Seasonal Affective Disorder Counseling in Broken Arrow for Tulsa Area Residents

By Alina Morrow, LPC-S, CAMS II, GC, CCTP

Disclaimer: The article below is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as direct advice, a personal diagnosis, or as an individual treatment plan. Always consult with a mental health professional or medical doctor if you have concerns.

Introduction and Overview

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a depressive disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of depression (that occurs during fall and winter months when the sunlight is limited) that alternate with periods of normal or high moods in the rest of the year. SAD is more common among women than men (but the symptoms' severity is the same for both genders), and it also can affect children and adolescents.

The first SAD symptoms usually occur at the beginning of October or November, and subside in March or April. There are few cases when the symptoms can occur earlier, at the end of the summer, possibly as a result of high heat and humidity.

Signs and Symptoms of SAD include:

Oversleeping, sadness, irritability, daytime fatigue, inability to concentrate, carbohydrate craving, weight gain, decreased sexual interest, lethargy, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, lack of interest in normal activities, and social withdrawal.

The disorder can begin at any age, but the average onset age is between 18 and 30 years.

Seasonal affective disorder has been linked with a brain chemical imbalance possibly caused by lack of sunlight and shorter daylight hours in winter. A decreased amount of light might affect the biological internal clock or circadian rhythm, like it happens in the animal world where sunlight affects the seasonal activities in animals. SAD was also linked with a sleep-hormone, called melatonin, which is produced in higher amounts during night hours.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Treatment

There are several treatment options for SAD have been proven to worked in more than 85-percent of patients.

I. Exposure to sunlight: An increased exposure to sunlight can improve the symptoms. This can be done during long walks outside or in a home setting where the person is exposed to sunlight through the window. This type of treatment can be effective in mild cases of depression.

II. Light therapy (phototherapy): This type of therapy is used in patients with severe forms of depression. It uses a bright white fluorescent light which is produced by a special lamp placed inside of a special box with a diffusing lens which filters the ultraviolet radiation. There are two main types of light bulbs used during therapy: (1) low color temperature (around 3000 degrees Kelvin) that produces a softer white light with less visual glare, and (2) higher color temperature (around 6500 degrees Kelvin) that produces a colder skylight hue.

The light-therapy session last between 30 and 90 minutes, and are more effective if scheduled during the morning hours. The treatment can vary between patients, and is influenced by three factors: (1) light intensity, (2) exposure duration, and (3) the time of day. The treatment starts working fast with patients showing improvement within two to four days of therapy, but they relapse within three days of withdrawal.

Light therapy side effects are not common. However, short-term side effects such as: irritability, eyestrain, headaches, or nausea, can occur.

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Related Information:

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Do you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder? Tired of how it is affecting your life? Contact Tulsa Therapist Alina Morrow, LPC-S, today to make an appointment and get the help and relief you deserve. You can reach me by texting or calling 918-403-8873 or by Email.

Page Last Updated: July 24, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much does it cost per session?
A. My price is $150 for a 50-minute session.

Q. Who can come to counseling?
A. Anyone who wants guidance to improve their quality of life.

Q. What are the office hours?
A. Monday thru Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Q. How soon can you see us/me?
A. I can usually schedule you the week that you call.

Q. What do I need to do to make an appointment?
A. You can call, text or email me with the day and time you prefer, and we can go from there. PLEASE NOTE: A debit or credit card is required to reserve an appointment. The card has to be provided at the time you schedule your first appointment.

Q. What office policies do I need to be aware of prior to making an appointment?
A. All the clients that schedule appointments with me will be informed about the Making/Cancelling or Rescheduling Appointments Policy. This policy is included in the first appointment forms and is discussed with every client at the beginning of our work together. This policy states that each client will receive a text reminder 2 days (48 hours) prior to their scheduled appointment. The client is required to respond back by confirming, cancelling or rescheduling the appointment the lastet by 8pm the day I send the reminder. If the client fails to respond back, it will be assumed they cancelled the appointment without further notice and they become financially responsible for the booked appointment. Please know that at 8pm the appointment becomes available to other clients, and it is no longer yours.

Q. What is the role of the Making/Cancelling and Rescheduling Appointments Policy?
A. This policy helps me provide equal access to services to all clients (existent or new clients). Each time a client makes an appointment the allocated time is dedicated just to them; therefore, no one else has access to that appointment. This allows me to keep my schedule organized and coordinate the care of each client I have, as well as allocating the rest of the scheduling hours to others that are in need of services. When a client does not respond to my reminder, they directly affect several people. My schedule is affected, and other clients are prevented from having access to appointments. Please understand that mental health services also involve emergency or highly critical situations where clients need to receive services as soon as possible. If you (the client) do not respond to let me know the status of your appointment, I am not able to coordinate the care for other clients and attend to their needs. Clients that need services but cannot be scheduled are put on a waiting list. This is the reason I ask a confirmation by 8pm the day I send the reminder. After 8pm, the clients on the waiting list are contacted and the available appointments are offered to them. Usually the time span between the moment I send the appointment reminder and the latest time I accept confirmations or cancellation is usually 10 to 12 hours. I send the reminders in the first part of the morning (between 8 and 10 am). By not responding to my reminder in that time frame, you (the client) keep an appointment blocked and others will not have access to services. Therefore, you (the client) become financially responsible for making an appointment and not taking responsibility for it or disregarding the needs of others. Please understand that I cannot discriminate against clients. Since this is a policy all the clients abide by when they start counseling with me, I cannot differentiate between clients and make exceptions.