Discover Hope and Joy Again
The therapy team at North Woods Christian Counseling is committed to delivering competent and sensitive care from a Christian perspective, meeting each client where they are at in their process of healing. Our therapists frequently work with those experiencing depression and use a variety of approaches to help clients not only manage their symptoms but get to the root causes of the distress.
Depression is one of the most common reasons people seek our services. Some experience depression as being “stuck in a rut,” and don’t feel like themselves anymore. For many others, symptoms of depression have begun to impact their lives in noticeable ways. Isolation, feelings of hopelessness, lack of motivation and productivity, changes in weight, excessive guilt, low energy, feelings of worthlessness, and deep sadness are a few common symptoms. If left untreated, over time people begin to see their relationships, their jobs, and their lives begin to unravel. Like a dark tunnel leading to despair, depression makes it difficult to see hope. Some have described it as feeling like a heavy cloud pushing them down. Others report feeling like even the smallest tasks, including getting out of bed in the morning, are almost impossible. If you are reading this right now, perhaps you are someone you care about who is going through depression. If so, don’t lose heart.
When treating depression, we remind people that they are not depressed. Depression is something that is happening to them, but it doesn’t define them. Each one of us is precious…each one of us has value. Depression makes this reality difficult to feel, but thankfully feelings can lie. Just because something feels true, does not mean that it is true! This is a core principle of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). We often integrate the use of CBT when dealing with depression because it is a practical way to provide immediate emotional relief. It is based on the premise that it is not only our circumstances that make us depressed, it is the meaning we attach to those circumstances. Because we’re human, we often make assumptions, try to predict the future, think pessimistically, and get stuck in a variety of thinking patterns that don’t work. We embrace half-truths and even downright lies as though they were true, and these Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) simply fuel the depression. Negative thoughts lead to negative feelings, which lead to more negative thoughts, etc. No wonder we get depressed! CBT helps us become detectives of our own minds, exposes the lies, and helps us find relief from the distorted thinking that so often takes our pain and turns it into suffering.
Along with CBT, we also offer EMDR therapy to treat depression. “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an integrative therapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. EMDR is a set of standardized protocols that incorporates elements from many different treatment approaches. To date, EMDR has helped an estimated two million people of all ages relieve many types of psychological stress” (emdria.org). For some, CBT is enough. However, for many others, CBT still fails to connect the truth from the head to the heart. It’s a wonderful thing to have the tools to identify the lies and remind ourselves of the truth. It’s even better to believe the truth at our core. CBT can be like a farmer snipping off the tops of weeds in a field, but for some the weeds continue to grow back. EMDR is like pulling the weeds out by the roots. CBT is like emotional Tylenol, and EMDR is like emotional surgery. Both have their place and can work together quite nicely. Please click on EMDR to find out more.
While we cannot prescribe medication, we work closely with psychiatrists and other physicians to provide good care to our clients. While not everyone needs medication to combat their depression, for some it is an important part of the healing process. Ultimately, the decision to use a psychotropic medication is a personal decision one makes with their doctor. However, when we think it will help, we will support clients in exploring the possibility. If medication is needed, we remind people that this is not a sign of weakness. If after eating right, losing weight, and following the doctor’s orders a person still has high cholesterol, most would not hesitate to take a pill if it meant preventing heart disease. Why do we so often hold depression to a different standard? The brain is an organ, and at times needs to be treated with medicine. Many studies suggest that medication along with therapy provides the best opportunity for success. For some, it is also helpful to participate in family therapy, as often our deepest pain involves struggling relationships.
Whatever one chooses about medication, we remind them that depression is not a personal failing. Depression can happen to anybody, and if you are experiencing it that doesn’t mean you’re weak. On the contrary, those who actually have the courage to face what’s happening and reach out for help are showing incredible courage and strength! In overcoming depression some find strength through their faith in God, and we offer Christian Counseling for those who desire it. Wherever you are on your journey of healing, we will do our best to walk by your side, holding hope for you even if you aren’t able to see it. Healing does happen, and we would be honored to support you along the way.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at 651-243-2484 or click on the button below. We will do our best to contact you within 1 business day.
