Can Talking with a Therapist Make Someone with Depression Worse?

Reader’s Question

Can talking to a therapist make someone with depression worse?

Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

Yes. Depressive disorders contain thoughts and feelings that are very miserable if not tormenting. Any discussion of those issues can increase the emotional distress of the individual. While the feelings of depression and anxiety may intensify when they are brought to the surface, the goals in therapy and counseling are often to:

1. Identify those feelings as depression,
2. Recognize that depression can be treated,
3. Provide strategies and techniques to manage the intrusive symptoms of depression,
4. Provide a confidential setting that allows the individual full expression of their feelings and issues, and
5. Provide a plan to recover from the depression.

So yes, talking to a therapist may briefly make the individual feel worse. The medical procedures involved in treating a laceration, bad tooth, broken bone, etc. often increase the pain and discomfort at the time of the treatment. With continued treatment, however, the pain decreases and in most cases, disappears. In the first few sessions of counseling/therapy, it’s not uncommon for the client to feel hesitant as they know uncomfortable issues will be discussed. Over the course of treatment, however, their emotional pain decreases as they are able to discuss their concerns without the emotional distress of the first few sessions. Time doesn’t heal. Addressing, rethinking, and understanding our symptoms does heal.