We treat depressive disorders at The Well Woman. Depression can be a symptom or disorder. People often casually describe their mood as โdepressedโ when it may be mild sadness that quickly goes away or just being in a โfunkโ that also quickly subsides. Many of us experience an occasional bad day when for no apparent reason we feel glum, irritable, or out of sorts. However, diagnosable or clinical depression lasts for more than a day or two and you do not just bounce back from a glum mood. There is often significant impairment in oneโs life as a result of a depressed mood relating to sleep, appetite, thoughts, school or employment, and relationships.
Want to schedule or have questions?
We welcome your inquiries and invite you to contact us to discuss the possibilities of setting up a session.
To schedule:
call us at 404-618-1040 ext. 1
Monday-Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm.
You may also complete the contact form regarding general questions.
OFFICE:
2295 Parklake Drive
Suite 577
Atlanta, GA 30345
Common depressive disorders we see in our practice include Major Depressive Disorder and Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia). We also see individuals with depression caused by a medical condition. It is sometimes difficult to describe a depressed mood as individuals may just report not feeling like themselves or just feeling โblahโ. Some of the common symptoms or complaints of depression include:
We look at the overall health of a client when treating them. We focus on your physical health through collaboration with your physician to rule out any medical issues including vitamin deficiencies. We promote adopting a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. Commonly used treatment modalities for depression include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. We incorporate mindfulness and yoga psychotherapy during treatment as well.
*Typical progress, cannot guarantee this for every client
The content on this website is not intended to diagnose or treat, it is for informational purposes only. Please call our office at 404-618-1040 for an appointment or contact a mental health professional in your local area if you are seeking treatment.
We work to process the underlying cause of the depressed mood and develop coping skills to alleviate the discomfort. Treatment is a process and is certainly not always comfortable. Many thoughts, wounds, and realities are exposed during treatment which can make you feel vulnerable and uneasy.
However, this part of the process will pass, and you are not alone on this journey of healing. We therapists often use the metaphor of a flesh wound to describe the therapeutic process. Imagine a gash on your arm that was not properly treated and did not fully heal. When you go to the doctor, they now need to reopen the wound, properly clean it, stitch the wound, and allow it time to heal. Once fully healed, there may be a slight scar, but no pain and you are able to fully use your arm without restriction. This is comparable to the therapy process. We will explore strong feelings or reopen wounds, and this may be painful.
We will process thoughts and behaviors around these feelings or wounds and begin to clean and stitch the wound by replacing unhealthy patterns of thinking and coping with healthy coping skills. You will begin to feel relief from the painful wound now that it is being properly treated and healing and can return to normal functioning.