Low Mood and Depression

X WHATARE LOWMOODANDDEPRESSION CONCERNS? In this chapter, we present interventions that may be useful when working with clients who are experiencing lower mood. Although many associate low mood solely with emotions related to sadness, it is essential to note that low mood (and depression) can present in different ways, many of which can infl uence general motivation and energy levels (American Psychiatric Association, ). For the purposes of this chapter, we associate low mood not only with sadness, but also with numbness or the absence of emotion, known as anhedonia. Depression can be experienced by clients in any age group; it is not limited to adults, though there is some evidence that the symptoms are more prevalent in early adulthood (Goldberg, Breckenridge, & Sheikh, ). With this in mind, note that even without a diagnosis of a mood disorder, clients at all ages may benefi t from the interventions found in this chapter. Below are some examples of what you may hear clients say when presenting with low mood or depression concerns.