Lauren Necesario Smith, PsyD, HSPP
Psychotherapy + Testing + Consultation
108 N Vine St, Suite B
Greencastle, IN 46135
Phone: 765-205-1135
Psychotherapy for Depression
Re-learning how to behaviorally engage with our world; adapting thoughts into more neutral or positive ways of thinking; changing the way we see ourselves, others, and our future.
What do we mean by depression?
When we think of "depressed," the following usually comes to mind: down in the dumps, sad, tearful, hard time getting motivated, sleeping too much or not enough, not enjoying things you used to, and maybe wanting to be alone. Sometimes, depression can become so bad that it leads us to feelings of guilt, shame, and even thoughts of self-harm or wanting to end our lives.
What can cause depression?
Depression is not just caused by one thing, but rather, a number of different things. These can be: genetics, hormones, brain chemicals, the way we think, psychosocial circumstances, and even stress. Depression can also go hand in hand with other mental health concerns like anxiety, substance related disorders, or trauma.
Treatments for depression.
Depression can be treated by using anti-depressant medications and/or psychotherapy. Some folks might hear about evidenced-based therapies for depression such as CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. CBT focuses on identifying how our thoughts impact our behaviors (or lack of engaging in behaviors) and vice versa. Research suggests that using both therapy and medication in combination can be effective.
What can you do to manage this?
If you notice that you might be feeling some of the things listed on this page, don't feel ashamed to reach out to someone you trust to maybe discuss some options for treatment. Reach out to a primary care provider, close friend, or family member and talk about what you think would be the best course of action for you. If you notice that your feelings of depression feel so intense that you are at the point of considering hurting yourself or taking your own life, please consider reporting to your local emergency room or dialing "988" to be connected to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
My approach to treating depression.
I encourage clients to create definitions, set goals, and manage timelines. I've found that when we have more goal-oriented approaches to treatment and we can identify what specifically we are working toward, why we are working toward it, and sometimes how long we've designated ourselves to get to a certain check-point, it helps us to be able to monitor progress; make it feel like we are moving versus feeling stuck.
