Approximately one in ten Irish people are affected by depression at any given time, making it one of the most common mental health concerns in Ireland today.

Living with depression can be challenging — it affects many aspects of a person’s life, from their sleep and energy levels to their thoughts and emotions. In turn, work life, home life, and relationships with others can suffer.

The good news is that depression is treatable. With appropriate interventions, people can recover from depressive episodes, improve their quality of life, and reduce their risk of relapse.

How Can Counselling Help Me Deal with Depression?

Counselling and dietary and lifestyle changes (along with medications) are typically the first-line treatments for depression.

I provide one-to-one counselling and psychotherapy in Ennis, Co. Clare for adults and older adolescents with depression, anxiety, and related issues. I also provide online counselling via Zoom for adults.

Through a range of therapeutic approaches, clients can address the issues that are at the root of their depression and learn coping skills to manage and overcome their symptoms. Therapies and tools I use include:

– Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
– Mindfulness and meditation
– Dietary and lifestyle changes
– Creative therapies
– Other appropriate techniques

 

Other Types of Depression

There are different forms of depression. Some of these occur at specific times of the year or during specific life events, while other times depression is one symptom of another condition.

Talk therapy can benefit people with the following types of depression:

Perinatal Depression

Experiencing depression during or following pregnancy is common. It is thought to affect around ten to fifteen percent of new mothers in Ireland in the first year after their baby’s birth.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Up to one in every fifteen people experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as ‘winter depression’. It typically occurs between September and April.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder involves both periods of lows (depression) and highs (mania). During manic periods, people may have racing thoughts, rapid speech, difficulty sleeping. They may also engage in risky behaviours including gambling and excessive spending.

To see other issues I can help with, click here.