Depression Counselling
Support for low mood, exhaustion and the loss of interest in things that used to matter.
Depression is more than sadness. It flattens motivation, disturbs sleep and appetite, and makes the ordinary demands of a day feel disproportionate. It also tends to convince people that nothing will help — which is part of the condition, not the truth of it.
Therapy works on two fronts: rebuilding activity and connection in a way that's realistic when energy is low, and addressing the thinking patterns and long-standing beliefs that keep mood down.
If depression is severe or has been present for a long time, we'll also talk with you about working alongside your GP or psychiatrist.
What to expect
Early sessions rebuild activity, because waiting to feel motivated before acting keeps depression in place. Cognitive and schema work on the beliefs underneath follows once energy allows. We address sleep, alcohol and routine directly rather than treating them as side issues.
How many sessions will I need?
We agree the likely number of sessions with you at the first appointment, once we understand what's happening. A Mental Health Care Plan funds up to ten individual sessions per calendar year, and an initial referral commonly covers six before your GP reviews it. We set a review point rather than committing you to an open-ended course. Longstanding depression takes longer than a discrete episode, and we say so at assessment rather than partway through.
Evidence base
Source: nice.org.uk
Behavioural activation and cognitive therapy are both recommended as first-line psychological treatments for depression under NICE guidance.
How we work with this
The shape of treatment, step by step — adjusted to what you bring and the pace you set.
Start with movement
Behavioural activation — small, achievable re-engagement with activity and people — is one of the best-supported treatments for depression.
Work on the beliefs underneath
Cognitive and schema-based work targets the long-standing rules about yourself that keep mood low.
Care for the basics
Sleep, routine, alcohol and exercise all move mood. We address them directly rather than treating them as an afterthought.
Questions about Depression Counselling
How many sessions will treatment take?
That is agreed with you after assessment rather than estimated beforehand. A Mental Health Care Plan funds up to ten individual sessions per calendar year. Severe or longstanding depression needs more than a discrete episode, and we plan for that from the start.
I have no energy for therapy. Will it work?
Low energy is the condition, not a barrier to treating it. Behavioural activation is built around what is achievable at your current capacity, which is why it starts small and specific.
Do you work alongside a GP or psychiatrist?
Yes. Where depression is severe or has persisted, we discuss working with your prescriber and, with your consent, coordinate care.
Is depression counselling covered by Medicare?
Yes, with a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP. Depression is a qualifying condition under the Better Access initiative.
Related services
Trauma Counselling
Careful, paced treatment for single-incident and complex trauma, including PTSD.
EMDR Treatment
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing — a structured therapy for distressing memories.
Stress & Burnout
For high-functioning exhaustion — when you're still delivering but running on empty.
Book with Peter
Sessions run 50 minutes, in our Melbourne CBD rooms or by secure video. No referral needed to begin.