Protective Factors Against Depression: A Baltimore Counselor’s Guide
As a therapist, I often look for factors that can better predict a treatment outcome for clients with depression.
What is depression, and what causes it?
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by certain symptoms, like low mood, change in appetite, change in sleep, motivation issues, and certain time frame requirements, like symptoms that must last at least 2 weeks. Many individuals can have depression from a life change, like a move, break up, or season changes. Some have depression for longer timeframes and oftentimes have genetic components. Not everyone is the same so it is important to look for protective factors to help someone feel better and most like themselves.
Protective factors to combat depression
Protective factors contribute to someone’s strengths in mental health and help to bounce back in times of depression. While many of these are out of one’s control, other factors are within one’s control. With the help of a therapist, you can start to identify which ones you want to change and modify to benefit your life.
Social: your social network! Friends, family, neighbors, care team (doctors, therapists, acupuncture, physical therapists, etc.), coworkers, team members. If we have the ability to talk about our life, good or bad, we feel supported. Themes of love, intimacy, and friendship are often connected here. If we feel disconnected, we can feel isolated, lonely, or misunderstood.
Coping Skills: how we handle our life! This is often broken down into healthy and unhealthy coping strategies. We want as many healthy ones that benefit and support our life. In therapy, we often examine our own ways of coping to learn and maximize the healthy ones!
Physical Health: our body! It is undeniable that our mental and physical health is related. Please move your body with exercise, a balanced diet, and drinking water. If you are prescribed medication, it is recommended to take it regularly as prescribed.
Self Esteem: how we view and hold value of ourselves! Working on confidence, assertiveness, overcoming our past life history, viewing meaning behind our weaknesses are all benefits of therapy and very common to process.
Thinking: how we view ourselves, the world, our relationships, etc.! Some forms of therapy, like Cognitive Behavior Therapy, CBT, works to change how we view our thoughts so we can change our actions and emotions. It is helpful when we struggle with rumination, inability to see strengths and weaknesses rationally, and hold negative self talk.
Sense of purpose: the framework for our life! This can be what we are involved, passionate, or care about. This can range from family, education, work, environment, or other roles we play in life. If we feel lost, we may be unworthy, confused, or unfulfilled.
While some protective factors are inherited from our parents, family, society, or where we were born, we do have an ability to shape and change them to better our lives. Don’t feel like you have to do these alone, therapists are happy to help you explore and implement in your life!
Are you seeking therapy for depression in Baltimore City or in the state of Maryland?
At LifeSpring Counseling Services, treatment for depression is one of the top 2 reasons people contact our office! While depression can be isolating, and one’s negative thoughts can leave them believing that their situation is helpless or hopeless, there are many other people who understand what you’re experiencing, and our therapists are trained to help.
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Interested in Online & In-Person Counseling Services for Negative Thoughts, Anxiety, or Depression?
If you’re a Marylander who knows that counseling is the direction you need to take, the therapists at LifeSpring Counseling Services are here to help. We offer online counseling services for mindfulness, depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief and loss. We also offer Brainspotting as a specialized service, and Brainspotting can be done online, too!
Here’s how you can get started! Online and in-person counseling for negative thoughts, anxiety, and depression aren’t the only services offered at our Baltimore, MD office.
The counselors and social workers at our Maryland office also offer counseling services for trauma, grief and loss, boundary setting, communication skills, and difficult life transitions. We also offer specialized counseling services including Brainspotting and spiritually-integrated counseling. Because we are located next to several local universities, we also work with college students and international students.
Written by: Ashley Swift, LCPC
Ashley is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who supports Maryland-based adults who are seeking therapy for depression, anxiety, life transitions, and grief.
