Depression Counselling Perth
Depression can affect how you feel, think and manage everyday life. It may involve persistent low mood, reduced motivation, loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep or difficulty feeling connected to things that previously felt meaningful.
Bilingual Psychology provides depression counselling and psychological support in Perth with registered psychologist Lin Tan.
Psychological therapy provides a confidential setting to explore what you are experiencing, understand factors that may be contributing to your difficulties and consider psychological approaches appropriate to your individual circumstances.
Appointments are available from our Willetton, Perth practice, with psychological services offered in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
If low mood or other emotional difficulties are affecting your everyday life, contact Bilingual Psychology to discuss an appointment.
What Is Depression?
Depression involves more than simply having a bad day or occasionally feeling sad.
People naturally experience periods of sadness, disappointment and low mood. Depression can involve changes in mood, thinking, motivation, behaviour and physical wellbeing that persist and begin affecting everyday functioning.
It can influence areas such as:
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Work or study
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Relationships
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Sleep
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Motivation
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Concentration
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Social activities
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Physical energy
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Self-esteem
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Daily routines
Depression can present differently from person to person.
Some people experience significant sadness, while others describe feeling emotionally numb, disconnected, irritable or exhausted.
A qualified health professional can assess your symptoms and circumstances if you are concerned about depression.
What Are Common Signs of Depression?
Depression can involve emotional, cognitive, behavioural and physical changes.
Someone experiencing depression may notice:
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Persistent sadness or low mood
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Loss of interest or enjoyment
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Reduced motivation
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Low energy or fatigue
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Difficulty concentrating
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Changes in sleep
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Changes in appetite
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Withdrawing from friends or family
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Difficulty completing everyday activities
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Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
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Increased irritability
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Negative thoughts about yourself or the future
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Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected
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Difficulty making decisions
Having one or more of these experiences does not automatically mean that you have depression.
Symptoms can have different causes, which is why appropriate assessment is important.
When Should I Consider Depression Counselling?
You do not need to wait until things become unmanageable before discussing your mental health.
You may consider speaking with a psychologist or another appropriate health professional if low mood or related difficulties:
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Persist over time
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Affect your work or study
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Interfere with relationships
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Affect your sleep or daily routine
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Make activities you previously enjoyed feel difficult
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Lead you to withdraw from other people
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Affect your motivation
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Make everyday responsibilities difficult
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Cause significant emotional distress
Sometimes people seek psychological support because they recognise specific symptoms of depression.
Others simply know that they have not felt like themselves for some time.
Both can be valid reasons to speak with a health professional.
What Can Contribute to Depression?
Depression does not necessarily have one identifiable cause.
A person's psychological wellbeing can be influenced by a combination of biological, psychological, social and environmental factors.
These may include:
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Significant life changes
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Relationship difficulties
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Grief and loss
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Ongoing stress
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Work or study pressures
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Family difficulties
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Social isolation
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Physical health concerns
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Changes in identity or circumstances
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Pregnancy and becoming a parent
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Financial pressures
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Migration and adjustment
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Difficult past experiences
For some people, there may not be an obvious event that explains why they are experiencing depression.
Psychological assessment can consider the broader circumstances surrounding what you are experiencing.
What Is Depression Counselling?
Depression counselling provides an opportunity to discuss low mood and related difficulties with a mental health professional.
Rather than assuming that everyone's experience of depression is the same, psychological therapy considers your individual symptoms, circumstances and goals.
Sessions may involve exploring:
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How depression is affecting your everyday life
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Thoughts associated with low mood
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Changes in behaviour and routine
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Relationships
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Sources of stress
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Emotional experiences
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Avoidance or withdrawal
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Activities that have become difficult
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Relevant life experiences
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Strategies for responding to current difficulties
The approach used will depend on your individual circumstances and clinical needs.
How Can a Psychologist Help With Depression?
A psychologist can assess psychological concerns and provide psychological interventions where appropriate.
When working with depression, therapy may involve developing a clearer understanding of the factors contributing to your difficulties and identifying patterns that may be maintaining them.
Depending on your circumstances, psychological support may include:
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Understanding patterns associated with low mood
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Identifying unhelpful thinking patterns
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Exploring changes in behaviour and routine
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Developing strategies for managing difficult emotions
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Gradually re-engaging with meaningful activities
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Exploring relationship or life difficulties
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Developing coping strategies
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Working towards personally meaningful goals
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Monitoring and reviewing progress
Psychological therapy is individualised. The strategies considered should reflect your circumstances rather than following an identical process for everyone.
CBT for Depression
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one psychological approach that may be considered when working with depression.
CBT examines connections between thoughts, emotions and behaviours.
For example, low mood can sometimes contribute to withdrawing from activities and relationships.
