Depression Treatment Gold Coast
Michelle van Namen, Registered Psychologist for 30 years
If you’re feeling persistently low, unmotivated, or disconnected from life, you’re not alone. At Integrated Health Specialists on the Gold Coast, we provide holistic, evidence-based depression treatment that supports your whole self – mind and body. Our goal is to help you understand what’s driving your symptoms and equip you with practical strategies to regain balance, resilience, and hope.
Gold Coast Depression Treatment Tailored to You
Depression is more than just feeling sad. It can affect your mood, sleep, appetite, energy, motivation, relationships, and your capacity to function at work or home. Our Gold Coast Psychologist, Michelle van Namen, offers personalised treatment plans that draw on proven psychological therapies, lifestyle strategies, and a holistic understanding of mental health.
Depression can be triggered by life events, stress, trauma, biological factors, cognitive processing patterns, or may arise without a clear cause. Whatever the origin, it is treatable—and recovery is possible!
Common Signs and Symptoms of Depression
People experience depression in different ways, but common symptoms may include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that used to feel enjoyable
- Low energy, fatigue, or a sense of heaviness in the body
- Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping too much or too little)
- Appetite or weight changes
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Increased irritability, frustration, or feeling emotionally numb
- Withdrawing from friends, family, or social activities
- Feelings of guilt, shame, worthlessness, or being a burden
- Thoughts that life is not worth living (please seek immediate support if this applies!)
If these symptoms have been present for most days over two weeks or more, and they are affecting your ability to cope, it may be time to seek professional help.
Emergency and Crisis Support
If you are in crisis, or worried about your immediate safety, please seek help straight away. You can contact:
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Your GP, local hospital, or emergency services (000) in an emergency!
Understanding the Cycle of Depression
Depression often develops and persists through a self-reinforcing cycle. Low mood reduces your motivation and energy, which can lead to withdrawing from work, hobbies, or relationships. This withdrawal means fewer positive or rewarding experiences, which then deepens feelings of emptiness, disconnection, and hopelessness. Over time, this can become a stuck pattern that feels very hard to shift on your own. Our work together focuses on gently interrupting this cycle. We look at your thought patterns, behaviours, lifestyle, and underlying contributing factors – helping you to rebuild momentum, purpose, and a sense of control over your life again.
Evidence-Based Depression Treatment on the Gold Coast
At Integrated Health Specialists, we combine established psychological therapies with holistic health principles to create a comprehensive depression treatment plan. Therapy is always tailored to your needs, preferences, and the severity of your symptoms.
Therapies We May Use in Your Treatment Plan
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – to identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours that maintain depression.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – to help you clarify what matters most and take values-based action, even when your mood is low.
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) – to reduce rumination and increase emotional regulation.
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) – to improve communication, relationships, and social support.
- Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) – to help release emotional distress and restore a sense of balance.
- Clinical Hypnotherapy – to work with the subconscious mind and support deeper change.
- Nutritional Psychology – to explore how diet and lifestyle choices can impact mood and mental health.
Where appropriate, we also collaborate with your GP or psychiatrist when medication is part of your treatment plan, ensuring care is coordinated and aligned with your goals.
What You Can Expect from Depression Therapy
- Increased resilience – building skills to navigate future challenges without slipping back into old patterns.
- Improved mood and emotional balance – learning practical tools to manage low mood, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm.
- Greater self-awareness – understanding the underlying causes, triggers, and patterns keeping you stuck.
- Healthier coping strategies – replacing avoidance, withdrawal, or self-criticism with supportive, constructive behaviours.
- Better sleep, energy, and lifestyle habits – addressing the role of stress, sleep, nutrition, and movement in your mental health.
- Enhanced confidence and self-esteem – developing a kinder, more compassionate relationship with yourself.
- Stronger relationships – improving communication, boundaries, and connection with the people in your life.
A Holistic Approach to Treating Depression
Our holistic approach recognises that your mental health is influenced by many interconnected factors – including past trauma, chronic stress, physical health, hormones, sleep, nutrition, thought patterns, and coping styles. Rather than only focusing on symptoms, we work with you to identify and address the underlying drivers of depression, aiming to restore balance across body and mind.
Our holistic depression treatment model may include:
- Exploring how past experiences and beliefs may be shaping your current mood and choices
- Identifying lifestyle habits that may be increasing stress, fatigue, or inflammation
- Supporting you to cultivate healthy daily routines that promote emotional wellbeing
- Integrating mind-body strategies such as breathwork, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques
- Encouraging collaboration with other health professionals when needed (e.g., GP, psychiatrist, naturopath)
The Black Dog Institute emphasises the importance of adopting a holistic approach in the treatment of depression. A holistic approach to mental health has the potential to greatly improve your quality of life, and possibly reduce your reliance on medications longer-term.
