DEPRESSION COUNSELLING
Depression is one of the most common mental health issues. At least 15 per cent of us are likely to suffer from it at some point in our lifetimes. That is not even accounting for the countless undiagnosed cases. But there is good news! It is highly responsive to treatment. In our years of working with depression counselling in Singapore, we’ve seen truly life-changing results.
Wondering how to know if you have depression? Do you think that you could benefit from expert guidance and help? You’ve come to the right place.
What is Depression?
It is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, and loss of joy. It is different from the mood fluctuations that people regularly experience as a part of life.
COUNSELLORS FOR DEPRESSION
Counsellor
- Post-Graduate diploma in counselling
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Anthropology and Social Theory
- 8 years experience in non-profit
- Specialties: Young working adults, Identity, Self-esteem, Depression, Grief, Relationship issues
- Approach: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy and Family Therapy
- Language: English
Clinical Psychologist
- Masters in Clinical Psychology
- Full Member of Singapore Psychological Society
- Full Member of Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology
- Specialties: Millenials and Gen Z with anxiety, depression, self-esteem and self-worth issues, relationship issues, OCD, ADHD, LGBTQ+ related concerns, identity formation
- Approach: Person-centred approach with primary concepts of Acceptance and Commitment-based Therapy (ACT), blending bits of CBT, emotion-focused therapy, and self-compassion
- Language: English, Conversational Malay
Senior Counsellor
- Master of Social Science – Professional Counselling
- Registered with Singapore Association for Counselling
- Specialties: Depression, stress, emotional regulation, grief, family conflict, marital conflict, parenting difficulties, suicidal risk, self-harm, and relationship issues.
- Approach: Person-Centered Therapy with an integrative approach drawing from evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.
- Languages: English and Tamil
Professional Counsellor
- Masters in Counselling
- Member of Singapore Association for Counselling
- Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA)
- Specialties: Young adults, Millennials, Identity exploration & concerns, Relationships, Anxiety
- Approach: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, blending elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as well as Mindfulness
- Language: Hindi, English
Starting with Depression Treatment in Singapore
Talking to a counsellor is no easy task. This difficult condition often robs people of their drive and makes it a real challenge to get on the journey to better mental health. If you are here now, don’t wait until it’s too late!
You don’t have to suffer in silence! A Kind Place’s professional depression therapy will transform you and turn you into the person you’re truly meant to be. Are you ready to get started? Take the first step to mental wellness by scheduling a free 15-minute chat with a professional. You can get to know our mental health professionals and get on the path to wellness.
Simply email hello@akindplace.co or start chatting with us on WhatsApp right now.
Therapy Styles for Depression
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – A style that focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It aims to identify and challenge negative or unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with healthier ones
- Narrative – A therapeutic approach that focuses on the stories and meanings people construct about themselves and their experiences. It aims to separate individuals from their problems, explore alternative narratives, and empower clients to rewrite their life stories
- Schema – A therapeutic approach that addresses long-standing and deeply ingrained patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving (schemas). It combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with experiential and relational methods to help individuals understand and modify maladaptive schemas
- Acceptance and Commitment-based Therapy (ACT) – A mindfulness-based therapy that encourages individuals to accept their thoughts and emotions while committing to values-based actions. ACT aims to help individuals develop psychological flexibility and live a meaningful life
Frequently Asked Questions on Depression Counseling
Sadness
- Sadness is an emotion
- Sadness is brief
- A specific reaction
- Temporarily changes your mood
- It is subjective
Depression
- Mental illness
- Persists much longer
- An abnormal general state
- Changes your life
- It is diagnosed
While a feeling sad is an integral part of depression, they aren’t the same. When you’re experiencing it, however, the difference between the two is hard to pinpoint. Sadness is a natural reaction to a problematic situation in life. It is an emotion that you feel in response to something that has happened. On the other hand, depression is a mental illness, rather than a passing feeling or emotion.
According to the DSM-5, you will be experiencing one of these two symptoms:
- A depressed mood throughout the day, most days.
