Is There Any Counseling For Depression In Chiang Mai

[swain]

I have family member that is depressed with her relationship. She is in what appears to be a good relationship but she is still depressed. It looks more like its the way they communicate and that they in fact do love each other. Some basic exercises and and getting over trust issues would be something that I see could help. I used to do counseling myself way back when but I cant get involved on that level within the family unit. Any suggestions on where marriage counseling or counseling in general could be found in Chiang Mai.

Edited March 31, 2008 by swain

[p1p]

Dr Phairat Pruksachatkunakorn - Huai Kaew Polyclinic - 053 223 060 / 053 226 200 - 113 Huai Kaew Road, Chiang Mai 50200. Open evenings from about 5:30pm to about 8:00 and all day Sundays. Dr Pairat was previously professor pf psychiatry at CMU. He will both counsel and prescribe medication if that is what is indicated.

[earlofwindermere]

I've heard of two expat counselling centres in Chiang Mai that cater primarily to the missionary circles but I have heard of others using them as well...

Conerstone Counselling (http://www.cornerstonecounseling.in.th)

The Well (http://thewellcm.com/)

[Jefferson]

Beware, I believe those are fronts for some religious agenda.

[earlofwindermere]

Their websites both claim to be Christian. I don't think that they are trying to hide that fact.

However; their staff are expats and ican be easier to talk with someone from the same cultural background as you even if religious affiliation is not the same.

In any case, they do seem to offer a lot of services. I have no direct contact with these groups (only through friends) so you'll have to make your own decision on whether they are useful or not.

[Dustoff]

I have family member that is depressed with her relationship. She is in what appears to be a good relationship but she is still depressed. It looks more like its the way they communicate and that they in fact do love each other. Some basic exercises and and getting over trust issues would be something that I see could help. I used to do counseling myself way back when but I cant get involved on that level within the family unit. Any suggestions on where marriage counseling or counseling in general could be found in Chiang Mai.

As you mentioned, communication techniques are often the key to the breakdown of a relationship which leads to depression in both parties who had hopes and dreams.

I have long experience in Mediation/dispute resolution, especially in U.S. Family Courts, so feel free to PM me with answers to these questions:

Is this a farang/farang or farang/Thai relationship?

Do they actually reside in Chiang Mai?

Are there other issues such as drug/alcohol/physical abuse or mental disorders?

Do both parties show any interest in resolving their differences/issues?

From our side:

NO money - don't need it, don't want it;

NO religion or any other agenda;

YES to cooperative negotiation and functional relationships!

[Jefferson]

Alternatively, there's a small shop/clinic that has all the good stuff, a little past the Inter Inn towards Thapae Rd. (The infamous one, yes)

[Suthep_Steve]

Dr Phairat Pruksachatkunakorn - Huai Kaew Polyclinic - 053 223 060 / 053 226 200 - 113 Huai Kaew Road, Chiang Mai 50200. Open evenings from about 5:30pm to about 8:00 and all day Sundays. Dr Pairat was previously professor pf psychiatry at CMU. He will both counsel and prescribe medication if that is what is indicated.

I went to see this guy on p1ps recommendation, from a previous thread and I know that he is a family friend of p1p. However I found him to be most unhelpful in my case and I would discourage any one from going to see him.

I told him I had the required drugs for my problem but wanted some counseling but he only seemed interested, to me, in getting me to buy more drugs and getting me out of the door. This was just for a case of mild depression that was not due to a chemical imbalance but rather to a bad life experience that I was going through. I hope others have had a better experience but I fear not.

Edited August 13, 2008 by Suthep_Steve

[Sathip2008]

Professor Chamlong Disayavanish: 053 213 533

[Flatouthruthefog]

Professor Chamlong Disayavanish: 053 213 533

I have heard good things re psychiatric counselling at Suan Prung, the large mental hospital on the south side of the moat, near the end of that road.

Good English language and both in and out patient facilities for farangs as well as Thais.

In general, my 'counselling' would simply amount to: stay away from all drugs if at all possible.

[uptheos]

It's extremely difficult for a Thai to counsel a farang effectively.

True, Cornerstone has a 'Christian bias' but they are also able to understand context.

[Sathip2008]

My "couselling" would be : " Stay far far away from any of those f... Christan brainwashers !!!"

[uptheos]

My "couselling" would be : " Stay far far away from any of those f... Christan brainwashers !!!"

That was my feeling exactly, until I needed someone and found a particular counsellor very helpful - not a murmur about religion.

