To the point question is...:: DOES COUNSELING with a Social Worker or Psychologist really help prevent?

Question

people from future depressive episodes....??

Reason I ask is that it NEVER has for me..... Keep eventually havin relapses even though I have seen different Counselors on & off for the last 8 to 10 years.....

My belief is that medication IS GREAT at handling depression BUT that therapy is really a long-shot in terms of making real progress.... that has been my experience.... now tell me your oponion PLEASE.....

Answer 1

I feel that it can require both therapy and meds in some cases. If a brain is not making seratonin or buzzing through it, that brain needs meds. Its the same with diabetes. You can't just tell a body to start paying attention to its insulin.

The talk therapy is good for changing non-constructive mental habits. It is also good for recognizing when things are spiraling down and understanding the need for help.

Answer 2

That is an excellent question for which there is no simple answer. Whether counseling is preventative depends on the cause of the depression, the skill of the counselor, and the motivation and follow-through of the counselee. Some folks are thought to have basically a biochemical tendency toward depressive episodes. For these people a biochemical treatment (medication) can be very effective. Counseling may help develop coping skills, but is more of an adjunct, not a "cure." For people whose depression is due to life circumstances or basic emotional issues, counseling can definitely be productive, and medication may then be a temporary aide to the counseling process.

Answer 3

I agree with you in that therapy is really a long shot. It can be of some help if you use it to set short term and long term goals and strive to achieve them. Counselors can't prevent relapses of depression. Only the right kind of medication can do that.

I was hospitalized at age 3 for major depression. I can remember sitting under my porch frozen with depression while my siblings played around me before my kindergarten years. Depression followed me through my teens and adult life and it wasn't until about 4 years ago that I found the right combination of medication that put my symptoms into remission.

I had a lot of therapists. One guy spent all of our time telling ME his problems. Most of them were good listeners but I didn't accomplish anything in therapy so I quit going for several years now. I would go back only if I had a specific problem to try and deal with.

That's been my experience.

Answer 4

Depression is a tough cross to bear.
I think therapy with a social worker/psychologist can be most helpful when we are not in the middle of depression. It is important to go long enough so we can retain the insight we gain when we are not actively depressed. When we get depressed, it is hard to access that insight. Medication is helpful but it can stop working after a while. At this point it can be necessary to switch to something else.

Answer 5

I believe in combination therapy... I don't believe a social worker, psychiatrist or psychologist is what is needed... I had a clinical therapist and I love her dearly... I had recurring bouts of depressions for almost 10 years... Therapy was on and off and medications never helped... I learned that therapy must be with the right person and that medication is trail and error until you find the right one...

I have NEVER been truly happy in my entire life until I recovered from this last one... It was deep intense emotional therapy... Broke everything down, built up my confidence... I was analyzing things as my therapist would have as I was saying them by the end... I learned to read my emotions, discover myself, love myself, and cherish life... even the mundane parts of life... I believe recovery is possibly and happiness is TRUE!

Answer 6

Consideration in each individual case must be done, determining the source of the depression.

Here are a few examples of causes --

Death or divorce, loss of job, financial woes, health crisis, high sustained stress (too much too fast), substance abuse,
thyroid or iron deficiency, childbirth-postpartum hormone changes, trauma, sexual abuse, buried memories returning of trauma-sex-etc.,constant fear, guilt, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, culture shock from a move-not adjusting, ....and the inability of the body to manufacture the necessary brain chemicals.

In MOST of these situations, the source of depression comes out of life circumstances or happenings or the inability to deal with the issues. And besides those, depression / the inability to think, reason & function in a normal manner-- can really mess-up your current situation or relationships.
So, in each of these areas the depressed person needs to process the problem, to determine a workable solution with the coaching of the therapist, and to be held accountable to answer and respond in making life-changing actions and decisions.

Counseling has opened my eyes, and I have changed and grown with each series of sessions. People around me have mirrored-back the positive changes seen in me. I am much better able to understand myself, my traumatic past events, and my future goals are more within reach. I have learned to look at life through positive eyes and expectations. Fear and guilt have become resolved. Memories of trauma have been dealt with and boxed and shelved into the background - no longer holding power over me. Relationships have changed and grown to more satisfactory stages. I have found HOPE.
And I'm still taking my meds.

Meds without the work would not have produced the satisfaction I have achieved. The process was important to putting depression behind me.

Answer 7

The counseling may not prevent future episodes but it should give coping strategies on how to handle it. My belief is medication and counseling should go hand in hand.

Answer 8

In my opinion, I don't have many friends so it is really nice to have someone there to talk to you.

and for me it does help a little with depression