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Depression Treatment
with
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
People who are depressed tend to develop irrational and unhelpful patterns of thinking. These negative or irrational thoughts tend to lead to further depressed feelings, the depressed feelings lead to further negative thinking, and so on. This cycle can often accelerate over time so that a person's depression deepens, increasing the frequency and intensity of symptoms of depression.
A similar pattern can occur within the behaviour of a person with depression. Once depressed people tend to lose motivation, energy, and interest. As a result they become less active and engage in less activity. Doing things makes us feel a sense of achievement which enhances our mood - hence decreasing our activity level can lead to an increase in depressed mood. As well as impaired motivation, people with depression often feel emotionally fragile and therefore avoid social interaction - they feel too vulnerable to mix with others. However we are social beings, and mixing with others is important to our sense of self-worth and self-confidence. The tendancy to avoid social interaction therefore becomes another factor to feed the depression.
So the effects of depression also become things that maintain it, and a depressed person becomes caught in vicious cycle.
Of course there are many causes of depression and the above is a simplification of some of what frequently occurs in depression.
TREATMENT
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Depression involves teaching a person skills to break out of that cycle. In CBT people learn to challenge their negative thoughts and beliefs.
Rebates of $115.05 per 50 minute consultation are now available to those with appropriate referrals. See "Fees & Medicare" section.
To make an appointment for Individual CBT for Depression please call our office on 9621 7775.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information only and should not be relied on for treatment. You should speak to a Psychologist to clarify the nature of any problems you have and the most appropriate treatment.
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