Depression Counselling in Melbourne

Depression can leave you feeling lonely, lost and unsure about how you’re going to find a way through.

The tricky part is when you’re depressed, getting support might feel like the last thing you want to do. We totally get that. Sometimes though it can feel difficult to find our way out of depression without the help of a professional.

When should you seek treatment for depression?

The sooner the better. There is a lot we can do to help.

Depression is highly treatable

With many effective tools and strategies available for the treatment of depression, we can help you find your way through.

Some insights about depression

What causes depression?

Depression can appear “out of the blue” or gradually build up over time. It can be a direct response to a situation, such as losing a job or relationship difficulties, or it can seem to come out of nowhere. It might also run in your family.

So how common is depression?

According to Beyond Blue, in Australia, it’s estimated that 45% of people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.

In any one year, approximately 1 million Australian adults have depression.

What are the signs and symptoms of depression?

Most of us feel flat or down from time to time, but when you feel depressed your low mood lasts longer (two weeks or more), is more intense and gets in the way of life. Everyday tasks like getting out of bed, cooking and going to work can feel like a struggle when you are depressed.

Depression looks and feels different for everyone, but here are some of the most common symptoms and signs:

  • Feeling sad most of the time
  • Not enjoying things that you normally do
  • Low motivation and energy levels
  • Feeling teary
  • Trouble getting started in the mornings
  • Feeling lost or hopeless about the future
  • A sense that nobody and nothing can help

  • Low self-esteem

  • High levels of self-criticism

  • Sleep problems
  • Changes in appetite and weight
  • Feeling empty or lonely
  • Withdrawing from others
  • Reduced sex drive
  • Difficulties with concentration and memory
  • Suicidal thoughts, ideas or behaviours

Evidence-based treatments for depression

Depending on their training and background, psychologists at Inner Melbourne Clinical Psychology will tailor an approach that draws on a variety of evidence-based treatments including:

  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
  • Mindfulness
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
  • Schema Therapy
  • Compassion based approaches
  • Solution Focused Therapy
  • Positive Psychology
  • Strengths based approaches
  • Psychodynamic approaches
  • Emotion Focused Therapy
  • Internal Family Systems Therapy
  • Cognitive Analytic Therapy
  • Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy
  • Narrative Exposure Therapy
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy
  • Trauma informed approaches
  • Metacognitive Therapy
  • Exposure Therapy
  • Behaviour Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Client Centred Therapy

Questions people often have about managing depression

A psychologist can help you make sense of what you are experiencing, understand what may be contributing to it, and begin to find ways to shift what is no longer working.

Depression can affect how you feel, think and move through your day to day life. It can show up as low mood, loss of interest, exhaustion, irritability or a sense of feeling stuck or disconnected.

Together, you might explore patterns in your thoughts, emotions, relationships and environment and begin to find ways to shift what is no longer working.

Therapy is not about quick fixes or forced positivity. It is about creating space to understand your experience and gradually building changes that feel realistic and sustainable.

There are a number of evidence based approaches that can be helpful for depression. These may include therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy and other relational or insight oriented approaches.

Different approaches focus on different aspects of your experience. Some may help you work with unhelpful thought patterns, while others focus more on emotions, relationships or deeper life patterns.

At Inner Melbourne Clinical Psychology your psychologist will draw on the approach that best fits your needs, and often therapy will involve a combination rather than a single model.

It can be helpful to see a psychologist when you notice changes in your mood, energy or ability to cope that are not improving on their own.

You do not need to wait until things feel severe to seek support.

Many people reach out when they notice ongoing low mood, loss of motivation, changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating or feeling disconnected from themselves or others.

Others come when things feel harder to manage than usual, even if they would not describe it as depression.

If something does not feel right, or you are finding it difficult to cope in the way you usually would, that is often enough reason to speak with a psychologist.

The first session is a chance to get to know each other and begin to understand what has brought you in.

Your psychologist may ask about what you have been experiencing, how long it has been going on and what has been happening in your life more broadly. You might also talk about what you are hoping for from therapy, even if that feels unclear at first.

There is no pressure to share everything straight away. You can go at your own pace.

A big part of the first session is simply getting a sense of whether the fit between you and your psychologist feels right for you.

The duration of therapy can vary depending on what you are going through and what you are hoping to get out of therapy.

Some people come for a shorter period to work specifically on depression symptoms, while others find it helpful to stay for longer to explore underlying patterns and make more lasting changes. Exploring things in a longer term way can be helpful if depression is something that is ongoing or recurring for you.

Rather than a fixed number of sessions, therapy is usually guided by your goals, your pace and how things are progressing over time.

You do not need a referral to see a psychologist about depression, but it does significantly reduce the cost.

Many people choose to see their GP and access a Mental Health Care Plan, which can provide a Medicare rebate for a limited number of sessions each year.

Others prefer to attend privately without a referral.

If you are unsure which option is right for you, our Support Team can help guide you through this.

You do not need to be certain about what you are experiencing before speaking with a psychologist.

It is very common to feel unsure about what you are experiencing.

Symptoms such as low energy, difficulty concentrating, irritability or feeling overwhelmed can be linked to depression, but they can also relate to things like burnout, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, eating disorders, grief and life transitions.

A psychologist can help you explore what may be contributing to your experience and whether depression is part of the picture. That’s not something you need to figure out on your own.

No. Therapy does not require you to share everything in the first session, or even in the early stages.

You can take your time and decide what feels safe and relevant to talk about. Building trust is part of the process and our psychologists aren’t here to rush you.

You do not need to come into therapy knowing what to say or feeling ready to talk.

This is more common than people expect, especially when you are feeling low or flat.

Your psychologist can help guide the conversation and may offer gentle prompts or different ways of exploring your experience. There is no expectation that you need to come in with everything figured out.

Yes. Even if depression has been present for a long time, therapy can still be helpful.

In these cases, therapy may focus not only on reducing symptoms, but also on understanding long standing patterns and finding new ways of relating to yourself and your life.

This can happen, and it does not mean therapy will not work for you.

The fit between you and your psychologist, the timing and the type of approach used can all make a difference, as can factors like medication.

For some people, trying again with a different therapist or approach can lead to a different experience.

Yes. Many people continue to work, study or care for others while feeling depressed.

Sometimes this can make it harder to recognise how much you are struggling, or to reach out for support.

Not necessarily.

Some people find it helpful to explore earlier experiences, especially if patterns feel long standing. Others focus more on what is happening in the present.

Our psychologists can tailor sessions to what feels most relevant and manageable for you.

Not always.

Some people benefit from therapy alone, while others find a combination of therapy and medication helpful. This can depend on the severity of symptoms, your history, your preferences and your broader medical history.

If you are considering medication, your GP or psychiatrist can help guide you.

Getting started with depression counselling

Reaching out for help when you’re feeling depressed can be hard. We get it.

The good news is though, depression is highly treatable. With many effective tools and strategies available, our experienced psychologists can help you to get back on track.