Depression can be triggered by a variety of factors. Research indicates that it often follows significant life changes or events. These events may include the loss of a family member, conflicts with close friends or partners, or major life transitions such as moving to a new place, job loss or change, the beginning or ending of a marriage or other relationships, or experiencing physical illness. It’s important to recognize that anyone can experience depression at some point in their lives.

There is a strong connection between a person’s mood and their life circumstances. Group counseling and coaching establish a practical link between an individual’s mood and significant life events that may precipitate the onset of depression.

The goal of coaching is to help individuals work through unresolved feelings related to these significant life events or changes, develop social skills, and provide them with the tools to alleviate the symptoms of depression. If an individual can effectively address the underlying life problem, depressive symptoms are often expected to improve as well. Clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of group counseling in treating depression by addressing the relationship between depression and these “trigger events.”