Depression Therapy

Sadness passes within days, while depression lasts at least 2 weeks and disrupts daily life. Clinicians diagnose major depression when 5 or more symptoms appear most days for 2 weeks or longer, including low mood or lost interest. Others include changes in sleep or appetite, fatigue, poor focus, and feelings of worthlessness. Low mood lasting 2 years or more points to persistent depressive disorder, also called dysthymia. Dysthymia treatment uses the same therapies over a longer course.

See a psychologist for therapy, and a psychiatrist if you need a medication assessment. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose and prescribe. In Alberta, psychiatrist visits are covered by Alberta Health Care and need a physician referral. Psychologists provide assessment and talk therapy, need no referral, and are paid privately or through extended health benefits. You can see both at once. We coordinate with your family doctor or psychiatrist, with your consent.

Yes, therapy works regardless of what caused your depression. Sullivan and colleagues estimated in 2000 that genes account for 37 percent of the risk for major depression. Individual experiences, including stress and life events, account for the rest. Therapy works on the thought patterns, habits, and circumstances you can change. Combining therapy with medication also outperformed medication alone in Cuijpers' 2023 analysis of 409 trials.

Your first session covers what brought you in, how you've been feeling, and what you want to change. Your therapist asks about mood, sleep, energy, and history, and you complete the PHQ-9. You don't need the right words. Short answers are fine, and pauses are fine too. Your therapist asks about safety, including thoughts of suicide. Dazzi and colleagues reviewed 13 studies in 2014 and found asking does not increase suicidal thoughts. You leave with a plan for the next few sessions.

Yes, video therapy works as well as in-person therapy for depression. Giovanetti and colleagues found no meaningful difference between the two formats in their 2022 meta-analysis of randomised trials. Dropout rates were similar too. Both formats work, so choose the one you'll keep attending. Online sessions help on days when leaving home feels impossible. We offer depression therapy online across Alberta.

You still have options, including a different therapy approach, combined depression treatment, or rTMS. Canada's CANMAT guidelines list rTMS as a first-line option for adults whose depression hasn't responded to at least one antidepressant.

No referral is required. You can contact our intake coordinator directly to book a free consultation. Our intake coordinator replies within 24 to 48 hours. We can see you within 48 to 72 hours. Check your plan's rules, since a few extended health plans ask for a physician's note before they reimburse.

That's okay. Depression brings fatigue, brain fog, and a shut-down feeling. On low-energy days, your therapist uses more structured methods, like a worksheet you fill in together or drawing how you feel. Silence is allowed, and you won't be pressured to keep talking.

Yes, with your consent. One-on-one therapy is the main format for depression. A family member can join a session to learn about depression and how to help at home. If relationship issues are part of your depression, a joint session with your partner can help.

Check your insurance first. Extended health plans with psychology benefits cover sessions with a registered psychologist or clinical social worker. Some of our therapists offer a sliding scale fee, approved by our clinical directors. Ask our intake coordinator about it, or about a payment plan. Your free 20-minute consultation costs nothing, and we can point you to community resources in Calgary.