Depression
SMART Goal #2:
By the end of services, the client will be able to identify at least 3 coping strategies to address depression and anxiety.
Objectives:
- Learn what coping strategies are
- Discuss when and how to use coping strategies
Agenda: 50 minutes with a 10-minute break
- Regroup and get settled in ~ 5 minutes
- Discuss what depression is ~ 10 minutes
- Coping skills ~ 10 minutes
- Opening up/sharing ~ 10 minutes
- Break ~10 minutes
- Affirmations ~ 9 minutes
- Closing, questions, comments ~ 6 minutes
Lesson Plan:
What is depression lecture:
Depression definition: (Major Depressive Disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.
Depression symptoms:
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
- Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Loss of energy or increased fatigue
- Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others)
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Coping Skills:
- Self-care
- Being more active
- Reaching out to individuals
- Healthy diet
- A good sleep schedule
- Following a routine
- Spiritual practices
- Meditation
-Do you feel as if you practice any or many of these coping skills?
-Do you feel as if these skills are healthier and would overall improve depression?
Opening up/sharing:
Is there anyone that would like to share if you or anyone you know have experienced depression or any of the following symptoms?
How would you react if you noticed depression in someone you care about?
How might taking action due to depression benefit you?
Activity:
Affirmations
Directions:
Affirmations: Affirmations is a group therapy activity with many variations. In one version, the therapist gives each client a sheet of paper. Clients write their name on it and then all the papers are passed around so each group member has the opportunity to write affirmations for that person on their sheet. Once their original papers are returned, they can read and explore the meaning with the group. This can lead to a therapeutic discussion about how others view them and how they feel about themselves.
Closing, questions, and comments:
Have everyone go around the room and share:
- What do you feel you can take away from this session?
- Does anyone have any remaining thoughts or comments they would like to share before the session ends?
Resources Used During Session 5
- SMART Goal handout
- Agenda for Session 5
- Pens, pencils, and notebook paper
Citations:
Group therapy activities. TheraPlatform. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.theraplatform.com/blog/492/group-therapy-activities
What is depression? Psychiatry.org – What Is Depression? (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression