Depression Therapist in Atlanta, Georgia
Treating Depression
Hi, my name is Cheryl Delaney, and I'm a skilled depression therapist in Atlanta, Georgia.
You may be feeling stuck, disconnected, and even hopeless. I know how intense and isolating that can be, and I’m here to help. TV tells us that therapy is identical to talking to a friend. Doctors say the only way to make a difference in your symptoms is to take medication. I love to see medication stigma declining! Still: expert depression therapy works as well or better than medication.
If you’re looking for a therapist in Atlanta for depression, let’s talk. If you’re ready to learn powerful tools to start feeling better, let’s talk. Schedule a complimentary consultation with me today.
How Does Perfectionism Lead to Depression?
Sometimes people imagine that perfectionism only exists in incredibly productive and successful people. Sometimes, though, perfectionism gets in the way and causes problems even before you’ve been able to get started. In a lot of cases, it prevents feeling productive and motivated and those are both symptoms of depression.
Perfectionists are plagued by negative, self-critical thoughts. When they come up, it feels extra daunting to take the only path available to humans: trying and failing and trying again.
The negative thoughts are draining. Lots of my clients lose motivation and get stalled out by procrastination. They can’t seem to get themselves to finish a dissertation, face a difficult conversation, or take on a new project at work. It feels safer and more familiar to avoid doing something that might go badly, but then they beat up on themselves for failing to reach their goals.
How Depression Treatment Works
I train in an approach called TEAM-CBT. I chose it because it’s a highly effective therapy framework. It has given my clients so much relief and joy that I am always excited to introduce it to someone new. You can read more about it here (on my website) or here (Dr. David Burns’ website) or here (the Feeling Good Institute’s website).
During sessions, our connection will always be crucial to doing successful work. I am excellent at what I do, and I’m goofy and laid back. You might be surprised at the amount of crying and laughing we get up to together.
How to Get Started
Step One:
Consultation
I offer free 15-minute consultation calls to all new clients so that we can assess whether or not we’d be a good fit. First, I’ll ask you what’s bringing you to therapy right now, then describe what I think treatment would look like in your case. We’ll talk about what you’d be signing up for in joining my practice and any questions or hesitations you might have. If it turns out I’m not a great fit, I’ll give you some recommendations and do what I can to help you find other options.
Step Two:
Paperwork
You will be able to complete all paperwork and payment information electronically. If you’re like me, you might rush through the ones you need to sign but it’s a good idea to read them carefully. You’ll want to understand the risks and benefits of therapy and get to know the boundaries we’ll rely on to make our working relationship positive and effective.
Step Three:
First session
Our first one or two sessions will include an assessment and history and we’ll spend some time defining your goals. You may not know what these are yet, but we’ll be able to come up with them together. Depending on the time we have left, we might even be able to start working toward one of your goals. You’ll leave the first session with something to practice, and more information about your options for session length and timing.
Depression Therapy FAQs
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Lots of people experience depression without even being aware of it. Early in my adulthood, I struggled for a long time without knowing what was happening. Depression exists on a spectrum. You might be feeling discouraged and unmotivated, even if that doesn’t mean you can’t get out of bed. There are degrees of severity - only you can tell if it’s getting in your way. I will say I was depressed for years without knowing it because I didn’t realize how “better” would look or feel. More consternating to my current self, I thought a therapist wouldn’t want to see me because my depression wasn’t “bad enough.” If it’s getting in your way, there are things we can do about it. I love working with people all over the depression spectrum.
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You can read more about the specifics here, and I recommend listening to the Feeling Good podcast. A handful of episodes contain live sessions conducted by expert therapists. You’ll get a sense of whether this style might be a good fit for you.
Our thoughts create our negative feelings. While they have excellent reasons to exist, thoughts that lead to depression are distorted. Some of the thoughts I see all the time are along the lines of “I’m not good enough,” “So-and-so is going to reject me,” and “I’m weak and lazy.”
If you were skeptical about how easy it might be to change those, you’d be right. It’s not just a matter of reading enough inspirational posters and “faking it ’til you make it.” We have over a hundred powerful tools and a process to get us results.
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My clients work hard. To join my practice, you will need to be willing to do at least 10 minutes of homework every day. Assignments might include listening to a podcast, reading a book, or doing written exercises. We’ll tailor the homework to what we’re working on together in session. It will be essential to continue working on your own no matter what we’re doing.
All my clients also fill out a mood survey before and after each session. They also give me scores after each session to let me know how it went. The mood survey can tell us if we’re making a difference in your mood, and the session scores let us know if you’re feeling supported. If I’ve said something that landed the wrong way, the survey will bring that to light, and we’ll be able to get back on track.
This type of therapy is different from what you see on TV. It will be different from your past experiences in therapy, and it’s demanding. It also delivers results.
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You will be the best judge of whether treatment is working. You’ll also have some evidence to back up your gut feeling. We’ll track the mood surveys you take before and after each session. The results over time will show whether our work is making a difference for you.
The surveys will also show if your depression connects to other factors. Depression often links to anxiety, anger, and even your relationships.
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Loving your job doesn’t guarantee you’ll be great at it, but it sure helps. I LOVE my job, and I work my ass off to be good at it. I love working with depression because it’s rewarding to be with people during their dramatic transformations. One of my most significant sources of joy is watching people meet goals they didn’t even know were possible.
Hi, my name is Cheryl Delaney, and I’m a skilled depression therapist in Atlanta, Georgia.
You may be feeling stuck, disconnected, and even hopeless. I know how intense and isolating that can be, and I’m here to help. TV tells us that therapy is identical to talking to a friend. Doctors say the only way to make a difference in your symptoms is to take medication. I love to see medication stigma declining! Still: expert depression therapy works as well or better than medication.
If you’re looking for a therapist in Atlanta for depression, let’s talk. If you’re ready to learn powerful tools to start feeling better, let’s talk. Schedule a complimentary consultation with me today.
Learn More
In addition to owning and operating Bit by Bit Counseling, I’m a contractor for the Feeling Good Institute. I get training and support and connection to amazing colleagues who are the most genuine, lovely people you will ever meet.
If you’re looking for other styles or more information about TEAM-CBT, check out Thai-An Truong or Daniel Mintie. For background on TEAM and how it works, including case examples and recordings of live sessions, listen to the Feeling Good podcast or read the blog on David Burns’ website.
Let’s Talk.
Click below to schedule a free, 15-minute consultation.