[ballet_girl]

I've gotten to thinking that one of the reasons that I've made so little progress in T is because my depression isn't the type of thing that she can help me with. I know a lot of people go to T to process traumatic events, issues from when they were children, etc. But I had a happy childhood, loving parents, go to a school that I enjoy...there is no reason for me to be depressed. I always struggle with figuring out what to talk about in T or journal about...my life is by no means perfect but it doesn't seem like there is any specific problem to explore. Now I'm thinking that the problem isn't that I need more guidance from T, but maybe that my depression is genetic or something. Which is really really scary because I want to think that there is help somewhere out there for it it would mean that T can't help me, right?

Are you on anti-depressants? If it's truly a chemical imbalance, medication may help.

I do wonder if T can still help somewhat with the depression. It doesn't have to be about processing trauma or the past. But, how can you live your life now, despite the depression you feel? What tools can T give so that even though you don't want to or feel like you can, you do "it" anyway?

T can teach about self care and coping skills that you can use when the depression is bad. It can be a very direct, rehabilitative approach. Which means, instead of it being about processing and exploring things, it's about teaching and learning very concrete skills.

I wish you well.

[Symbiosis]

I have to agree with Stormy here. I think the right therapist can help with depression. My therapist helped me with depression and I'm still in disbelief that it was possible. I definitely had the feelings you have right now, like this isn't going to help something that can't be helped.

My T was a proponent of Kabat-Zinn and the mindfulness approach to depression. I was a very resistant patient, but when I bought in, it helped. I'm guessing that there are probably lots and lots of other approaches that are equally as helpful with depression.

I know this can be a loaded question, but do you like your T?

[dismantle.repair]

What kind of T is yours?

I do think the type of T is important as well. Mine was a cbt, and even though I was resistant to her treatment at first, when I gave in, it began to help.

[SpiritRunner]

I agree with stormy as well; there are surely tools T can give you to help with the depression. Genetic tendencies toward depression mean that there would be a biochemical element, which is something that medication could help with. But that doesn't rule out therapy as something that can assist in dealing with the everyday reality of depression.

[Perna]

Have you discussed this thought with your T? Does s/he agree that you have made "so little progress"? Don't forget your perception of good things is impacted by your depression too so you might actually be making "good" progress but only "think" you are not. It's easy to see the opposite of depressed is not depressed but that's a huge scale, getting from one to the other and has to be traveled a bit at a time. One isn't going to wake up tomorrow, not depressed, having gone to sleep tonight, depressed.

[learning1]

Thanks for posting that ballet_girl. That's almost the same place I'm in a lot of the time. ATM, I'm hoping t can help with expressing my feelings more maybe. I don't know if that's a common need with people who are depressed or not.

[ballet_girl]

symbiosis-- I LOVE my T. I've gone through 3 years with her and I finally trust her enough to feel that I can be completely honest with her.

crash-- i feel silly saying this because i've been with her so long, but i'm actually not sure what kind of therapy she does. we usually just talk about whatever i choose.

perna--thanks for the reminder. I have come a long way in other aspects of t. maybe i just need to be patient.

thanks for the encouragement

[boston_girl]

sometimes you have to shop for just the right therapist