Village Counseling Center, Family & Marriage Counseling in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria.
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Depression Self-Test

Note: Do not use the information on these pages as a substitute for evaluation and treatment by a professional health care provider.

This quick, simple self-test can help distinguish between clinical depression and the normal fluctuations of mood experienced from time to time by most people. Sadness is a normal part of life, but sometimes when sadness persists, it becomes what mental health authorities call the nation's leading psychological problem: clinical depression. If you answer yes to more than two of the following questions, you may be experiencing clinical depression, indicating it is time to pursue the help of a trained counselor and possiby a psychiatrist as well.

1) Much of the time do you feel...

  • Sad?
  • Lethargic?
  • Pessimistic?
  • Hopeless?
  • Worthless?
  • Helpless?

2) Much of the time do you...

  • Have difficulty making decisions?
  • Have trouble concentrating?
  • Experience memory problems?

3) Lately have you...

  • Lost interest in things that used to give you pleasure?
  • Had problems at work or in school?
  • Had problems with your family or friends?
  • Isolated yourself from others? Or wanted to?

4) Lately have you...

  • Felt like you have low energy?
  • Felt restless and irritable?
  • Had trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting up in the morning?
  • Lost your appetite or gained weight?
  • Been bothered by persistent headaches, stomach aches, back aches, muscle or joint pains?

5) Lately have you...

  • Been drinking more alcohol than you used to?
  • Been taking more mood-altering drugs than you used to?
  • Engaged in risky behavior? (e.g., not wearing a seat belt, crossing streets without looking, driving faster than normal)

6) Lately have you been thinking a lot about...

  • Death?
  • Hurting yourself?
  • Your funeral?
  • Killing yourself?

For Emergencies: Hotline of SLO County........ Dial 211 or (805) 548-8989 (24 hours) or 1-800-549-8989

Source:Adapted from materials created by the National Institute of Mental Health's Depression Awareness, Recognition, and Treatment (D/ART) Program, Rockville, MD

Our director, Clay Watkins, M.A. LMFT, a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. Our director, Clay Watkins, LMFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He provides individual, couples and family counseling. He specializes in anxiety-related difficulties including panic attacks, post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and phobias. He has advanced training and a decade of experience utilizing EMDR to treat trauma, and his unique brand of counseling integrates a solution-focused perspective that often speeds up the therapy process compared to more traditional forms of counseling. (BBS License #: MFC 37239)
Clay's Curriculum Vitae

In addition to seeing clients himself, Clay coordinates referrals to a network of experienced and qualified counselors with a variety of specialties to meet your specific needs. Contact him today and start creating a better life for you and your family.

Philosophy

At Village Counseling Center we believe most people have the resources to solve their problems. At times, however, a trauma or broken relationships or even the normal pressures of life can cause us to lose sight of our strengths; obscuring our natural ability to problem solve. Counseling provides a safe place where clients can regain their perspective, find acceptance, and challenge themselves to grow. And though true growth does require significant effort and courage, we at Village Counseling Center believe happiness is worth the price. Call us and begin building a better life, one risk at a time.

Learn more about Solution-Focused Therapy

Learn more about EMDR and the treatment of trauma, fear and anxiety