Depression
Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders. In a recent Gallups poll, about 29% of Americans reported being diagnosed with depression at some time in their lifetime. About 18% reported they currently had depression. You are not alone!
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Depression symptoms can include frequent crying spells, lack of motivation, difficulty sleeping, irritability, sleeping too much, a change in eating habits, and others. There are physical symptoms that can also be seen with depression including exhaustion, cognitive impairment, slow movements, etc.
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One of the first recommendations if experiencing any of these symptoms is to see your doctor. Some physical ailments can cause symptoms that look and feel a lot like depression, so it is important to rule those out before proceeding with therapy. Some examples could be hypothyroidism, anemia, Vitamin D deficiency, and low blood sugar. Once those have been treated or ruled out, the next logical step is therapy.
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Therapy and medication have proven very effective in the treatment of depression. Most people would prefer to try therapy before beginning medication. This is a great idea! Your therapist should be able to help you determine when medication is necessary if you are not responding to therapy treatment within a reasonable timeframe.
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When looking for a counselor, it is always wise to do an initial consultation to see if the therapist is someone you feel you would like to work with. A large part of your success in counseling is determined by the relationship that you have with the therapist. During the initial consultation, the therapist should ask you questions about yourself to see if they are qualified and a good fit to meet your counseling needs. You should also take this time to ask the therapist questions. Things like licensure, credentials, education, counseling theory, belief system, cost, etc. could be important and help you determine if this is someone that you would be comfortable working with to meet your goals.
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I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia and that I practice from a Cognitive Behavioral perspective with Biblical principles. I have more than 15 years of experience as a Christian counselor, having been supervised by some of the most well-known local Christian therapists. I received a BA degree from Wesleyan College in Psychology with a minor in Communications. From there, I earned a MS degree in Community Counseling from Columbus State University.
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Are you ready to schedule a consultation for counseling? Just click the button below:
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