Understanding Depression Worksheet

Depression is an oppressive disorder that can cause many challenges. It can be felt for different reasons and can cause people to act in ways that are not in their character. A person with depression may even have habits and tendencies that they do not realize are symptoms of depression.

Many people with depression believe that they cannot get better. This belief causes them to not be very hopeful in therapy at first. It can also cause many people with depression to be resistant to using the coping skills they learn in therapy.

People with depression may feel damaged and helpless. Without proper education about their condition, they are likely to continue to feel this way. That is why it is so important to educate clients about what depression is and how it is affecting their life.

About This Worksheet

This is the Understanding Depression worksheet. This worksheet serves as a guide for educating clients with depression. It reviews different types of depression, and the common symptoms and causes of the condition.

This worksheet also helps the client feel more hopeful as they learn that they are not alone in their struggles. Knowing that others go through similar challenges and can recover can help the client feel hopeful to recover themselves. This can boost motivation and participation in therapy.

Adolescents and adults learn about depression by using this worksheet and talking to their therapist about the condition. This worksheet is useful in both individual and group therapy. It can be used to open a group discussion, which can boost support between group members. Learning about what it means to have depression helps normalize the experience. Knowing what to expect from a depressed mood can help a client feel in control. It can also boost motivation to learn coping skills and participate in the recovery process.

Instructions

The purpose of the Understanding Depression worksheet is to be an informative and reflective exercise. It can be a useful tool when explaining to a client what depression is and how it may be affecting them. The Understanding Depression worksheet can also serve as a guide to decide what will be addressed in therapy.

Review the education sections of the worksheet with the client. Answer any questions they may have about the condition and how they may relate to the content on the worksheet. After reviewing the content, instruct the client to complete the reflection questions.

When the client has completed the reflection questions, review their responses with them. Open up a dialog about their experience with depression. You may also provide the client with a copy of the worksheet for reference.

Download Understanding Depression Worksheet