It's up to you, if you need someone to listen effectively and offer support they will. If you want to go the Christian route then they will do that too.

[p1p]

I went to see this guy on p1ps recommendation, from a previous thread and I know that he is a family friend of p1p. However I found him to be most unhelpful in my case and I would discourage any one from going to see him.

I am very sorry to hear that. It is unusual for him to let any patient down in this manner. However I know he has some extremely severe personal issues at present which might have contributed to his attitude.

I would advise you to be careful of Dr Chamlong. Not all the feedback I hear has been quite what it should have been.

[Suthep_Steve]

I went to see this guy on p1ps recommendation, from a previous thread and I know that he is a family friend of p1p. However I found him to be most unhelpful in my case and I would discourage any one from going to see him.

I am very sorry to hear that. It is unusual for him to let any patient down in this manner. However I know he has some extremely severe personal issues at present which might have contributed to his attitude.

I would advise you to be careful of Dr Chamlong. Not all the feedback I hear has been quite what it should have been.

Sorry to hear that. We all go through bad times hopefully he will pull through and come back strong.

[Sathip2008]

"I would advise you to be careful of Dr Chamlong. Not all the feedback I hear has been quite what it should have been."

Could you please explain

[Mapguy]

This is a really worthwhile topic to pursue. I don't mean to be flip when I say it has been raining a lot, but it has! Everyone has rainy seasons, of course. I would like to add two points right now.

First, I hope those who are anticlerical will keep that point of view to themselves. I'm not a churchy type myself, but I fear this topic going off course when it can be useful.

Second, some individual counseling is needed by individuals; some is needed in marital/"partnership" situations. In both cases, there are cross-cultural issues to deal with which really complicate the counseling. To start with: a Thai psychologist or psychiatrist counseling farang from goodness knows how many countries!! And, in the case of cross-cultural marriages/partnerships, there is a real challenge! Oy!

I would be very interested in what people have to say.

And, don't worry, the sun will return!

Edited August 13, 2008 by Mapguy

[p1p]

"I would advise you to be careful of Dr Chamlong. Not all the feedback I hear has been quite what it should have been."

Could you please explain

I'm sorry - I'm afraid I will not explain on the open forum. I would simply say that I have received some quite explicit warnings regarding him from a couple of fellow doctors. I simply advise that, if you use his services, you do so with open eyes.

[Sathip2008]

"I'm sorry - I'm afraid I will not explain on the open forum. I would simply say that I have received some quite explicit warnings regarding him from a couple of fellow doctors"

So, could you please give me the names of those "so called" fellow doctors, because it seems that the latter are a bunch of jealous and/or unprofessional people. This is simply called calomny and is highly despicable coming from "fellow" practitioners, considering that Dr. Chamlong is regarded as one of the most competent specialist in Thailand...

I'm sorry if I seem to insist or being "aggressive", but the guy "saved my life" (don't want to be too specific, but I think you can guess...) a couple of years ago, thanks to his skills, kindness and professionalism...

So, please, be more specific or avoid spreading unfounded rumors.

[p1p]

"I'm sorry - I'm afraid I will not explain on the open forum. I would simply say that I have received some quite explicit warnings regarding him from a couple of fellow doctors"

So, could you please give me the names of those "so called" fellow doctors, because it seems that the latter are a bunch of jealous and/or unprofessional people. This is simply called calomny and is highly despicable coming from "fellow" practitioners, considering that Dr. Chamlong is regarded as one of the most competent specialist in Thailand...

I'm sorry if I seem to insist or being "aggressive", but the guy "saved my life" (don't want to be too specific, but I think you can guess...) a couple of years ago, thanks to his skills, kindness and professionalism...

So, please, be more specific or avoid spreading unfounded rumors.

Again I apologise for not being specific. I have simply posted a warning, not spread any rumour, unfounded or otherwise.

I am very happy for you that he was able to help you out, and I do understand what you mean. I am sure he has helped many people.

Naming names will accomplish nothing however I will state categorically that I have never discussed him with Dr. Pairat, who is a close personal friend. One of the doctors who did discuss him with me was another close personal friend, the late Professor Bill Jones. Previously Professor of Psychology at Newcastle University in Australia before he "retired" to Chiang Mai and took up private practice. The specifics of our conversations I will keep confidential.

