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Edmonton Depression Counselling

Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. It is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed and the feeling sad or having a depressed mood. Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can affect how a person functions in everyday life. Symptoms of depression can range from very mild to severe. For a person to be diagnosed with depression they must last for at least two weeks.

Depression affects an estimated 1 in 15 adults in any given year and 1 in 6 will experience some form of depression at some point in their life. It can occur at any time and happen to anyone, but on average appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Studies show women are more likely than men to experience depression and that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime.

It is important to differentiate between depression and being sad. For example, the feelings after losing a loved one, the ending of a relationship, or the loss of a job are difficult experiences for someone to endure, but the response of the feelings of sadness or grief afterward is normal. Those who have experienced loss might describe themselves as depressed, but it is not the same as being diagnosed as depressed.

Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80 percent and 90 percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. At Greenspan Psychology, we provide Edmonton depression counselling services to help patients gain some relief from their symptoms.

Before a diagnosis or treatment, a health professional should conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation, including an interview and possibly a physical examination. In some cases, a blood test might be done to make sure the depression is not due to a medical condition like a thyroid problem. The evaluation is to identify specific symptoms, medical and family history, cultural factors, and environmental factors to arrive at a diagnosis and plan a course of action.

If you have any of the below symptoms, you may have depression.

  • Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
  • Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
  • Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
  • Loss of energy or increased fatigue
  • Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others)
  • Feeling worthless or guilty
  • Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
  • Thoughts of death or suicide
READ MORE ABOUT DEPRESSION

Edmonton Depression Counsellor

Finding a depression counsellor that is the right fit for you can be an intimidating process. The counsellors at Greenspan Pyschology come highly trained and experienced. We’ve worked with a very wide variety of patients struggling with different problems and coming from many different backgrounds.

One very important thing to consider that you can look into before even scheduling a session is your potential depression counsellor’s education, training, and approach to depression counselling. You can find all of this information in regards to our Edmonton psychologists here. It can be hard to know exactly what will work for you before trying it out.

Booking a consultation with your potential depression counsellor is a good first step. It’s an opportunity to ask them whatever questions you have. What questions you ask will depend on what you find the most important when choosing a depression counsellor. If you’re not sure where to start it can be a good idea to ask about their education, experience with past patients, fees and rates, and how your depression counsellor suggests approaching your treatment plan.

Doing a phone consultation can help you build some rapport and comfort prior to attending your first counselling session. Initial intake sessions can feel intimidating for some people, and having already spoken to someone in advance can help break the ice. You will also be able to get an idea of whether this depression counsellor seems professional, and has a treatment plan that could work for you.

After a few sessions you should know if you’ve found the right depression counsellor for you. Of course, it’s different for everyone, so don’t be worried if you need a little longer to get comfortable. Sessions with your depression counsellor should leave you feeling supported and a little more positive about the future.

You can contact our experienced Edmonton depression counsellors today to book a free consultation and begin your path to a more fulfilling life.

Ask us about Depression