iCounselor: Depression

iCounselor: Your portable self help tool.

Learn skills to reduce your depression!

All material was written by a licensed psychotherapist (LCSW) with twenty-five years of counseling experience.

Revisions on this version include improved scrolling for the list of thinking errors that contribute to depression, and a new icon.

You first rate the intensity of your depressive symptoms on a color coded scale from 0 (happy) to 10 (extremely depressed).

You move on to the first set of skills, where you will select one of ten ways to change your thoughts. If you are not sure which skill to select, shake the iPhone or iPod and one will be randomly chosen. Changing your thoughts to change your feelings is the basis of cognitive behavioral psychotherapy, the most widely practiced and evidence based form of psychotherapy.

After utilizing one of the thought changers, you proceed to selecting one method for making lifestyle changes that will reduce depression (or again, you may shake the device for a random selection).

After following the instructions for the lifestyle changes, you then move on to the third set of skills, where you will select one of ten different relaxation strategies for managing stress, or shake the device for a random selection.

After implementing those skills, you rate the level of depression again to determine if the skills you chose were effective for you. If the level of the depression has not reduced sufficiently, you will be given the opportunity to try again, selecting a different skill set.

The content presented is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, and it should not be used to treat a psychiatric or medical condition. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or others, get immediate intervention from a professional. Please consult your healthcare provider or a counselor if you have any questions or concerns.