Call on (02) 4926 4198
Depression Therapy
How Depression Can Show Up
Depression is more than a bad week or ordinary sadness. It shows up as a persistent low mood, a loss of interest in things that used to matter, and a heaviness that can make everyday tasks feel like hard work. For many people it builds slowly, so it can be difficult to say exactly when it started.
People come to us for support with a range of depression-related concerns, including:
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- Low mood: sadness, flatness or emptiness that sticks around most of the day, most days
- Loss of interest: no longer enjoying or looking forward to things you used to value
- Low energy: tiredness, trouble getting going, and small tasks feeling harder than they should
- Sleep and appetite changes: sleeping much more or less than usual, or a noticeable shift in appetite
- Difficult thoughts: harsh self-criticism, guilt, or a sense of hopelessness about the future
You do not need to have a diagnosis to reach out. If low mood is getting in the way of how you want to live, that is reason enough to talk to a psychologist.
If You Need Urgent Help
Therapy is planned support, not an emergency service. If you are in crisis, having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or worried about your immediate safety, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24-hour support, or call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department if you or someone else is in danger. Depression therapy is a valuable next step once you are safe, and it is not a substitute for emergency or crisis care.
Approaches We Draw On for Depression
Our clinical psychologists use approaches with strong research support for depression, matched to what you are working on rather than delivered off the shelf. In your first sessions your psychologist will talk through which approach fits your situation and why.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
a structured approach that helps you notice and shift the thinking and behaviour patterns that keep anxiety going
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
building a different relationship with anxious thoughts and feelings so they hold you back less, while you move towards what matters to you
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
an approach used where anxiety is linked to trauma or distressing past experiences
Therapy is collaborative. Your psychologist will explain the reasoning behind each step, and you decide together how to pace the work so it feels manageable.
What Therapy Involves
The first session is mostly about getting to know each other. Your psychologist will ask about what has brought you in, some background, and what you would like to be different. There is no pressure to cover everything at once.
From there, you and your psychologist agree on a plan and a rough rhythm of sessions, then review how it is tracking as you go. How many sessions you have is decided together rather than set in advance, and depends on what you are working on. Sessions usually run for around 50 minutes.
Support for Adolescents and Adults
We provide depression therapy for adults and for adolescents from age 10, drawing on individual therapy tailored to each person. For younger clients we keep parents and carers appropriately involved while giving the young person a space of their own, and we will let you know which of our clinical psychologists currently see this age group.
Fees and Rebates
You do not need a referral to book individual therapy with us. If you would like to claim a Medicare rebate, ask your GP about a Mental Health Treatment Plan, which sets out a number of rebated sessions each calendar year.
Rebates may also be available through private health insurance, depending on your level of cover. Please note you cannot claim a Medicare rebate and a private health rebate for the same session. Self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants may be able to use their funding for therapy, and full-fee appointments are also available.
Fees vary by appointment type and length, so contact us for the current schedule and to check what rebate might apply to you.
Visiting Our Newcastle Rooms
Our consulting rooms are at Level 5, Suite 2, 57 Hunter Street, Newcastle NSW 2300, in the Newcastle CBD, a short walk from the light rail and close to bus routes through the city, and only a few minutes from Newcastle beach. We also offer telehealth appointments, so you can attend from home, from work or from anywhere across the country.
Appointments are available during business hours, with some evening and Saturday sessions for people who cannot step away during the working day. Contact us to check current availability.
Related Support at Esteem Psychology
Depression often sits alongside other concerns, and support does not have to be limited to one-to-one sessions. You may also be interested in:
Individual Therapy
for depression, stress, burnout, grief, trauma and adjustment to change
Group Treatment Programs
that run alongside individual therapy when a group is available
Clinical Supervision
for psychologists, provisional psychologists and clinical registrars
You can see the full range on our What We Do page.
Booking Your First Session
Many people prefer to book without having to call, so you can choose a time that suits you through our online booking system at any hour. If you would rather talk first, send us a booking enquiry or call the practice on (02) 4926 4198 and we will come back to you with the next available appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can new clients book an appointment online?
Do I need a referral to see a psychologist for depression?
No. You can book directly with Esteem Psychology without a referral. If you would like to claim a Medicare rebate, you will need a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP first, which sets out a number of rebated sessions each calendar year.
What kind of therapy do you use for depression?
Our clinical psychologists draw on evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and, where low mood is linked to trauma, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). Your psychologist will match the approach to your situation and explain the reasoning as you go.
How do I know if what I am feeling is depression?
Only an assessment with a qualified psychologist or GP can tell you that, but persistent low mood, a loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, and changes to sleep, energy or appetite over a couple of weeks or more are common signs worth talking through. Your psychologist can help you make sense of what you are experiencing and what might help.
Do you offer telehealth for depression therapy?
Yes. Depression therapy can be held by secure video or telephone, which suits people who work long hours, travel for work, or live outside the Newcastle CBD. Telehealth sessions attract the same Medicare rebates as in-person sessions when you have a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan.
How many sessions will I need?
That depends on what you are working on and what you want from therapy, and it is something you and your psychologist decide together rather than something set in advance. Your psychologist will suggest a plan after the first session or two and review it with you as you go.
Do you see teenagers for depression?
Yes. Several of our clinical psychologists work with young people aged 10 and over, as well as adults. Let us know the age of the person seeking support and we will tell you which clinicians currently have availability.
In the spirit of reconciliation Esteem Psychology acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
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