Depression and Couples Counseling
It’s normal to feel down sometimes, but if that mood continues day after day, it could mean that you are depressed. Major Depression is a mood disorder that is characterized by:
- sadness
- loss of interest
- fatigue
- sleep abnormalities
- a sense of guilt and worthlessness
- a loss of hope and in severe cases, persistent thoughts of death or suicide
In Bipolar Depression, you or your partner may experience the following symptoms as well as some of those listed above:
- euphoria
- inflated self-esteem
- rapid speech
- aggressive behavior
- irritability
- poor judgment
- a decreased need for sleep
Treating and Stabilizing Depression
Unless depression is treated and stabilized, it can have a negative impact on your relationship and interfere with achieving the results that you are seeking in Couples Counseling. For this reason, on the Resources page, I have included for all my clients a specific screening instrument that will help me determine if there is depression, how long it’s been going on, how severe it is, and the extent to which it may be causing problems in your relationship.
Based on the assessment’s findings, it may be necessary to treat and stabilize the depression before you and your partner begin Couples Counseling. In some cases, depending on the nature and severity of the depression, it may be possible to do both at the same time: address and treat the issues that cause and influence the depression while addressing how you and your partner interact so you can achieve the relationship satisfaction and fulfillment you seek.
If the preliminary screening indicates the presence of depression, we can consider using an approach that combines talk therapy and possibly medication management.
In Talk Therapy, we will address the past and present losses of your life. And in a short time, you will see how the burden of carrying those losses diminishes the good that is possible in your relationship with your partner. Through this process you can expect to gain a greater understanding of yourself that will lead to healing, acceptance and self-forgiveness, clearing the way to unburden your relationship and ultimately, to find the satisfaction and fulfillment that you seek in your relationship.
Depending on the nature and severity of your depression, it may be necessary to consider Medication Management where a physician may prescribe anti-depressant and/or anti-anxiety medications. It is important to remember that these medications are safe, non-addictive temporary aids to reduce anxiety and stabilize your mood while we work together on developing new skills and changes in attitude, personal confidence and behavior. Talk therapy and psycho-active medications can only help if you are willing and able to make important and necessary changes in your life. If you are in a situation where making changes might pose a risk to your personal safety, this process may not work for you.