Online Counselling for Depression
What is depression?
Depression is a term used to describe many mood states: from fleeting sadness to longer term and debilitating periods of low mood and lack of interest in life.
We all feel down from time to time, but then we catch up with friends or make a few changes and we are able to feel better again.
Clinical depression is an emotional, physical and cognitive (thinking) state that is intense and long-lasting and has a significant impact on our day-to-day life.
It is generally recognised that a number of factors (e.g., genetic, biological, psychological, social) can contribute to the development of depression.
Depression is often associated with the loss of something important.
Clients that seek online counselling for depression have often experienced some sort of setback or loss which has impacted their ability to feel good and think hopefully about the future.
It could be the loss of a partner through separation or divorce or the loss of an important career goal. For some people, it is the feeling of being stuck in their current situation and having difficulty finding a way to move forward to the life they imagined for themselves.
Depression is a common mental health problem.
One in five people will experience an episode of clinical depression in their lifetime. One in six women and one in eight men will experience depression.
If you have been diagnosed with clinical depression, then you are certainly not alone.
You don’t have to live with depression and low mood.
The good news is that if you are experiencing low mood or have been diagnosed with clinical depression, there are effective and well-researched treatments available that can help you feel better.
It doesn’t matter whether your depression has reached the status of being “clinical” for you to benefit from online counselling for depression. If you have noticed increased feelings of sadness and/or decreased pleasure from your usual activities over a two-week period, then you might wish to consider seeking help.
Can online counselling help me with my depression?
Yes! Online counselling for depression can help you to:
- identify what factors are contributing to your feelings of depression.
- learn to manage unhelpful thoughts and unpleasant feelings.
- work out a plan to deal with the issues that have affected your low mood.
- learn strategies to increase feelings of happiness and increase your participation in enjoyable and satisfying activities.
- reduce the chance of experiencing depression in the future.
Does PsyChange specialise in treating different types of depression?
Your online psychologist, Wendy Lee, is skilled at treating most types of depression problems. She has a special interest in treating the following problems associated with depression.
- Low self-esteem
- Negative thoughts and pessimism
- Relationship breakdown
- Grief and loss
- Career dissatisfaction
- Burnout
- Workplace issues
- Procrastination
- Life transition (e.g., retirement) and adjustment issues
Are there any types of depression that are not suited to online counselling?
More severe types of depression that have involved hospitalisation and contact with Community Mental Health Services may not be well-suited to online counselling.
It should be noted that some forms of clinical depression can be associated with thoughts of self-harm and suicide. If you are feeling like acting on thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you are likely to be best served by seeking face-to-face treatment with a provider in your local community. Please contact your GP for a referral to a locally based clinician.
Also, please see the Contact page for a list of 24 hour crisis numbers you can call if you are urgently seeking assistance.
If you would like more detailed information about depression, please visit the Australian Psychological Society’s “Depression” information page.