It’s completely natural to feel sad or hopeless at various moments in life following loss, in the face of adversity, or even when experiencing empathy for others. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’re struggling with a depressive disorder. When adults or children experience long-lasting or chronic depression that adversely impact their daily lives, it will likely be considered a depressive disorder. If you’re struggling with depression or you’re a parent who suspects your child is suffering from depression, the Grace Psychological Services team is here to help. We offer diagnosis and counseling services for kids, teens, and adults struggling with depression disorders.
Am I Suffering from Depression?
There are many different types of depressive disorders, including major depression, dysthymia, seasonal affective disorder, bipolar depression, psychotic depression, postpartum depression, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Each form of depression has unique indicators and symptoms that will need to be explored during the assessment and diagnosis process. If you experience some combination of the following symptoms for two or more weeks, you are likely dealing with depressive disorder:
- Chronic feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, or numbness
- Irritability and frustration with friends, coworkers, and loved ones
- Lost interest in activities that previously brought satisfaction to daily life
- Difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep, repeated sleep disturbance, nightmares, or oversleeping
- Lack of energy or severe fatigue
- Struggling to concentrate, remember details, or make decisions
- Changes in appetite that may lead to weight loss or gain
- Persistent thoughts of death, especially suicidal thoughts or planning
- You may also feel physically ill with headaches, nausea, and radiating body pains
- You may stop maintaining hygiene
How is Depression Diagnosed?
Many people who visit our office for depression diagnosis are referred to us by a physician who has noted signs of depressive disorder during a regular checkup, during or after pregnancy in the case of postpartum depression, or after testing for physical sources of symptoms is negative. Others may recognize depressive symptoms due to past experiences or family history and schedule an appointment with us directly. Whatever the case, we will work with you to assess whether or not you’re suffering from a depressive disorder, determine what type of depression you’re dealing with, and develop a plan to help you address depression, using counseling services and/or medications.
What Happens During Counseling for Depression?
During your first counseling sessions for depression, we want to begin by assessing your safety. If you are considering or planning suicide, our treatment goal will first be to get you to a safe physical, mental, and emotional place right away. Then, we’ll partner with you to develop a plan for ongoing counseling and/or medications to help you work towards positive change and achieve your goals to ensure you can lead a more satisfying, joyful life. Our skilled psychologists utilize evidence-based counseling techniques and methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and other solution-focused techniques.
Who Offers Assessment & Counseling Services for Depression?
Depressive disorders are some of the most common conditions addressed by our clinicians. For this reason, the majority of our providers are able to help assist with diagnosis, treatment planning, or counseling services. Below, you can learn more about our psychologists and their experience with diagnosis and services for those with depressive disorders:
Dr. Charles Hallmark
Dr. Hallmark is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Specialist in School Psychology. He offers counseling and assessment services for kids and adolescents who are struggling with depression.
How do I Get Started?
If you’re ready to start taking steps toward leading a more joy-filled life and experiencing a full range of emotions, please call our team. Our skilled clinicians can help you develop the tools to acknowledge and address depressive disorders in all of their many forms.