Getting help for SAD from psychotherapy and counselling 

Many SAD sufferers benefit from psychotherapy, counselling and other talking therapies alongside light therapy and other treatments to achieve a total recovery.

Even if you achieve a great improvement in your SAD symptoms with light therapy you may be left with problems which occurred as a result of several winters of feeling lethargic and depressed – relationship breakdowns and career issues, for example are very common in SAD sufferers. You might seek help from a therapist for support as you rebuild your life once you have managed to get your symptoms under control.

Fully tackling Seasonal Affective Disorder does not leave you with the perfect life or immune to the difficulties faced by the general population. There may be other issues in your life which still leave you feeling miserable and further help with psychotherapy or counselling may help you to get the full benefit from your SAD treatment.

Psychotherapy or counselling allows you to talk openly and without fear to a patient and sympathetic professional trained to help you analyse emotions, behaviour and situations and get you back on the right path towards finding a workable solution. While friends may be able to help you a little they are not trained in helping you to see the cause of your problems or in simplifying them so that you can see a way out. Therapists help you become aware of patterns which may be holding you back and this may involve examination of your past, your character and your life.

There are different types of professional who you might see or be referred to by your doctor.

Counsellors are trained to listen and give advice to help you deal with problems you're currently experiencing.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors trained in psychiatric illness.

Clinical Psychologists are trained in psychology to degree level and have a number of years clinical experience. They may offer counselling or psychotherapy. Psychotherapy helps you understand your feelings, behaviour and thoughts with an aim of finding out the underlying obstacles which are holding you back.

While counsellors focus mainly on practical problems and solutions and will ask you to talk about the current issues in your life, psychiatrists and psychotherapists encourage you to talk more about your feelings. That does not always come easily and the therapist is trained in finding ways to help you communicate how you feel.

Try and avoid waiting until you are at your lowest before seeking out a therapist. Desperation can make you choose the first name you see advertised and this is unlikely to give you the best fit. Instead spend some time finding someone who is a good fit and someone who has an understanding of seasonal affective disorder in particular.

If possible choose someone who has been recommended to you. You may find that you can get names to check out from your support group, the health professionals you already see or even friends who you know have been in therapy.