Depression Prevention Class

We often talk about learning to reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke; now you can learn about how to reduce the risk of Major Depression, as well.

Do you have a history of feeling “down?” Do you want to reduce the risk of having depression again? This 9-week class helps reduce the risk of depressive episodes with strategies that are helpful for people at risk for depression or who have had mild to moderate depression. Lectures, interactive components and homework assignments are part of each class. Participants should bring a folder.

FAQs:

Q: Who is good candidate for this class?
A: People who have increased risk of depression due to family history, noted pessimistic or “down” outlook, or who have had mild to moderate Depression.
People who take antidepressant medication and have seen some improvement in your mood, but not as much as you would like.
People who are motivated to learn coping skills, but have not been able to attend psychotherapy.
You should be willing to attend all of the classes, as well as do some homework between classes. There are some participatory elements to the classes, although you are permitted to self-monitor how much personal information they disclose.

Q: Who is not a good candidate for this type of class?
A: People who are currently more severely depressed (unable or unwilling to participate or do homework; moderate to severe and/or frequent suicidal ideation)
People with Severe Anxiety (difficulty functioning on a daily basis), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, PTSD, active Eating Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, or Personality Disorders, active Substance Dependence Disorders, or who are currently not able to function in a job or school environment.
If you fall into one of these latter categories, you may benefit from individual and/or group psychotherapy or other services, but have problems which go beyond the scope of this class.

Q: Will Insurance pay for this class?
A: No; this is not a health care service which is codable/billable for health insurance.

Q: Is information in this class confidential?
A: I will keep information confidential to the extent I would any of my clients; that is I will not provide any identifying information to anyone outside of the class, barring life threatening emergency, to manage payment & registration, if required to do so by law, or with your explicit, written permission. I expect all participants to keep all information about others likewise private and contained inside the classroom.

Q: Is this group psychotherapy?
A: No. Group therapy utilizes certain techniques and skills by the therapist and much more intensive sharing of health care and personal information by the patients. This is a class, and is dominantly teaching skills. Sharing of information is used in the interest of practicing skills and reviewing homework. Group therapy has a diagnostic and screening process; for this class you are self-selecting your participation. As such, I am not your health care provider, and your participation does not imply a provider/patient relationship.

Q: Can I pay by the class?
A: This series is not designed to be a drop-in set of classes. Each session builds on the one before it.