[Sathip2008]

Fair enough, thank you for your reply P1p

[Ta22]

if i am back in chiangmai , ask the coupe to buy me dinner and i would share my loving relation secret with them if my wife is free she would come along .

discove rthe secret to lasting relationship from Ta22

whahahahahhah please do not flood my PM with Request is only base on free dinner basis and of cos in the hope of making the world a better world and making more friends

i am serious here i am not joking about it

[chris1299]

has any one heard of a counselor /therapist named David Foster? im comeing to phukett cahlong bay soon and am seeking relationship counselig for me and my girlfriend . if anyone has heard of him or know of any other doc please contact me or leave a mesage on the board.

Thank you

Chris

[mcgriffith]

has any one heard of a counselor /therapist named David Foster? im comeing to phukett cahlong bay soon and am seeking relationship counselig for me and my girlfriend . if anyone has heard of him or know of any other doc please contact me or leave a mesage on the board.

Thank you

Chris

Chris, this is the Chiang Mai forum. No worries, but I moved the duplicate post to this you made starting a new thread on the same issue, to the Phuket forum. Best wishes, and good luck.

[mike5]

There are lot of clinic centers for decreasing the depression.I know what is the situation of depressed people.It is very dangerous.Please at that time you have to take good decision.

==========================

mike5

Addiction Therapy

[Thighlander]

Alternatively, there's a small shop/clinic that has all the good stuff, a little past the Inter Inn towards Thapae Rd. (The infamous one, yes)

That's the Panu Clinic. Mon-Fridays 6pm to 8:30. Dr. Panu is a good guy, and competent Phsyciatrist. The consultation is free, and the meds are reasonable. They also specialize in pain management. Walk out Thapae Rd., away from the moat, turn right passed the 7-11. It's 60 meters down on the left.

[Robertq]

Hi,

(I trust this is an appropriate post for this forum - it is my first post and I assume it is ok to write about my services and apolgize if it is a breach of rules.)

I am counsellor/psychotherapist visiting CM until March 2009. I have worked extensively with depression, anxiety and addictive behaviours. I utilize brief intervention approaches ( 1-8 sessions)

I speak English only in my work with clients.

I work from Ericksonian, Solution Focused, Cognitive Behavioural and Transpersonal perspectives. I vary my approach to suit my clients.

I have over 25 years experience and am an accredited mental health worker ( Australia Medicare), Clinical Hypnotherapist (AHA) and accredited social worker. I worked in community health and other areas. I have extensive academic experience in training undergraduate and graduate students in counselling interventions. I was the Co-ordinator of the Centre for Education and Training in Addiction Studies at RMIT and also have run a range of workshops focused on meditative approaches to change and stress management.

I love this work and will see clients here on a donational basis ( as long as this is not abused!)

Kind Regards,

Robert Quinlan

0857173468

[Lopburi99]

Major depression can be very serious, and if a person is having destructive thoughts immediate treatment is important. I don't think anybody would disagree with that. However, as a person with a lifelong clinical depression problem (brain chemistry stuff), in Thailand I have successfully (thus far) avoided the need of medication by exercising (walking) daily and eating all the foods proven to increase serotonin levels (and other related items) in the brain. I eat fresh grilled fish every day, my wife cooks me fresh green beans every night, I eat tons of bananas and drink lots of water. Unfortunately salmon, a great highly effective anti-depressive food is not widely available where we currently live, nor are walnuts (also very good) or I would eat them every day too. Adequate sunshine is essential also, and we certainly have plenty of that in the LOS. Although I am no expert, I am well read on the subject of depression and it's treatments, both pharmacological and natural. Somehow sunshine stimulates the optic nerve causing increased serotinin levels in the brain, so get out and walk in the sun everyday. Just Google on depression and see hundreds of informative articles, or start with WebMD.com.

In summary, I would recommend anybody experiencing depression symptoms to consider exercise and proper diet perhaps in addition to seeking professional medical consultation/treatment. Unfortunately, Thailand is not known for it's prevalence of mental healthcare doctors or facilities. Good luck.

Edited November 24, 2008 by Lopburi99

[orang37]

I have family member that is depressed with her relationship. She is in what appears to be a good relationship but she is still depressed. It looks more like its the way they communicate and that they in fact do love each other. Some basic exercises and and getting over trust issues would be something that I see could help. I used to do counseling myself way back when but I cant get involved on that level within the family unit. Any suggestions on where marriage counseling or counseling in general could be found in Chiang Mai.