Withdrawal may reduce opportunities for enjoyment, connection or accomplishment, which can in turn contribute to ongoing low mood.
CBT may involve identifying patterns such as these and exploring ways of responding differently.
It can also involve examining thoughts about yourself, your circumstances or the future and considering whether alternative perspectives may be useful.
Depression, Motivation and Withdrawal
One of the difficult aspects of depression is that activities can begin to feel harder at the same time that reduced activity may contribute to ongoing low mood.
A simplified pattern might look like:
Low mood → Less motivation → Reduced activity → Fewer rewarding experiences → Lower mood
For example, someone may stop seeing friends because they do not feel motivated to socialise.
This may provide temporary relief from the effort involved, but over time it can also increase isolation.
Psychological therapy may explore patterns such as these and consider manageable ways of gradually reconnecting with activities that are important to you.
This does not mean that someone experiencing depression simply needs to “try harder”.
Depression can significantly affect energy, motivation and functioning, and psychological strategies should take the person's circumstances into account.
Why Can't I Just Push Through and Get Things Done?
Depression can affect motivation, energy, concentration and decision-making. Tasks that previously felt straightforward may begin to require considerably more effort.
This can sometimes lead to self-criticism:
“I should be able to do this.”
“Why am I being so lazy?”
“Everyone else manages.”
Difficulty completing tasks while experiencing depression is not necessarily a matter of willpower.
Psychological therapy may involve understanding what is contributing to these difficulties and developing more manageable ways of approaching activities and responsibilities.
Depression and Negative Thinking
Depression can sometimes influence how a person interprets themselves, their circumstances and the future.
Thoughts might include:
“Nothing I do is good enough.”
“I've failed.”
“Things aren't going to change.”
“I'm a burden.”
“Everyone else is doing better than me.”
Having a thought does not necessarily mean that the thought is accurate.
Where appropriate, psychological therapy can involve learning to recognise recurring thought patterns and exploring whether there are more balanced ways of interpreting situations.
Depression and Sleep
Depression and sleep difficulties can sometimes occur together.
Some people experience difficulty falling or staying asleep, while others find themselves sleeping considerably more than usual.
Poor sleep can also affect:
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Energy
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Concentration
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Motivation
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Emotional regulation
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Daily functioning
Because sleep difficulties can have psychological, behavioural and physical causes, persistent sleep problems may warrant discussion with a GP or another appropriate health professional.
Depression, Stress and Burnout
Depression, stress and burnout can share some experiences, such as fatigue, reduced motivation and difficulty concentrating.
They are not necessarily the same thing.
Stress commonly occurs in response to ongoing pressures or demands. Burnout is often discussed in relation to prolonged occupational or caregiving stress, while depression can affect many areas of a person's life and may occur with or without an obvious external stressor.
Because symptoms can overlap, professional assessment can help clarify what you are experiencing.
Depression After Grief or Loss
Grief is a natural response to loss and is not automatically a mental health disorder.
Bereavement can involve sadness, changes in sleep, difficulty concentrating, reduced motivation and other experiences that can overlap with symptoms associated with depression.
Everyone experiences grief differently.
If grief is causing significant distress or you are concerned about how you are coping, psychological support may provide a space to discuss the loss and its impact.
Depression During Pregnancy or After Having a Baby
Pregnancy, childbirth and becoming a parent can involve significant physical, emotional and practical changes.
Some people experience depression during pregnancy or after having a baby.
If you are concerned about persistent low mood, anxiety, difficulty functioning or other changes in your mental health during this period, consider discussing your symptoms with your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional.
Psychological support may form part of care depending on your individual circumstances.
What Happens During Depression Counselling?
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Initial Discussion
Your first sessions provide an opportunity to discuss what you have been experiencing, relevant circumstances and what has brought you to psychological therapy.
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Understanding Your Symptoms and Circumstances
Your psychologist may ask about your mood, thoughts, behaviour, relationships, daily functioning, sleep and other relevant aspects of your life.
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Establishing Goals
You can discuss what you would like to work towards through psychological support.
Goals vary according to the individual.
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Psychological Therapy
Depending on your needs and assessment, psychological approaches such as CBT or other appropriate strategies may be considered.
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Reviewing Progress
Your experiences and goals can be reviewed throughout therapy and the approach adjusted where clinically appropriate.
Depression and Cultural Expectations
Culture, family and community can influence the way people understand and communicate emotional difficulties.
For some people from multicultural backgrounds, depression may be experienced alongside concerns relating to:
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Family expectations
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Academic or career pressure
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Intergenerational differences
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Migration
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Cultural identity
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Relationship expectations
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Family responsibilities
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Social isolation
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Stigma around mental health
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Difficulty discussing emotions within the family
People may also use different words to describe emotional distress.
