Depression

Depression can make it hard to feel like yourself, affecting your energy, motivation, and ability to enjoy activities and relationships that normally matter to you. If you’re struggling with low mood, hopelessness, or a sense of emptiness, therapy can offer meaningful support.

What is Depression?

Depression is more than just feeling sad. It’s a shift in how you experience life that can affect your mood, energy, sleep, appetite, concentration, and sense of purpose. Some days might feel manageable; others can feel overwhelming. The experience varies widely – some people describe depression as a heavy weight, others as numbness or disconnection from life. Depression can show up gradually, building over time, or it might arrive suddenly following a difficult event or life change. You might notice you’re withdrawing from friends, losing interest in activities you once enjoyed, having difficulty getting out of bed, or experiencing a persistent sense of hopelessness. These aren’t character flaws or signs of weakness; they’re signs that your mind and body need support.

How It Might Affect You

Many people with depression find it’s affecting multiple areas of their life. Work and study become harder to manage. Relationships may feel strained because you’re struggling to engage or connect. Physical activities, hobbies, and social involvement might fall away as motivation drops. Sleep patterns often change – sleeping more or less than usual. Your body might feel heavier, your thinking slower. The isolation that often comes with depression can make it feel worse. You might avoid reaching out because you feel like a burden, or because the effort feels too large. Over time, this withdrawal can deepen the sense of loneliness and hopelessness. The important thing to know is that with support, people develop strategies to reconnect with themselves and their lives – and many find their sense of purpose and joy returning.

Our Approach to Depression

Working with a psychologist at Growth Psychology, you’ll be met with genuine warmth and understanding. We recognise that depression affects the whole person, and we tailor our approach to what will help you most. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps you identify and shift thought patterns that keep depression in place, while building practical strategies to re-engage with life. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) focuses on improving your relationships and social connections, which often strengthens your overall wellbeing. Many people also find that our strength-based and positive psychology approaches help them reconnect with what gives their life meaning and value. Your psychologist will work collaboratively with you to understand what’s contributed to your depression and what will help you move forward. This might involve behavioural changes, developing coping strategies, or simply having a space where you feel truly heard and supported. We believe in your capacity to recover. Learn more about our therapeutic approaches.

When to Seek Help

If depression is affecting how you feel, think, or function – whether it’s been there for weeks or months – it’s worth seeking support. You don’t need to wait until things feel unbearable. Early support often makes the path forward clearer and easier. If you’re struggling, you deserve help, and reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Ask about our Depression services.

If you’d like to explore how therapy might help, we’re here to talk through your needs.

Enquire today

Our practicitioners with a focus on Depression

Lara Patty - Psychologist

Lara is a registered Psychologist who offers a warm, collaborative, and emotionally grounded approach to therapy. She supports adolescents (16+) and adults across experiences such as anxiety, depression, stress, identity concerns, relationship and attachment patterns, the impacts of difficult childhood experiences, and life transitions. Lara integrates evidence‑informed approaches—including Schema Therapy, CBT, and ACT—to help clients explore their inner world and develop compassionate, authentic ways of relating to themselves and others.

Louise Kelly - Psychologist

Louise is a registered Psychologist who offers a warm, collaborative approach to supporting adolescents and adults. She works across areas such as anxiety, OCD, hoarding‑related challenges, eating‑disorder concerns, stress, and life transitions. Louise draws on CBT, ACT, and DBT, and has completed specialised training in CBT‑E and SSCM through QuEDS. She is an ANZAED Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician and is listed on the Butterfly Foundation’s National Referral Database. With a background in education, Louise also facilitates mental health literacy programs.

Shelley Phillips - Psychologist

Shelley Phillips is a registered Psychologist who offers a warm, caring, and evidence‑informed approach to supporting mental health and wellbeing. She draws on CBT, ACT, Positive Psychology, and strengths‑based practices to help clients explore challenges in life and work. Shelley also supports clients navigating job selection processes, career development, and workplace stress. She has experience working with emergency services personnel and has worked as a psychology lecturer, mentor, and supervisor.

Gregory Dean - Endorsed Counselling Psychologist

Greg is an Endorsed Counselling Psychologist with more than thirty years of experience supporting people across a wide range of life challenges. He works collaboratively with clients to explore the impact of past experiences, strengthen emotional wellbeing, and navigate patterns that influence relationships and daily life. Greg uses evidence‑informed approaches tailored to each person’s needs. Greg has worked in counselling and psychotherapy private practice in metropolitan centres and remote rural areas, in schools, government organisations, emergency services, military veterans’ organisations and in industry. He has also worked as an academic, teacher and in management and specialist roles in the mining industry.

Rita Mesch - Psychologist

Rita is a registered teacher and Psychologist who offers a supportive, non‑judgemental space for clients experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, grief, difficult or traumatic events, life transitions, and relationship concerns. She works from a Process‑Oriented Psychology framework, helping clients explore inner experiences and the patterns that influence wellbeing and personal growth.

Beth Keane - Psychologist - Practice Owner

Beth is a registered Psychologist who supports adults across a range of wellbeing and mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, life transitions, and career‑related challenges. She draws on CBT, ACT, Schema‑informed strategies, and strengths‑based, person‑centred approaches. Beth also provides services under Queensland emergency services support programs and works in training, development, and career‑related support.