Our therapists provide depression counseling in Colorado Springs, CO

My go-to approach for treating depression is to start by guessing that the client is likely doing their best. I find the best benefit in starting with small, nearly 100% attainable goals to begin pushing back against the loneliness, self-defeat, and lack of motivation that often accompanies depression.Suicidality and self-harm often accompany depression. I encourage clients to maintain awareness of these symptoms through honest, open conversation with me so we can attend to safety concerns while keeping the client at the least-restrictive level of care possible.

Tools I use for counseling depression include:

• Understanding the depression cycle.
• Identifying automatic negative thoughts.
• Tracking themes and patterns in mood over time to improve mindfulness.
• Behavior activation: The idea that an antidote to depression is resisting the urge to stay stagnant, and that by engaging in behaviors that positively activate a client in either mind or body, they are more likely to be able to engage in higher-order thinking and reap the benefits of those behaviors.

I know a client is making meaningful progress in counseling for depression when they begin reporting greater access to emotions - not just joy, but also hurt, sadness, excitement, gratitude, grief, etc. Depression is not simply the absence of joy but can also be the absence of other emotions. Clients are making progress when the effects of their depressive symptoms no longer prevent them from achieving short and long-term goals, hopes, and dreams.

In their personal time, clients can supplement their time in counseling for depression by maintaining awareness of thoughts, situations, or people that may trigger depressive symptoms, as well as noticing times when they are not feeling this way. Focusing on mindfulness and treating oneself kindly are key factors in treating depressive symptoms.

To prepare for your first counseling session for depression, all you need to do is schedule the appointment! Sometimes just starting therapy and showing up is half the work, and clients do not need to be stressed about being “prepared” for a first appointment. Try to lean on a support person who knows you will be starting therapy who you can check in with after your first session. If you would like, it may be helpful to identify 2-3 areas of life in which you notice depressive symptoms as the most impactful.