Treatment Options for Mild, Moderate and Severe Depression
Depression exists on a spectrum from mild to severe, and the most effective treatment depends on the intensity of your symptoms and how much they are impacting your daily life. For some people, brief therapy and lifestyle changes are enough to create lasting improvement. For others, a more structured, multi-modal approach is needed.
Australian guidelines from organisations such as the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) emphasise the importance of matching treatments to the severity of symptoms, and often recommend a combination of psychological therapies, social support, and sometimes medication.
Australian If you’re unsure how severe your symptoms are, you may find it helpful to complete our brief depression self-screening assessment as a starting point. This does not replace a professional diagnosis, but it can give you an indication of whether you might benefit from further support.
Self-Help Tips & Coping Strategies for Depression
While professional support is highly recommended for ongoing or severe depression, there are also small, manageable steps you can start taking now to support your mental health:
- Keep a gentle daily routine that includes getting out of bed, showering, and getting dressed.
- Spend a few minutes outside each day to get natural light and fresh air.
- Reach out to someone you trust, even if it’s just a brief message or phone call.
- Eat regular, nourishing meals and drink enough water, even when appetite is low.
- Limit alcohol and recreational drugs, which can worsen mood over time.
- Schedule one small, enjoyable or meaningful activity into each day, even if your motivation is low.
- Practice simple mindfulness or breathing exercises to help calm your nervous system.
- Be kind to yourself – depression is not a personal failure, and you are not alone in this.
These strategies are not a replacement for therapy, but they can support you between sessions and help create the foundations for recovery.
Fees, Rebates and Bookings
If you’re ready to explore holistic, evidence-based depression treatment on the Gold Coast, we’re here to support you. You don’t have to manage this on your own. Reaching out is a powerful first step toward feeling more like yourself again.
We offer 60-minute psychology sessions in our Mudgeeraba practice, as well as telehealth appointments for clients across the Gold Coast and beyond. To make an enquiry or book an appointment, please LET’S CONNECT or call (07) 5569 0115.
For up-to-date information about fees, Medicare or private health rebates, please refer to our FAQ’s page. We can talk you through the options and help you work out what best suits your circumstances.
Medical disclaimer: This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for individual medical or psychological advice. Please speak with your GP or health professional before making any changes to your current treatment or medication.
Frequently Asked Questions about Depression Treatment
Yes. There is strong research showing that evidence-based psychological therapies and, where appropriate, medication can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and improve quality of life. Many people find that once they have the right tools and support, they are able to create meaningful and lasting change.
This varies from person to person. Some people notice improvement within a few sessions, particularly when symptoms are mild. Others with more complex or long-standing difficulties benefit from longer-term support. We will regularly review your progress together and tailor the pace and length of treatment to your needs.
Not everyone with depression requires medication. For mild to moderate depression, psychological therapy alone is often highly effective. For some people, especially when symptoms are more severe or have not responded to therapy alone, a combination of medication and therapy can be helpful. We can work alongside your GP or psychiatrist if medication is part of your treatment plan.
If low mood, loss of interest, lack of motivation, or negative thoughts are affecting your daily life, work, studies, or relationships – or if you’ve been feeling this way for more than a couple of weeks – it’s a good time to reach out. You do not have to wait until things feel “bad enough” to deserve support.
Your first session is an opportunity to talk about what has been happening, how depression is affecting you, and what you’d like to change. Michelle will ask about your history, current symptoms, and goals, and will work with you to develop a personalised treatment plan. It is also a chance for you to get a sense of whether you feel comfortable and supported in working together.
Yes. Medicare rebates may be available for eligible clients under a Mental Health Care Plan from a GP. Many private health insurers also offer rebates for psychological services, depending on your level of extras cover. You can only claim one type of rebate per session (Medicare or private health).
Click here to see more FAQ’s for our psychology services
Published September 2025. Last updated February 2026.
Michelle van Namen is a registered Psychologist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Life Coach and Integrative Health Practitioner with over 30 years of experience working with human behaviour and improving mental health. Michelle has been trained in a broad range of evidence-based therapies. She has worked in a variety of roles within private practice, corporate organisations, education, research, and community crisis support. Established in 2006, Integrated Health Specialists is her psychology practice located on the Gold Coast, providing individual and couples therapy for adults. Michelle focuses on providing a warm, authentic and non-judgemental therapeutic space to support clients and facilitate healing and personal growth. Read more about Michelle.
BA (Hons) in Psychology: University of Wollongong, 1995
Registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board (AHPRA) PSY0001395059
Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPI) 15525
Qualifications verified by Psychology Today
Medicare and Health Insurance Provider.