Depression

Goal: Reduce depressive symptoms and improve mood, functioning, and sense of agency.

Objectives:
Client will identify depressive symptoms, triggers, and patterns affecting mood and functioning.
Client will increase engagement in meaningful, pleasurable, or values-based activities.
Client will practice cognitive and behavioral strategies to reduce hopelessness, withdrawal, and negative self-talk.
Client will improve daily routines related to sleep, movement, nutrition, self-care, and social connection as clinically appropriate.

Interventions:
Therapist will provide psychoeducation on depression, mood cycles, avoidance, and behavioral activation.
Therapist will use CBT interventions to identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns.
Therapist will support behavioral activation by helping client identify manageable, values-based actions.
Therapist will assess safety/risk as clinically indicated and collaborate on safety planning when needed.

Goal: Increase emotional awareness and ability to respond to depressive symptoms before they escalate.

Objectives:
Client will identify early warning signs of depressive episodes, including changes in mood, energy, sleep, appetite, motivation, concentration, or social withdrawal.
Client will track patterns related to depressive symptoms, stressors, thoughts, behaviors, and body cues.
Client will develop a personalized coping plan for responding to early symptoms of depression.
Client will practice naming and communicating emotional needs with therapist and/or supportive others.

Interventions:
Therapist will provide psychoeducation on depressive relapse patterns, early warning signs, and symptom monitoring.
Therapist will support client in identifying personal triggers, vulnerability factors, and protective routines.
Therapist will use CBT and mindfulness-based interventions to help client increase awareness of thoughts, emotions, and body cues.
Therapist will collaborate with client to develop a practical prevention and coping plan for depressive symptoms.

Goal: Reduce self-criticism and strengthen self-compassion, self-worth, and realistic self-appraisal.

Objectives:
Client will identify patterns of self-criticism, shame, guilt, or negative self-beliefs that contribute to depressive symptoms.
Client will practice challenging harsh or distorted self-appraisals and replacing them with more balanced, compassionate perspectives.
Client will identify personal strengths, values, and examples of resilience.
Client will increase engagement in behaviors that support self-respect, care, and emotional well-being.

Interventions:
Therapist will use CBT interventions to help client identify and reframe negative core beliefs and self-critical thoughts.
Therapist will introduce self-compassion exercises to reduce shame and increase emotional flexibility.
Therapist will support client in identifying strengths, values, and evidence that contradicts depressive self-beliefs.
Therapist will use values-based and behavioral interventions to help client take actions that reinforce self-worth and agency.