You're not alone! How Therapy Helps Manage Depression

Sep 17, 2020

Depression rears its ugly face in many different ways. It does not discriminate and spans several age groups, races and ethnicities, socio-economic statuses, and family situations. It can look different for different people, but talk therapy can be helpful for anyone who suffers from depression. Here are a few of the ways depression can be managed by counseling:

1. Normalizing negative feelings: If you attend a counseling session, you will likely discuss your feelings around certain situations. The therapist might say something like, "It makes sense that you feel that way." This normalization of your feelings might stop you in your downward spiraling tracks because it is contrary to the self-depreciating thoughts you would have delved into on your own.

2. New perspectives: Another way that therapy helps to lessen the effects of depression is that you will be offered different perspectives on situations or conversations that might get you down. For example, you might be ruminating about a conversation that you had with your mother in which she said something that was offensive to you. Your therapist may offer a perspective about how your mother grew up or how she thinks that she is helping you even though her words caused pain. This change in perspective may help to lessen the amount of pain you feel regarding the conversation.

3. Strategies for happy living: Finally, therapy for depression can minimize your discomfort by giving you strategies for living a healthier and happier life. Some of these suggestions might include practicing mindfulness or yoga, increasing positive social interactions, finding exercise routines that you enjoy, or finding ways to increase positive internal thoughts.

Whatever your background or life situation, if you are suffering from the effects of depression, therapy can have a significant positive impact on your mood. If you are in the Fresno, California area, contact us and we would love to discuss how we can help.