treatment Plan, then contact our Armadale clinic to arrange your first session, in person or via telehealth. You can find more information on our fees and rebates page.

Many people benefit from seeing both a psychologist and a psychiatrist, particularly if their symptoms are moderate to severe or have not improved with previous treatment.

A psychologist provides evidence-based therapy to help address the thoughts, emotions, and behaviours contributing to depression. A psychiatrist is a medical specialist who can assess whether medication may be beneficial, prescribe medication where appropriate, and monitor your progress over time.

At Positive Wellbeing Psychology, our psychologists and psychiatrists work collaboratively, allowing you to receive coordinated care within the one practice. This integrated approach means your clinicians can communicate directly, helping to ensure your treatment plan remains consistent and tailored to your needs.

The most appropriate treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms, your treatment history, and your personal preferences.

For mild depression, evidence-based psychological therapy can be effective on its own. For moderate to severe, persistent, or recurrent depression, Australian clinical guidelines note that a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication may be recommended. Whether this is right for you depends on your individual circumstances.

During your assessment, your psychologist will discuss your symptoms, goals, and treatment preferences. If medication may be beneficial, you can be referred for a comprehensive assessment with one of our psychiatrists, who will determine whether medication is appropriate for your individual circumstances.

Most antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), begin producing therapeutic effects within four to six weeks, although some people notice improvements sooner and others require longer. Maximum benefit is often reached after approximately eight to twelve weeks. It is important to note that antidepressants can take some weeks to have an effect, and this varies from person to person. Your psychiatrist will be able to discuss expected timeframes, benefits, and possible side effects with you.

During this time, psychological therapy remains an important part of treatment. Therapy helps you develop practical coping strategies, understand unhelpful thinking patterns, improve emotional regulation, and gradually reconnect with meaningful activities. Your psychiatrist will monitor your response to medication and make adjustments where needed, while your psychologist supports your recovery through evidence-based treatment.

Psychological therapy is an important treatment for depression at all levels of severity. For moderate to severe depression, a combination of therapy and medication may be recommended, and this can be discussed with one of our psychiatrists.

Combined treatment can help reduce symptoms more quickly, improve day-to-day functioning, and lower the likelihood of relapse. Your psychologist and psychiatrist will work together to develop a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs, preferences, and goals.

For trauma-related depression, specialised therapeutic approaches combined with psychiatric support can be helpful.

If an antidepressant has not been effective after an adequate trial, it does not necessarily mean that medication will not work for you.

Your psychiatrist may recommend adjusting the dose, changing to a different medication, combining medications where appropriate, or considering other evidence-based treatment options. They will also review whether other mental health conditions or physical health factors may be contributing to your symptoms.

For some individuals with treatment-resistant depression, your psychiatrist can review your history and discuss other evidence-based treatment options as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Learn more about our Psychiatry Services.

Antidepressants should never be stopped suddenly without medical advice, as this can increase the risk of withdrawal symptoms and relapse.

If you are feeling better, your psychiatrist can develop a gradual tapering plan that reduces medication safely while monitoring your progress. Continuing psychological therapy during this period can help strengthen coping skills, reduce the risk of future depressive episodes, and support long-term recovery.

General practitioners (GPs) play an important role in identifying depression, prescribing antidepressants, and coordinating your overall healthcare.

Psychiatrists are medical specialists with additional training in diagnosing and treating complex mood disorders, optimising medication, managing treatment-resistant depression, and assessing co-occurring mental health conditions.

At Positive Wellbeing Psychology, our psychologists and psychiatrists work collaboratively within the same practice, allowing your treatment to be coordinated and providing greater continuity of care throughout your recovery.

Recovery from depression varies from person to person and depends on factors such as symptom severity, the duration of symptoms, previous episodes of depression, and any co-occurring mental health conditions.

Many people begin noticing improvements within four to six weeks, particularly when engaging consistently in therapy and, where appropriate, medication. More significant improvements often occur over eight to twelve weeks, while full recovery may take several months or in some instances for chronic or treatment resistant depression it may take longer. For depression affecting relationships, integrated support for couples counselling may also be beneficial.

Your treating clinician will regularly review your progress and adjust your treatment plan to ensure it continues to meet your needs and recovery goals.

Yes. Research indicates telehealth psychology appointments can be as effective as face-to-face therapy for many people.

Telehealth offers greater flexibility, improves access to care across Australia, and allows you to maintain continuity of treatment regardless of your location. Whether you choose online or in-person appointments, you will receive the same evidence-based care from your treating clinician.

Positive Wellbeing Psychology offers secure telehealth appointments Australia-wide, alongside in-person consultations at our Melbourne clinic.