Some may describe themselves as sad or depressed, while others focus more on tiredness, stress, physical discomfort or feeling unable to cope.
Where cultural or family experiences are relevant to your concerns, they can form part of psychological therapy.
Depression Counselling in English, Mandarin and Cantonese
Bilingual Psychology provides psychological services in:
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English
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Mandarin
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Cantonese
For some clients, discussing emotional experiences in a familiar language can make it easier to explain feelings, relationships and family experiences.
It may also provide additional context when psychological concerns are connected to cultural expectations or intergenerational experiences.
Depression Counselling in Willetton, Perth
Bilingual Psychology provides depression counselling and psychological services from Willetton, Western Australia.
Psychological services are provided by registered psychologist Lin Tan.
Lin provides psychological support for a range of emotional, behavioural, relationship and life concerns, with appointments available in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Do I Need a Referral for Depression Counselling?
You can contact Bilingual Psychology directly to enquire about an appointment.
If you want to access Medicare rebates for eligible psychological services, speak with your GP and Bilingual Psychology about current referral and eligibility requirements.
Your GP can also consider whether additional medical assessment or other forms of support may be appropriate.
Book Depression Counselling in Perth
You do not need to know exactly why you are feeling the way you do before speaking with a psychologist.
An initial appointment can provide an opportunity to discuss what you have been experiencing and consider whether psychological support may be appropriate.
Bilingual Psychology provides psychological services from Willetton, Perth, with appointments available in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Contact Bilingual Psychology to enquire about depression counselling and appointment availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is depression counselling?
Depression counselling provides an opportunity to discuss low mood and related difficulties with a mental health professional.
Psychological therapy may involve understanding factors contributing to depression and considering strategies appropriate to your circumstances and goals.
What are the signs of depression?
Depression can involve persistent low mood, loss of interest or enjoyment, reduced motivation, changes in sleep or appetite, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, withdrawal and negative thoughts about yourself or the future.
Symptoms vary between individuals, and appropriate professional assessment is important if you are concerned about what you are experiencing.
What is the difference between sadness and depression?
Sadness is a normal emotional response and commonly occurs following disappointment, difficulty or loss.
Depression can involve more persistent changes in mood, thinking, behaviour and functioning that affect everyday life.
A health professional can assess your circumstances if you are unsure about the symptoms you are experiencing.
Can a psychologist help with depression?
Psychologists can assess psychological concerns and provide psychological interventions for depression where appropriate.
The particular approach depends on the person's symptoms, circumstances, preferences and clinical needs.
Can CBT be used for depression?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is one psychological approach that may be used when working with depression.
CBT may involve exploring connections between thoughts, emotions and behaviours and developing different ways of responding to patterns associated with low mood.
Why can't I just push through and get things done?
Depression can affect energy, motivation, concentration and decision-making. As a result, activities that previously felt manageable may become considerably more difficult.
Psychological therapy can explore factors contributing to these difficulties and consider strategies for gradually approaching everyday activities.
Is feeling tired a sign of depression?
Fatigue or reduced energy can occur alongside depression, but tiredness can have many psychological, lifestyle and physical causes.
Persistent or unexplained fatigue should therefore be appropriately assessed rather than automatically assumed to be caused by depression.
Can depression affect sleep?
Yes. Depression can occur alongside changes in sleep.
Some people experience difficulty falling or staying asleep, while others may sleep more than usual. Persistent sleep difficulties can also have other causes and may warrant discussion with a healthcare professional.
What is the difference between depression and burnout?
Depression and burnout can share experiences such as fatigue, reduced motivation and difficulty concentrating.
Burnout is commonly associated with prolonged work or caregiving stress, whereas depression can affect many areas of a person's life. Professional assessment may help clarify overlapping symptoms.
Do I need a diagnosis to see a psychologist for depression?
No. You do not necessarily need an existing diagnosis before discussing low mood or related difficulties with a psychologist.
An initial appointment can help explore what you are experiencing and whether psychological support may be appropriate.
How long does depression counselling take?
There is no standard number of sessions appropriate for everyone.
The duration of psychological therapy depends on factors such as your symptoms, circumstances, goals, progress and clinical needs.
Is depression counselling available in Mandarin or Cantonese?
Yes. Bilingual Psychology provides psychological services in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Clients can discuss their preferred language when enquiring about an appointment.
Where can I access depression counselling in Perth?
Bilingual Psychology provides psychology and counselling services from Willetton, Western Australia.
Registered psychologist Lin Tan provides psychological services for depression and other concerns where appropriate to the person's circumstances and clinical needs.
What should I do if I am having suicidal thoughts?
If you are in immediate danger or at immediate risk of harming yourself, call Triple Zero (000) or attend your nearest emergency department.
For 24-hour crisis support in Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Bilingual Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.