Sawasdee Khrup, Khun Swain,

I think you've gotten some really great advice, already, here, but I will add a few thoughts. If these thoughts seem in any way patronizing or didactic, I apologize. The intent is to just add to the discussion. I speak from personal experience here as both a former clinically trained psychiatric social worker (MSW, UC Berkeley), and a former board-certified practitoner of group psychotherapy and psychodrama (don't do that anymore, however). I am also a person who has struggled with depression most of my life, and a person who has survived one somewhat disabling accident in Thailand, and a person who has survived cancer treatment here in Thailand. I have also worked for the American Cancer Society in the past in a research project on the clinical aspects of depression related to cancer and cancer treatment. I also spent a year at NIMH in the USA at St. Elizabeth's hospital working with a variety of patients.

"Depression," I believe, has become an "umbrella-concept" over the last fifty years that has become less and less valuable in the sense that such a wide variety of phenomena are described using the term that it is "diluted," and used too generally, and too glibly.

An aged person grieving for the death of a spouse after twenty years of life together does not, imho, have the same kind of depresion that a young athlete who's lost the use of a limb necessary for his/her sport, has. Nor does a teenager whose heart has "been broken" after the end of their first experience of love and betrayal or loss have the same type of depression as the depression of someone who has lost their job and is worried about paying the rent.

There are specific clinical types of depression which are well-recognized. Deep "endogenous" depression can be life-threatening and require shock-treatment or other extreme measures : this is rare. Ancient Ayurvedic medicine in India recognized endogenous depression, and used the surprise threat of violent death to try and shock patients out of their spiral of disintegration. If you have ever seen someone literally progressing towards dying with this intense form of depression, you will never forget it.

SAD or "seasonal affective disorder" is a well-recognized specific depressive syndrome related to the changing circadian rhythms (changing of relative length of night in winter months). In my family 3 out of 4 children (including myself) have a strong depressive response around the September-October time-frame in the US. This form of depression can be treated successfully with light-box therapy.

Then there is the clinically well-defined form of depression associated with manic-depression which can be ameliorated with lithium. If you have been around someone rapidly flipping back and forth between extreme mania and deep depression, you'll know how scary and debilitating manic-depression is.

In recent years, along with the widespread use of SSRI's that elevate the levels of serotonin in the "soup of the brain" (by suppressing its uptake by neurons), for every human problem, and at times, inappropriately, imho, to control children without facing what's happening in families to produce troubled and depressed children ... has come the idea of a form of lower-level manic-depression : this has been termed by some "cyclothymic depression," more commnly "bipolar." This term is, imho, often used indiscriminately.

And with the widespread use of the SSRI's (Prozac, Effexor, etc.) has come the idea that countless persons are suffering from "chronic low-level" depression. There is a strenuous and active debate in this area with many people believing that the SSRI's are, propelled by aggressive drug-company marketing practices, being over-prescribed.

But, beyond these more definable clinical entities, imho, the word "depression" is now used indiscrimintely to characterize even our impression of a person's affect and appearance : like : "wow, you look depressed today." It is used to describe people who are grieving for any reason often without regard to the contextual differences of one form of grief (like loss of a family member) and another (like facing cancer). I'll leave it as an "exercise" for you, gentle reader, to fill out the many other ways the term is used.

Your concern for your friend's situation is a warm-hearted and compassionate reponse, I am sure; I think important things for you t think about are things like how your friend is experiencing their "state" : do they feel they are depressed or do they have a very different idea (perhaps culturally defined) about where they are or how they are experiencing their quality of life ?

Does your friend acknowledge they may need "help," and see "western-style" counselling or psychiatric approaches as potentially beneficial ? Please think about whether your friend is "grieving" about specific losses, or is in a state of profound life-change related to age, or change of job, or change in significant relationships.

Again, I applaud the suggestions given on this topic by other posters who have pointed out possible cross-cultural issues and pointed to the value of exercise and sunlight. Dr. Andrew Weill has commented that a half-hour of exercise per day is the best anti-depressant he knows of (he is, as you may know, an alternate health practitioner with very excellent traditional credentials as a doctor and professor and researcher).

Finally, I think it's a wonderful thing that your frend has you in their life to be concerned about their mental state, and with the ability to recognize that something more may be going on here than just the "problems of living" we all face. imho the presence of one concerned and aware person (friend or family or, maybe, both) in your life can and does make a difference !

best wishes on your quest to help your friend !

regards, ~o:37;

Edited November 25, 2008 by orang37

[jackr]

Unfortunately salmon, a great highly effective anti-depressive food is not widely available where we currently live, nor are walnuts (also very good) or I would eat them every day too.

You can get em in Rimping, although quite steep