Across the UK, depression affects millions of people every year. Regardless of age, background or gender, it doesn’t discriminate.
Symptoms of depression can trigger for various different reasons including significant life changes, stressful events, illness, or family history. Whatever the reason may be, our trained counsellors at The Therapy Company can provide diagnosis and individual mental health services to help you better manage symptoms, and ultimately live a healthier and happier life.
For more information about counselling for depression and how we can help, call us today at 01772 440321 or use our online contact form.
Alternatively, read the full blog post to find out more about:
• The role of counselling for depression
• Types of counselling for depression
• The importance of seeking help
• Symptoms of depression
Understanding Depression
Depression is characterised by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders, affecting around 1 in 6 adults in the UK. Depression is a pervasive mental health disorder that can also manifest symptoms in a number of ways. For example, through physical symptoms, behavioural changes, and emotional symptoms.
The Role of Counselling
The role of counselling plays an integral role in managing symptoms of depression. By talking through a trained mental health professional at The Therapy Company, you can start to understand your own feelings, thoughts and behaviours. Ultimately, counselling is a collaborative process aimed at helping individuals cope with and overcome their mental health challenges. Counselling methods and services include CBT, person-centred counselling, and online therapy.
Here’s how counselling can be particularly effective for managing and treating depression:
Providing a Safe Space
Counselling is highly effective at managing and treating depression as it creates a non-judgemental and safe space for individuals to express true emotions and feelings. Counselling, for many, is often the first step to healing. Talking to a trained professional on a regular basis that you can confide in can help to alleviate the burden of carrying those thoughts alone.
Identifying Root Causes
Whether you’re aware of the root cause of your depressive symptoms or not, counselling can help you to identify them. Depression may stem from a traumatic life event, bereavement, or family history. Whatever it may be, our trained counsellors help you to identify in a safe and compassionate manner. We can then help you with coping strategies around root causes identified.
Developing Coping Strategies
Within counselling, there are a number of coping strategies that we can help you to develop to manage symptoms of depression. CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) is a proven technique that helps to challenge existing negative thoughts and emotions. Mindfulness exercises can also be introduced to help you observe persistent emotions in the present moment, and much more.
Improving Communication and Relationships
Depression can often cause behavioural changes, and this can impact communication with our closest relationships. Fortunately, counselling helps individuals to improve communication skills which helps you to build strong, healthier relationships, so that you can support those around you and vice versa. Social connection is imperative for healing.
Types of Counselling for Depression
Several different types of counselling can be effective for treating depression. Here are some of the most common:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
The Therapy Company offers Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which is one of the most effective types of therapies used for managing symptoms of depression. CBT is a talking therapy that helps to identify root causes, challenges negative thought patterns, and develops resilience to change existing patterns in a healthier way.
Person-Centred Counselling
Our professionally trained counsellors in Preston are fully equipped to handle all types of problems and issues, using proven techniques and methods to help you through your difficult emotions and feelings. Our counsellors offer person-centred counselling, an approach devised by Carl Rogers. This approach is based on the philosophy that you enter the room with your counsellor and have the freedom and space to freely express all your feelings and emotions safely.
Online Counselling
The Therapy Company also provides online counselling via secure video platforms. We are based in Preston, but if you can’t get to us or if it’s inconvenient to do so, worry not, as we provide professional online counselling solutions. Whether you need an assessment, diagnosis, or treatment plan, we have a team of highly experienced counsellors that are waiting to help.
Symptoms of Depression
Depression is a complex mental health disorder characterised by a variety of emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms. There are essentially four different categories that symptoms may fall under which include:
Emotional Symptoms: Symptoms may include persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of worthlessness, and irritability or frustration that has been persistent for a period of time.
Cognitive Symptoms: Difficulty concentrating is a common cognitive symptom. Further symptoms include negative thinking, indecisiveness, and thoughts of death or suicide.
Physical Symptoms: Changes in sleep patterns over time, fatigue or decreased energy, and physical pains.
Behavioural Symptoms: A common symptom in regards to behaviour is withdrawal from activities. May also include changes in movement and decreased productivity.
The Importance of Seeking Help
The importance of seeking help cannot be overstated if you are struggling or experiencing symptoms of depression. Although you may feel alone, there is professional help available for you. It’s important to note that recognising you need additional support is a strength, not a weakness, and takes incredible strength.
Just like any other medical illness, depression is a serious condition that requires professional intervention. The Therapy Company can also prescribe medication in conjunction with counselling, if we see this as suitable for the patient.
Seeking help from private counsellors is a huge first step to understanding and managing depression. It’s our mission to help our patients to reclaim joy in their lives and find joy and purpose again.
Why The Therapy Company?
The Therapy Company has an extensive team of private counsellors that provide mental health services that help you manage symptoms of depression, and do so in a compassionate and caring manner. Whether you’d prefer to visit us at our relaxed facility in Preston or prefer online counselling, both options are available to you, depending on what suits you best.
Contact Us Today
Looking to get in touch with us today to arrange your initial appointment? For more information, please call us today at 01772 440321. Alternatively, if you prefer to email, use our online contact form and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours or less.