- A significant loss in all or most activities throughout the day, most days.
In some cases, you will also experience four or more of the following symptoms daily or almost daily during a single two-week period:
- Unintended weight loss/weight gain, or a decrease/increase in appetite
- Observable delay in thinking and reduced physical movement
- A feeling of fatigue or energy loss
- A feeling of worthlessness or overwhelming guilt
- Difficult thinking/concentrating or indecisiveness
- Persistent thoughts of death, suicide attempts or contemplation
It is important to note that these symptoms should not be a result of any kind of substance abuse or other medical condition.
Like any other illness, it has a set of symptoms that help mental health professionals diagnose your condition. To help identify mental issues, therapists often refer to a standardised diagnostics tool: the DSM-5. Officially known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, the DSM-5 is the modern gold standard in diagnostic criteria and covers nearly 200 different mental health conditions.
Note: Depression can look different from person to person. For example, one common issue in men’s mental health is that it might show itself as anger rather than sadness. Men and women simply show symptoms differently. Likewise, older people might experience it differently than younger people. Ultimately, it’s tough to know with certainty, especially when you are caught in the middle of it. That is why it’s crucial to see a medical professional if something feels like it’s not right. Reach out to us for counselling for depression and put your mind at ease whether you are a perfect match for the symptoms listed above or not.
There is a common misconception that it is caused by having too much or too little of particular brain chemicals. In reality, however, it is caused by a wider scope of things. This includes physical factors like mood regulation in the brain as well as genetic predisposition. Though there is indeed a physical component, this condition is often pushed to the surface by stressful life events.
- Poor Mood Regulation
- Genetic Predisposition
- Stressful Events
- Childhood Abuse/Neglect
- Poor Lifestyle/Diet
Ultimately, the underlying causes and the identification of symptoms is a secondary issue. These technical factors are best left to experts who specialise in the field of mental health. When you are suffering from any mental health issue, the truly crucial matter at hand is treatment. Finding the right therapist and proactively working to improve the quality of your life is the most pertinent issue in front of you.
When it comes to the cost of depression therapy in Singapore, the prices depend on the type of mental health professional that you choose. Our current rates are as follows:
- Counsellor-in-training: $50/hr
- Counsellors: $150/hr
- Psychologists: $180/hr
- Senior Psychologist: $250/hr
For in-person depression counselling in our Singapore offices, there is a $40 surcharge added to the fees above. Looking for an in-home therapy session? Some of our therapists offer home-based sessions for a $50 surcharge.
On the search for affordable depression therapy in Singapore? We offer prorated fees on a case-to-case basis.
This is a common condition that affects a growing number of people. Cases in Singapore have been on the rise since 2020. Fortunately, our modern society is finally ready to discuss and treat it.
As it becomes more common, or perhaps just most commonly acknowledged, therapy in Singapore is becoming commonplace. A study by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) found that 81.8 per cent of us are ready to seek professional help for mental health issues.
People often ask us what is the fastest way to treat it. What types of therapy have been found most effective? While our counsellors and psychologists are trained in a wide variety of techniques, the truth is that it is not a one-size-fits-all problem.
There is no quick fix that is going to change everything. Achieving and maintaining good mental health is a lifelong journey and we will each take different paths. For example, it is connected with anxiety in some people and so anxiety counselling is a fundamental component. Younger people may need a type of special needs therapy. Some people do well with hypnotherapy. Islamic and Christian therapy are common focus for religious-minded individuals.
New mothers may want to look for specialised postnatal depression therapy. While often overlooked or simply unrecognised by overwhelmed new parents, postnatal depression is quite typical. In fact, in Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is working on a targeted campaign to increase awareness, postnatal depression screening, and treatment of this common issue.
Ultimately, every solution will be unique. Each person will arrive with a different set of needs and our therapists will create a bespoke treatment plan to meet each need.
Our team of professional counsellors and psychologists in Singapore specialise in various fields such as trauma counselling sessions and special needs counselling. We also provide marriage therapy session, counselling for couples and affordable grief counselling.
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