Depression Therapy – Marlo Bennett

Is Depression Robbing Your Life of Color and Purpose?

Do you feel down, unhappy, tearful, or blue, perhaps for no apparent reason?
Do you often just want to stay in bed and hide, wishing the world would go away?
Are you finding it difficult to concentrate, make decisions, or think with this fog hanging over your mind?
Are you withdrawing from relationships or struggling to see the purpose of your job, leading to isolation and poor performance?
Do you feel weighed down by a sense of worthlessness and guilt?
Have you lost energy and motivation for activities and experiences that you once found pleasurable?
Do you wish you could free yourself from these dark, heavy thoughts and feelings, gain a sense of energy, and engage with all life has to offer?

Living with depression is physically and emotionally draining, discouraging, and often isolating. You may feel as if you’re wrapped in a heavy cloak, enveloped by a dark cloud, or stuck at the bottom of a deep well. If friends and family members aren’t supportive or don’t seem to understand, you may feel ashamed, blame yourself, and think you’re weak or just not trying hard enough. Physical symptoms, such as headaches, pain, stomach upset, and dizziness may add to your distress.

The constant struggle may lead to thoughts of death; you may feel embarrassed, and afraid, to reach out for help. No matter how hard you try, you can’t get lasting relief.

Both Men and Women Suffer from Depression

Depression is one of the most common reasons people seek therapy. According to the National Network of Depression Centers, 1 in 5 Americans will experience depression or another mood disorder.

Several factors, including hormonal changes and cultural and general life stressors, contribute to women being twice as likely to be affected as men. Still, depression will strike nearly 12 percent of American men at some point in life. Because men struggling with depression may express it through anger, irritability, or recklessness, their symptoms are too often unrecognized or misunderstood.

Regardless of gender, depression manifests in different forms and ranges in severity from mild to severe. It doesn’t mean you’re unhappy or down all the time, and most adults continue to work and meet daily obligations. It’s sometimes difficult to tell you’re being affected by depression, because it can come on slowly and alter your perceptions, making it difficult to remember what life was like before. In fact, it may be nearly impossible for you to think of a “before” at all, let alone believe that things don’t have to be this way.

The good news is that a compassionate, skilled therapist experienced in depression counseling can help you heal or manage your depression.

Depression Therapy Is an Effective Treatment

When seeking depression treatment, it is important to find a therapist who is skilled in treating depression, uses methods based on research evidence, and considers your concerns, preferences, and values.

I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help alter depressive thinking and behavior patterns so you can become more engaged in life. I also use other methods, including assertiveness training, and I support healthy lifestyle practices, such as physical activity, mindfulness, and meditation. Depending on your symptoms and severity, I may recommend you consult with a prescriber to determine whether medication may be a helpful addition to your treatment. According to the National Institute of Health, 80 percent of those treated for depression show an improvement generally within four to six weeks of beginning treatment.

Because depression acts like a pair of glasses that distorts your view of reality, you may be experiencing negative thought patterns that reinforce feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Although these thoughts seem accurate and believable at first, a systematic look at them often can reveal the distortions. During depression counseling, I’ll teach you a simple, powerful, step-by-step method to examine thoughts that may be keeping you down and to generate alternate ways of thinking, thereby opening the door to relief and a more balanced outlook.

Providing knowledge and practical tools, my multi-faceted treatment approach empowers you to become an active participant in your healing. Education about depression can decrease the guilt and shame you feel and facilitate a better understanding of your experience, as well as greater self-acceptance. As you learn more about why you’re feeling this way, you can begin to release the burden you’ve been carrying and embrace a new, more hopeful perspective on yourself and your future.

To help you overcome the hurdle of low energy and lack of motivation, we’ll set small, achievable goals and gradually build on improvement. Scheduling time to engage in a hobby or interest you once enjoyed can help you get re-involved in life. Dealing with depression can make it difficult to anticipate the benefits of doing almost anything, but by practicing effective strategies that help you start new habits, you’re likely to feel uplifted, present, and motivated.

In addition, sunlight, social connections, nutrition, and activity all help you get back on track to living a fulfilling, enjoyable life. If you’re tech-oriented, there are helpful apps and programs that can support your recovery. No matter what you’re experiencing or what you need right now, I will use my insight, expertise, and resources to help you make lifestyle changes that work for you.

You don’t have to do it alone. My 20 years of experience treating depression enables me to help you build an individualized toolbox for depression care, so you can manage distressing symptoms, become more engaged in life, and begin to experience renewed joy and enduring peace.

You might still be thinking: can depression therapy help me?

I’ve heard therapy is expensive

Therapy is an investment in your long-term physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Although depression can make it seem as though all is hopeless, or make you feel as though you don’t deserve to feel better, in truth, change is possible, and you are worth it.

With professional guidance and support, you can develop the tools needed to maintain physical health, enjoy relationships, succeed in your career or academic studies, and build a rewarding life. You can create a brighter future.

I’ve been to therapy before, and I didn’t learn how to deal with depression

Neuroscience is a rapidly-developing field; we now have knowledge that didn’t exist even in the last few years. For example, imaging studies have validated that effective practices for managing and overcoming depression actually change activity in the brain leading to enduring improvement.

Depression counseling isn’t just about talking; it’s about learning how to actively treat your depression. Based on your specific needs, I may introduce methods to help you change negative thoughts, decrease stress, improve nutrition, develop better social or communication skills, increase physical activity, or solve problems more effectively.

I don’t want to take medication

Taking medication to help with overcoming depression is a personal decision. In some cases, a combination of therapy and medication may be the most beneficial approach. If you or I think that medication can be helpful, I will refer you to your medical provider, as I am not licensed to prescribe. When medication is effective, I often hear, “I feel more like myself. I don’t notice I’m taking a medication. I’m more like myself at my best.”

Find Energy and Peace

If you’re interested in depression therapy in Park City, UT, please call (435) 901-3218 to schedule an appointment. I am happy to discuss any questions you have about my practice or how therapy can address your needs.