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Counselling Connections Across Australia

imbalance within and, on the other end of the spectrum, The great gift of God is anti-depressant medication which can
exogenous depression originates from situational conflicts be most efficacious in correcting neurochemical imbalances.
from without; however, both result in identical neurochemical
imbalances. Psychological (soul) problems

In order, then, to understand the root causes of depression Just as people may carry physical scars, in like manner they
requires that we understand that, just as man consists of body may also carry emotional scars deep within their souls as a
soul and spirit, so the root causes of depression are to be found consequence of abusive and traumatic experiences. Many
in physiological, psychological and spiritual components. writers have recognised this in their books dealing with the
common but complex problem of depression.
Physiological problems
In considering the matter of psychological problems we need
Endogenous (or biological) depression is often more severe to understand that there are four profoundly painful pathways
than the other types of depression and less responsive to social which cause emotional wounds and which lead, from a
support, psychotherapy or spiritual treatments. One of its psychological perspective, to depression: Physical Abuse:
distinguishing features is that it appears apart from any specific e.g., unnatural punishments; Sexual Abuse: e.g., childhood
stressor. molestation; Emotional/Verbal Abuse: e.g., verbal put downs;
and Spiritual Abuse: e.g., guilt driven rather than grace directed
The National Institute of Mental Health, in one of its latest comments.
reports, emphasises that, at a fundamental level, all
behavioural responses to our world are dependent on electrical These all combine to bring about long-term effects and
and neurochemical transmission in the brain. It goes on to produce problem thinking patterns which are difficult to
state that there are two important substances, viz. Serotonin overcome and lead to depression. These people are wounded
and Noradrenaline and which, if they malfunction, become the soldiers who need help rather than being shot down in verbal
culprit substances behind depression. (Hart, 1987) flames.

Dr Archibald Hart (1987) explains at least six problems that Spiritual problems
may occur within the delicate function of the neurotransmitter,
the synaptic gap and the neuroreceptor, thus facilitating Sometimes emotional difficulties and the resultant depression
depression; viz. insufficient production, insufficient release, find their source in spiritual problems. This needs to be
insufficient reception, degradation during transmission, considered in a twofold manner:
insufficient return and excessive removal of neurotransmitters.
First, we might consider the possibility of spiritual rebellion.
Jonah ran away from God which precipitated his suicidal
depression. King Saul clearly disobeyed God which precipitated
his psychotic depression. King David committed adultery and
murder and, thus, became profoundly depressed. However, this
type of Spiritual Depression is nowhere near as common as
some Churches would suggest.
Sydney
Second, we might contemplate the possibility of spiritual
Professional Development Units exhaustion. Often it is not spiritual rebellion but the inability
to apply spiritual resources to one’s situation which causes
for Counsellors and other Health Professionals the person to deeply sink into further depression. Thus,
Our Counselling units leverage the resources of Excelsia College Elijah ran, not from God, but from Jezebel because of fear.
and are delivered by instructors that are eager to share their Moses complained, not because of rebellion, but because of
real-world professional practices. Our tuition is designed to give exhaustion about his responsibilities. Indeed, sometimes the
students skills that will instantly translate into positive results in very solution to the problem (the unconditional love of God) is
the real world. part of the problem as any who have counselled survivors of
sexual abuse will have seen.
• Counselling and Christianity
• Introduction to Family Systems and Couples
• Introduction to Counselling Children and Young People
• Introduction to Working with Addictions 5. ThE ESTABLIShMENT OF A MANAGEMENT PLAN
• Introduction to Working Cross-culturally FOR DEPRESSION
• Trauma, Grief and Loss
• Special Topics in Counselling Most of us would be familiar with the story of three blind men
Find out more at trying to describe an elephant. The first man felt the elephant’s
tinyurl.com/y5ydpxuu trunk and described an elephant as a large hose. The second
man felt the elephant’s belly and described the elephant as
a massive barrel. The third man felt the elephant’s tail and
described the elephant as a thick rope. Each had a part of the
picture but none had the complete picture.

Like the three blind men, Counsellors may fail in offering a
CRICOS Code: 02664K
ABN 50 360 319 774 remedy that is effective because they consider only one or,
possibly, two of the factors to the exclusion of the whole picture.

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Edition 12 November 2020