Depression:

People become depressed for all kinds of reasons. Many people have a genetic predisposition toward responding to life in a more pessimistic way, with a tendency to see the bad in things rather than the good. They don't want to see life that way, and often feel bad about themselves because they do.

I take a two-pronged approach. One is to look at how the depressive symptoms serve the person, in other words, how does it make them feel safe? Seeing things negatively often leads people to avoid taking risks that might make them feel happier. So we work on reducing the level of fear people feel about things that scare them – like being more open with other people, taking social risks, making a life change that they really want. Sometimes when people delve into their fears and face them head on, the fear diminishes and people are freer to do things that make them happy.

Many people are helped by anti-depressant medication. If that seems indicated, I'll discuss it with my clients. I don't push the idea of medication, as I see it as a personal choice, but if I think a person who is really suffering would benefit from it, I will certainly bring it up and discuss it. I have psychiatrists I can refer you to, or some people go their family doctor.