PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

Depression

* Depression is a serious illness. If left untreated, depression can impact nearly every area of your life. One of the hallmarks of depression is a general sense of sadness and hopelessness that carries over into almost every part of daily life. People who are clinically depressed may feel so hopeless about life that they consider doing harm to themselves. Other changes that are noticeable in depressed people include things like a change in eating or sleeping patterns, withdrawal from social activities, no longer getting satisfaction from activities that once were enjoyable, and feeling anxious. There are other indicators of depression that are not listed here. Any time you suspect that you are depressed and these feelings persist for more than two weeks, you should seek professional help to properly diagnose and treat the depression.

Depression can be related to situations or events that have recently occurred in one’s life, such as loss of job, financial difficulties, marital or relationship problems, the death of a loved one, diagnosis of disease or terminal illness, and many, many other reasons. Estimates are that as many as 25% of the population experiences depression to some degree.

Depression can also be caused by a chemical imbalance that requires a combination of treatments including talk therapy like that offered here at Eden Counseling Center and treatment with medication. Our therapists will work with you to determine the cause of your depression and help to design an appropriate treatment specifically for your situation. When necessary, we can provide a referral for medication or we can work with your family physician to ensure that you receive the proper treatment for your type of depression.

If you have questions about Depression and would like information regarding an assessment for yourself, a friend or family member, contact us and our qualified staff will be glad to assist you in beginning the process of getting help.

* Please note that this information is not intended for use as a method for diagnosing any psychological disorder and is intended to be used only as a general guideline by individual’s accessing this website for personal use. No inference of diagnostic criteria is implied and any self-diagnosis is emphatically discouraged.

A psychiatric referral is available for medication or inpatient care.
Eden Counseling Center therapist work with a number of primary care physicians and psychiatrists to ensure that if and when treatment may call for medication, you can receive the appropriate referral for as assessment by a medical doctor. We do not have control over the choices that the medical doctor makes regarding medication use or choice, but we do work closely with them to fully communicate the problems as we see them and make suggestions for medications as appropriate. Management of the medication is handled through the prescribing medical professional. It is important to the therapy process that your therapist be informed about any medications you are taking and any changes to medications. For that reason, your therapist will ask you for updates on how the medication is working for you and if you have experienced any changes mentally, physically or emotionally. It will also be important for your therapist to be able to communicate with your medical professional so that everyone is working together to help you get better. You will be asked to sign a release of information form that allows the Eden therapist to talk with your doctor. You should also sign a similar form at your doctor’s office that will allow her/him to speak to your therapist.