As humans, we are socially motivated creatures. Our identities are as individual as we are, and for the most part, our sense of self gets reflected in the people around us.
Relationships
Our parents, for example, may bring out a different aspect to our personality compared to a partner or friend.
However, regardless of how many people we let into our lives, as individuals, we are ultimately alone, each of us experiencing a completely different world to the person beside us.
Mental health and depression
When people experience mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, many factors may contribute to depression symptoms, such as:
- Genetics or family history
- Childhood trauma
- Ongoing stress
- Substance abuse or substance misuse disorder
- Grief
Patterns of depression
Mental health conditions like depression tend to follow specific patterns – the person may feel fantastic for a while, and, out of the blue, the symptoms of depression return.
There may be more profound, underlying reasons for the depression relapse, but unless a person explores these reasons through therapy, it can be impossible to determine the cause.
Other people may experience more severe depression symptoms that require medication such as an antidepressant or further medical intervention.
Risk factors
Due to the nature of depression, it can be challenging for people to open up and discuss their feelings since their depression has enabled them to become skilled at concealing their emotions.
Therefore avoidance behaviors such as drinking alcohol or taking drugs seem to be more of an attractive prospect.
When a person bottles up their feelings -it can be a similar process to that of a pressure cooker – once the pressure reaches an exceedingly high level, it eventually explodes.
Talk therapy for depression
Talk therapy is beneficial for those who find it challenging to open up to family members and friends.
Sharing intimate details about our inner thoughts and struggles with someone we know can be an incredibly daunting prospect. It leaves us vulnerable and open to judgment and ridicule. Still, with a therapist, the process works in reverse.
A professional therapist can listen to your worries and concerns objectively. Therapy aims to offer a platform that is safe and encouraging.
Therapists offer compassion and words of comfort; they also provide suggestions to help you live a more satisfying life – one that feels authentic to you.
Treating depression
Thanks to the advancements of modern medicine, there are plenty of ways that professionals treat depression. Millions of people seek treatment for depression every day, and depression treatment largely depends on the individual.
Typically, the treatment of depression includes:
- Talking therapies – this involves psychotherapy, one on one counselling, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and interpersonal therapy
- Medication
- Alternative therapies – this may consist of the practice of mindfulness and meditation
- ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) – this form of treatment should only get used in severe circumstances
Talking therapies for depression
Patients with depression benefit from talk therapy as it allows them to receive specific, customized treatment that other therapies fall short on.
Support for depression
An individual may only require short-term counselling sessions while others benefit from long-term sessions.
All this depends on other variables, such as the presence of other co-occurring mental health disorders (such as substance abuse, for example) and the severity of a person’s depressive symptoms.
Who benefits from one-to-one counselling?
The difference between individual counselling and group therapy is that one-to-one counselling gets customized to suit the patient’s needs.
Perhaps someone is dealing with a combination of psychological issues such as:
- Stress
- Persistent low mood
- Depression and constantly feeling depressed
- Anxiety
- Issues with relationships
- Drug abuse
- Grief
- Burnout
Depending on the symptoms presented, treatment for depression, for example, gets tailored according to a person’s unique circumstance.
Why one-to-one counselling?
With the diverse range of therapies available on the market – it can be challenging to know which treatment will work best for you.
There are many options to choose from, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and other therapies like interpersonal therapy. It can often get overwhelming when trying to find a therapist for the treatment of depression.
According to the Priory Group, one – to – one counselling sessions have been found to be the most effective for the treatment of conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Advantages of one – on – one counselling when treating depression
Research illustrates the many benefits of one to one counselling, particularly for patients with depression – some of which get stated below:
- One-on-one counselling means that the focus is on you (as opposed to group therapy) – this means that issues get addressed directly in a structured manner. One-to-one therapy also makes room for a customized approach to treatment to explore the reasons behind your anxiety and depression and to explore suitable solutions collectively.
- One-on-one treatment means that you get the privacy needed to discuss any sensitive issues that perhaps you wouldn’t usually feel comfortable talking about in a group setting. Anything that gets discussed in therapy is strictly confidential, which means that you have a private platform where you are free to discuss anything you wish.
- Private therapy sessions also mean that you get to build a deeper connection with your therapist without the pressure of a group setting. All this makes treating your condition that much easier as you and your therapist develop a trusted bond.
- One to one therapy leads to self-awareness as it encourages self-reflection and the opportunity for an individual to delve into their personal experiences without the constraints of the outside world. Therapists can also offer insight into a person’s behaviour and its impact on the desired outcome. A therapist will also identify any potential mismatch between what the person thinks might happen in any given situation versus what happens.
- One – on -one therapy also makes space for a person to determine their physical and emotional boundaries – an incredible challenge for many of us is to identify where limits get needed in our lives and, once we have this knowledge, the courage to implement them. Counsellors help people to explore important questions that lead to appropriate boundaries.
- One-on-one counselling improves communication skills considerably, allowing a person to become more assertive, empathetic, confident, and respectful of other peoples’ opinions. Through active listening, individuals learn critical communication skills, all of which contribute to more fulfilling experiences with those around them.
- Therapy also enables people to adopt healthier coping mechanisms, one of the most pivotal aspects of one-to-one counselling. For example, suppose an individual opts for Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT). In that case, the focus will be on mindfulness strategies to help decrease symptoms of anxiety. In contrast, CBT focuses on identifying personal triggers and unhelpful thoughts, teaching methods of reframing, and considering other alternative approaches.
Research on addiction
Research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse illustrates that people with substance abuse issues would benefit from a combination of one-to-one therapy and group therapy.
In the above instance, an addict reaps the benefits of group interaction and the safety of private therapy sessions
In the safe environment of one-to-one sessions, a person gets to share feelings and information that help to create a comprehensive treatment plan, which ultimately guides them towards recovery.
Psychiatric conditions
One-to-one therapy sessions are also suitable when treating psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety since the strategies involved in the therapeutic process aid towards empowerment and understanding of such conditions.
Tried and tested therapies like psychotherapy and counselling take an evidence-based approach to heal, which ultimately allows an individual with depression the space to explore their thoughts and behaviours while helping to control any unpleasant symptoms.
Getting help for depression
If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of depression, you must reach out and speak to a mental health professional who can help.
There are many alternatives to getting help for depression, and any treatment sought will be based on you and your levels of comfort.
Depression doesn’t have to be a way of life. With the proper treatment and support, it is possible to live free from the clutches of depression.
Get in touch with a specialist member of our team today and find out how we can help.
