Approaches to Treating Depression: A Case Study of Jane

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
Name of the student
Name of the university
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Introduction:
With a high prevalence of mental health issues, depression is considered as a
potential life-threatening disorder which affects hundreds of millions of people around the globe.
Lumley, Katsikitis and tatham (2018), suggested that the psychopathological state of the
depression include a triad of symptoms with frequent low mood, anhedonia, as well as low
energy or fatigue. The other symptoms include psychomotor disturbance and sleep disturbance
which affected the quality of life of the individuals (Solomon et al., 2015). The case study
represents a major depressive disorder of Jane who is a 50-year-old woman who is seeking help
on the advice of her GP. The case study highlighted that Jane is divorced with two children of
27 years and 30 years. For this paper, counselor and psychologist are both modalities that have
been chosen to provide safe and responsive care to the patients. This paper will illustrate a
description of the approach of two modalities, a summary of understanding two different
modalities for dealing with the situation of Jane, similarities, and differences of the approaches.
Discussion:
As discussed above Jane who is a 50 years old woman, seeking clinical assistance
because of depression. The case study highlighted that Jane is divorced with two children of 27
years and 30 years. While her father died when she was 29, her mother passed away a few
months ago and hence she lived alone. She would like to start her career as a nurse which will
assist her to come up with the mental illness she is facing. Taking a deep insight into the
situation, two different therapeutic modalities will work with Jane with two different approaches.
Two different modalities working with Jane:

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Considering the approach of a counselor, the counselor more likely to develop a
therapeutic relationship with Jane in order to empower her so that she can overcome depression
and gain a perspective of the mental state of the Jane. Westbrook, Kennerly and Kirk (2007),
suggested that a counselor is more likely to focus on the communication and feeling of the
patients and empathize them while providing care to the patients. The counselor is more likely
to involve Jane in the therapeutic session where a counselor uses non-judgmental behavior to set
goals for Jane and would assist in achieving this goal through communication.
On the other hand, psychologist more likely to follow behavioral and cognitive
theory. Nelson-Jones (2015), highlighted that psychologist more likely to incorporate a range of
cognitive and behavioral approaches in the session and focus on protective and risk factors that
more likely to influence the situation of the clients. In this current context, the psychologist is
more likely to help Jane in managing thought process and behaviors, teaching Jane in
supportive skills, time management and self-management skills for avoiding relapse when faced
with the old stressors such as the death of the father, mother, and divorce of husband and away
from children (Wills, 2008). In this case, psychologist more likely to observe the patients for a
specific period for monitoring the behaviors, cognitions, and beliefs of the clients (LeBeau et al.,
2013). After monitoring psychologist will more likely to involve Jane in sessions to eliminate her
negative thoughts and beliefs to support the faster recovery of the patients.
Understanding of situation of Jane from the perspective of two different modalities:
Despite the presence of similarities between two approaches, two different
modalities have two different perspectives on understanding the situation of Jane.