I often work with people who are experiencing depression and I understand this to be   a human condition that many people experience at certain times in their life.  Often it’s a response to things that have become unbearable or intolerable and where there seems to be no obvious solution. People describe feeling flat, stuck, powerless, despairing, in pain, numb and overwhelmed when they are depressed.  Of course people can feel these things and not be depressed, but a combination of these and other factors which are experienced in an ongoing way can be understood as being depressed.

For further information about depression go to www.depressionet.com.au

I work with women who experience post-natal depression which has the added difficulties associated with caring for a young baby or toddler.  Often women can experience feelings of guilt and failure because their mothering experience is not the pleasurable one they had looked forward to.  A positive therapeutic experience can be empowering for women in this situation and lead to personal development.  For further information on post natal depression go to www.panda.org.au .

Freud founder of psychoanalysis describes in his paper, Mourning and Melancholia 1917how many people experience depression to be like a form of grief, a mourning of something lost, the difference being that where people who have experienced a death of a loved one may elicit the sympathy and support of others, in the case of depression the experience is often one of feeling isolated and misunderstood.

After a period of time and work I hope that my clients will begin to understand why they became depressed in the first place and make sense of their own experience.  Finding meaning and understanding depression leads them to clarify what they really want and value in life; what their priorities are and what may be preventing them from obtaining their goals.

One of the great things about therapy is that my clients have a non judgemental and confidential environment where they can fully explore the reasons why they feel this way.
 
Often when looking back on childhood experiences, feelings and connections can be found that were never expressed at the time.  Psychotherapy can be a powerful and positive experience to explore these unresolved issues and although painful at times, the journey is shared.

When clients start to feel better they often continue to access therapy to further understand more about themselves.

If there are concerns that the issue is not resolving over a period of time, I will often refer my clients to a GP or psychiatrist for a more medical diagnosis.  While talking therapies are very effective ways of managing and resolving depression, in some cases antidepressant medication is required.  A doctor or psychiatrist in consultation with their patient can assess if this is necessary and prescribe a course of treatment.  I often work with people who also see a doctor or psychiatrist for pharmaceutical treatment.


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• Anxiety

Many people experience anxiety, in fact it is the most common form of mental illness.  Anxiety is not just about feeling tense or worried it causes debilitating symptoms that greatly affect quality of life.  There are several different sorts of anxiety disorders.  I often see people who have begun to experience panic attacks that seem to come out of the blue, for no apparent reason. Given the opportunity to talk about these frightening anxiety attacks in a safe therapeutic environment is very beneficial for people.  After a period of time my clients start to understand why they feel anxious and this awareness gives a sense of control and empowerment.

Often at the core of anxiety is the experience of feeling vulnerable in a hostile world.  These feelings often originate from earlier experiences and continue to resonate throughout life when similar conditions are encountered.  

For more information about anxiety and go to www.panicanxietydisorder.org.au


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