Updating the Depression program at CCC
Calgary Counselling Centre (CCC) is pleased to announce we are updating our programming. Coming this fall we will be introducing our new Depression Group Therapy program for our clients.
Since 2002, the Centre has offered a successful group therapy program for depression. In fact, CCC’s own research found clients who attended individual counselling and the Centre’s group therapy program made even more progress by the end of the program than clients who simply attended individual counselling sessions.
So, despite having such terrific results for our clients, new research and new information on depression are influencing us to build on the already existing strong foundation of the program. The program has been adjusted to further fit the needs of our clients. The program is about teaching our clients the skills to overcome their depression.
The program will be 14 weeks long and provides people with the chance to share their experiences with others who are experiencing depression. The program is based on the belief that changing the way a person thinks can have a powerful impact on the way they feel. In the revised program, clients will learn a variety of skills to help them manage their current symptoms and help to prevent future episodes.
“It’s no different than learning another skill,” says Dr. Patrick Keelan, Counselling Supervisor and Depression Program Lead. “You have to practice the skills in order to succeed.”
The new workbook being introduced in the fall takes a specific approach to depression. “Instead of using a global, broad perspective, the book breaks depression down into little manageable parts” says Keelan. “It will prevent people from feeling overwhelmed.”
The new program will focus more on the practical, specific exercises that clients are able to apply easily to their lives outside of the Centre. Participants will have a variety of activities to find out what depression treatment works better for them as an individual.
Clients will be fully educated about depression; all the signs, symptoms and causes. They will be able to recognize indicators and change their behaviors in order to deal with their unique depression symptoms. Being educated helps the clients to have better and faster progress, through learning the cause of depression and being able to change behaviours.
The new program will launch in the early fall. Clients who register now for depression treatment may benefit by being in one of the new group programs.
National Depression Screening Day
To help people understand if what they’re experiencing is depression, CCC is offering a free depression screening service on October 7, 2010. The screening program is part of National Depression Screening Day – a service offered throughout North America during Mental Health Awareness Week. CCC is proud to be the only Western Canada provider of this free service, and is offering it online at www.calgarycounselling.com from midnight to midnight on October 7, 2010
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