Therapy for Depression
Welcome to book a consultation where we can discuss what you need help with. I am a licensed psychologist and meet clients for talk therapy. I offer in-depth conversations (individual therapy) where you gain more understanding of yourself, perspective, and change. You can get help with depression and other challenges. Appointments can be scheduled at the clinic in Östermalm, Stockholm, or online.
What is depression?
Being depressed usually involves feeling down, having low self-esteem (negative thoughts, poor self-confidence), and feeling unmotivated to do everyday things. There may be a lack of energy and a desire to withdraw from the world. Others may describe feeling more agitated and keep themselves busy to ward off depression and also anxiety and worry thoughts.
Depression is a common problem and also a common reason for seeking therapy. Sometimes symptoms have appeared recently, while other times periods of depression may have been part of one's life for a long time.
How is Depression Treated?
In therapy sessions, you and I will determine the type of depression you are experiencing as a reaction to grief and loss, prolonged stress, or trauma. We will discuss whether the depression is temporary or has been recurrent.
We will explore what causes depressive symptoms since depression arises due to a mix of various factors and events. We seek and will find alternatives that provide presence, desire, and direction in relationships, everyday life, and work.
We will talk about what triggers depressive symptoms, what brings calm and peace, what brings desire and initiative, and how depression differs from emotions, needs, self-critical thoughts, and overthinking.
Effects of Depression
Depression often has consequences with mental and physical health over time. Other consequences are lacking energy and engagement. One withdraws and cannot cope with what one desires in relationships, leisure, and work. Anxiety and worry often lead to avoiding what one most desires and needs.
Memory, concentration, and motivation are also affected. Anxiety and worry are generally also a component to consider in depression.
Understanding these consequences is crucial for recognizing when depression may require professional intervention.
Therapy - Depression
The idea with therapy is that positive changes should occur. When it comes to depression, it primarily involves regaining experiences of meaning, interest, and a positive self-image – to be able to approach what one desires and needs – instead of avoiding the same. This is the overall impression I see as a psychologist.
Another impression is the suffering of having inner pain and being so alone with it.
When positive changes begin to occur, clients increasingly notice the difference between suffering and well-being, especially as changes begin to show and as inner pain and self-critical thoughts have greatly diminished. Along the way, they experience more moments of satisfaction, freedom, and meaningfulness in their inner life and start to believe that it is possible to feel better essentially with themselves. A kind of peace of mind occurs. Learn more about therapy at Psychological Forum and with Maria Sandgren.
Transformations through therapy
Depression can be a barrier to anything – what one desires and needs. Depression is also suffering in itself. Some wish for deeper relationships. Some wish to live more fully and not so withdrawn. Some live too close to their self-critical thoughts and hesitate before various life choices and relationships. Others feel numb and do not really know what they want and need. Some have a dark self-image and wish to feel more satisfied with themselves and be loved.
Therapy becomes a way to open up and start living more fully:
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to feel joy and meaning from several aspects
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to have energy and desire for relationships
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to have good physical health
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to be creative and productive
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to succeed in studies and at work
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to have trust in oneself
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to take initiative to solve problems
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to take initiative to live well
Affect-Focused Therapy for Depression
We discuss what you wish to get help with while we pay attention to reactions like confusion and resignation, as well as various feelings that are usually avoided. We will explore how depressive reactions differ from feelings in affect-focused therapy.
Getting closer to feelings is a way to better understand oneself. In affect-focused therapy, we do not usually talk about emptiness, meaninglessness, or lack of desire as feelings but rather count them more as stress reactions or symptoms that the mood is negatively affected. Emotions belong to the emotional system and can provide calm and certainty, even direction for what one wants and needs. You will learn to experience emotions and thereby reduce depressive symptoms and feel more meaning, direction, and emotional presence. Learn more about therapy at the Psychological Forum.
Example - Depression
The emotional state in depression is characterized by sadness and meaninglessness. Also, emptiness. Stress about or lack of desire to participate in everyday life is present.
In depression, self-critical thoughts are also involved. Many describe experiences of being inadequate and not good enough for various reasons and in various ways. Clients sometimes talk about excessive guilt and shame for having contributed or believing they have contributed to a certain event, e.g., someone reacting in a certain way.
The inadequacy can manifest in self-critical thoughts and thoughts that others will be cold and demeaning towards oneself. It's hard to see that others care or feel that life is meaningful. The consequence can be that one withdraws from relationships and the outside world.
Others discover in therapy a depressive attitude about overthinking and ruminations because they do not have any physical symptoms and are not so avoidant. Instead, a depressive approach appears in a thought life where they seek to describe, explain, and compare what they experience. Thoughts can be in the form of "I am such a failure," "it's my fault," "there will never be any change," and "others are better off without me" – all of which feel completely true. Indecisiveness can occur. Most often entirely alone.
Contact
Maria Sandgren, licensed psychologist with extensive experience, offers therapy at a private practice in central Stockholm as well as via online visits.
I will help you find the arrangement that best meets your needs, regardless of whether you prefer digital meetings or visits to the reception.