Depression is one of the most common yet dangerous mental health conditions. Sadly, countless people struggle with this issue alone, gradually becoming more isolated and miserable as time goes by. It is a condition that can progressively get worse and even lead to self-harming or suicide attempts. This World Suicide Prevention Day, which is held annually on the 10th of September, I wanted to share my insights into the importance of therapy for depression and mental health.

An insight into therapy.

Therapy is generally the first treatment form recommended for depression and many other mental health conditions. Therapy can involve different treatment techniques and styles. For example, I specialise in taking a person-centred approach, building the sessions around my clients’ individual needs. During the therapy sessions, the client talks to a trained and accredited mental healthcare professional where together they can help to develop strategies that focus on better managing the symptoms of depression whilst also identifying the root cause so it can be explored in a safe environment.

How does therapy for depression improve your mental health

Therapy benefits people with depression in a wide range of ways, helping them to lead a more fulfilling life.

It helps manage the symptoms of depression

The symptoms of depression can impact many areas of your life, such as appetite changes, feelings of apathy, sleep disorders, struggling to stay motivated, falling behind in work, and feelings of guilt. Therapy can help you to recognise these potentially damaging symptoms and deal with them effectively, developing coping methods that will make you feel better equipped to handle these emotions and situations.By providing you with a comfortable and private space where you can talk openly and honestly, you can share your difficulties and, with support from your therapist, look for ways to encourage healing. We can examine and identify the causes of depression and possible solutions to help you build more positive ways of thinking and behaving. Therapy can help depressed clients to return to normal activities and reconnect with their loved ones.

It improves your quality of life

In some cases, depression can gradually merge with other mental health issues, such as stress or anxiety, and recovery can require a multi-step approach. By attending therapy sessions, your therapist can help you to identify any worrying behaviour or feelings that may be connected with other issues and plan out an approach for tackling the issues together. As an experienced counsellor, I help my clients to find the context behind their emotions and help them to unravel the underlying causes. Rather than tackling depression, we can take a deeper dive into your overall quality of life and look for ways to improve it overall. This approach helps people to understand their emotions instead of being paralysed by them. Due to this, my clients start to accept their emotions and make progress in their lives.Therapy can also help people to manage their obsessions, feelings, and destructive behaviours.

Reasons to consider starting therapy

The benefits of therapy aren’t limited to what I have mentioned above. Here are some other ways in which therapy can benefit you:

•       Therapy can help in improving interpersonal and communication skills.
•       It boosts self-esteem and self-acceptance.
•       Therapy can change self-defeating behaviours.
•       It helps in better management of emotions and behaviours.
•       It can offer relief from multiple mental health conditions.
•       It encourages better decision-making skills and confidence.
•       It helps you to manage stress more effectively.
•       Improves how you process and handle conflict.

What if I don’t feel ready for in-person therapy?

Therapy for depression has proven to be very effective, but it can be difficult to decide whether to opt for online therapy or in-person sessions. Each setting has its own benefits, but the most important thing is to make sure that you get the support you need and feel comfortable.Online sessions are particularly useful for those who find leaving the house a challenge. Going into new surroundings with new people can be intimidating, and I have some clients who feel more comfortable in their own homes. It can also be helpful for people who are not located near to my Warrington-based clinic or who have busy schedules and want to fit the sessions into their busy lives. Get in touch with me today to learn more about how I can help support you.