Therapy adapts to the form it takes in your life.
- Some people experience:
- Long-term low mood or “background” depression
- Depression linked to stress, burnout, or chronic pressure
- Depression following loss, change, or major life transitions
- Periods of low mood that come and go
Understanding the context of your depression helps guide therapy.
Depression doesn’t always look like constant sadness. Many people experience depression as emotional flatness, loss of motivation, or feeling worn down over time. I work with children, teens and adults experiencing depression, whether symptoms are long-standing or linked to life stress, loss, or burnout.
What depression often looks like
Depression can be quiet and gradual, making it hard to recognise.
Common experiences include:
- Persistent low mood or emptiness
- Loss of interest or enjoyment in things that once mattered
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Changes in sleep or appetite
- Increased self-criticism or feelings of hopelessness
Many people continue functioning outwardly while struggling internally. You don’t need to feel “at your worst” to deserve support.
How therapy can help with depression
- Making sense of emotional patterns and life stressors
- Rebuilding motivation and engagement in daily life
- Addressing unhelpful thinking patterns and self-criticism
- Supporting gradual change without pressure or judgement
Progress often involves small, steady steps rather than quick fixes
My Approach
Client centred: We focus on what matters most to you
Practical and Grounded: not overly technical or jargon heavy
Collaborative: You are not pushed faster than you are ready to go
Evidence Based: Uses principles of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, & Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Is therapy right for you?
You might consider therapy if:
- Low mood or exhaustion is affecting your quality of life
- You feel disconnected from yourself or others
- Motivation feels hard to access
- You’re relying on getting through rather than feeling okay
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to begin therapy.
Therapy details
- Therapy is available for children, teens & adults
- Sessions are offered in person and via telehealth
- Appointments are confidential and paced to your needs
If you’re unsure whether what you’re experiencing is depression, we can explore that together.
Taking the next step
If depression is affecting your life or someone you care about and you’d like support, you’re welcome to get in touch to discuss whether therapy might be a good fit.
- Contact us to make a confidential enquiry
Frequently asked questions
No, you do not need a referral. You can make an appointment with a psychologist without a referral from your GP or a paediatrician/psychiatrist. If you decide to do this you will need to pay the full amount for your sessions out of your own pocket.
At CAYA Psychology, individual treatment sessions are 50 minutes. Assessment sessions may be longer.
You will need to make an appointment with your GP who will assess whether you are eligible for a Mental Health Treatment Plan. A Mental Health Treatment Plan will enable you to claim a Medicare rebate (rebates vary by type of referral).
Click here to find out more about Fees and Rebates.
To be able to claim the Medicare rebate for your session you will need to bring a copy of your Mental Health Treatment Plan to your first appointment with your psychologist.
Psychologists are health professionals who work in a range of areas including clinical, health, neuropsychology, sports, forensic, organisational and community settings. To become a fully registered psychologist you must undertake an undergraduate degree, an Honours degree and and at least two years of supervised training and further education in the field of psychology (either a Masters or Doctorate degree).
Psychologists assist people with everyday concerns such as stress and relationship difficulties, as well as mental health issues. Psychologists use “talk therapies” to help people to develop skills to cope with difficulties and to prevent on-going issues. There are a large number of research studies supporting the effectiveness of psychological therapy.
Psychiatrists have completed a medical degree and further training and study related to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Psychiatrists specialise in the medical treatment of mental illness and can prescribe medication. Some psychiatrists combine medication with therapy.
The procedure for a first appointment varies from practice to practice, but here is an overview of how things tend to work at CAYA Psychology:
At the beginning of your first session your psychologist will briefly run through important paperwork with you. This will include checking the information you provided in your online-intake documentation (including any medical referrals and service agreements).
We will also discuss issues such as privacy, confidentiality (and limits to this), fees and other important information about sessions.
The remainder of the session is usually spent discussing the issues that have brought you into therapy. As well as developing a thorough understanding of your concerns, your psychologist will explore relevant background history, for example, information about your family, social relationships, work history and any past counselling that you have done. Based on this information we will begin to help you to understand more about what might be causing and maintaining your current issues. If time allows we will also work with you to develop a collaborative and flexible plan for future therapy sessions.
If you are bringing your child for treatment, at their first session, your psychologist will typically start the session with parent/s and child together and discuss (using age-appropriate language) the role of a psychologist, and cover issues such as privacy, confidentiality (and limits to this) as above.
Your psychologist will then discuss the reasons that have brought you and your child into therapy with you all. Your psychologist will then typically spend a portion of the session alone with your child to further discuss issues of concern and to explore your child’s interests, hobbies, likes and dislikes. Your psychologist will then provide some initial feedback to you (the parent). Subsequent consultations will typically follow a similar approach.