Depression in GCC

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[wisemind]

Faithwalkers Midwest 2013 has a seminar by a pastor who has struggled with depression for many years. After listening to his advice to people who also are depressed, I am quite disturbed by the ignorance he displays about the illness he suffers from.

Around the 40 minute mark in his talk he says:

     "I've never met anyone who's struggling with depression who isn't focusing too much on themselves and who wouldn't get better almost instantly if they weren't so self-focused and would just serve others." and "Don't wallow in your own self-pity."

He also says that most of the time depression is a spiritual issue. Medication is putting a bandaid on it and covering it up. He didn't say you should never take meds, but be sure to "wrestle with God about whether to take medication...and talk to your pastor."

The ignorance of his statements are scary and show a real lack of understanding of depression. Depressive illnesses are biological illnesses related to imbalance or disrupted brain chemistry. The brain is an organ of the body and can get sick just like the heart, liver, or kidneys. Suffering from depression is involuntary, like diabetes or cancer, but it is a treatable illness that can be managed. Research shows a combination of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy to be the quickest, most effective treatment. 

GC pastors would advise you to see a doctor for diabetes or a broken leg, but they seem to have no difficulty steering a depressed person away from medication or truly helpful therapy from trained professionals. My heart breaks for those who are suffering from depression and are caught in the great commission web.

[Ned_Flanders]

That the establishment of GCx rejects professional Chirstian psychology and counseling (I know this for a fact because a ministry leader I knew while I was there had a very negative attitude about psychological therapy), this attitude is most certainly not exclusive to GCx.  I've met many people in my life, Christian and non-Christian, who, like you say, would not hesitate to see a doctor about a broken leg but believe "just get over it" is the solution to depression and mental illness; that is, if they believe those things even really exist at all or are just excuses from people who don't want to take any responsibility for trouble in their own lives.
  
I agree with you that depression is a real problem of all the things you described that requires much more than "just get over it."  But I also agree with the GCx pastor, that depression is a spiritual issue.  To be sure, Satan wants to attack our bodies, our minds, and our spirits.  But, unlike GCx,  I believe in medication, though medicine on its own cannot cure the problem.  I also believe counseling, including professional counseling, relationship with the Lord and connecting to safe, healthy people are all the ingredients to overcome depression, mental illness and spiritual abuse.  

But not only do GCx and many other people out there reject what mental illness is really about and all it takes to heal it, I have to say I wonder sometimes if some people on this board don't get it, either.  I've said here before that I think something was broken in our lives to attract us to the controlling, shame-based, legalistc, cult environment that GCx too often was.  No, I'm not saying it was all your fault, if this desciribes you or anyone else.  I am saying that had we been stronger people mentally, we would likely have seen that Church for what it was, moved on and never gotten involved there, or at least left it a lot sooner than we did.  Anyway, I offered a link to a Christian counseling website that helped me tremendously after leaving GCx.  They have very helpful resources about personal growth, boundaries in relationships (including dating) weight loss issues, and much more.  I offered this on the forum but no one ever responded to me about it.  Not that they had to… and if people checked it out for themselves and responded to it, that’s great.  But I can’t help but feel sometimes that some people here who left GCx with hurt and confusion, would rather just come to this board and talk to others who are also hurt and confused.  And while that in itself is very important to do, I hope people here who needed to be counseled out of GCx spoke to a professional who knows how to help others heal from mental illness, spiritual abuse and/or depression.  

Last thing I want to say: I’m also not surprised to hear this opinion (the pastor’s opinion about depression) from someone from the Midwest.  I’m not from the Midwest but I went to school there, then moved back to my part of the country, then moved back there years later for four years before coming home again.  This is probably true of everywhere else (in fact I know it is) but I found too many people of the Midwest to have an attitude that they were morally superior and mentally and physically tougher than people of other parts of the country.  Maybe this fuels an attitude against psychological counseling.  When I lived in Ohio, my wife and I were in a car accident (hit by another driver) and when we spoke to our attorney about a cash award for pain and suffering, he told us we weren’t likely to get the kind of money we asked for because “these farmers around here have an attitude that ‘You get hurt, you work through it.’”  And many people also have the attitude that if you get hurt, somehow, at least partly, it's your own fault.  

[trthskr]

GCC has a very unsettling attitude about mental health. Depression is real, and while yes I agree that you should try lifestyle changes before prescriptions (working out, eating right, etc) sometimes they really are necessary. Source: I'm a pharmacist and have seen this in my patients, and I have had bouts of depression myself.  I have personally been able to fix my own with lifestyle changes but some cases are more serious.  This post did remind me though of when I was still at WCCC in Des Moines and there was a girl in our group who was bipolar.  I didnt know she was...because she was on medications.  The church was trying to get her to stop her meds and just depend on God instead. Are you freaking kidding me? People who have the struggle of  bipolar disease KILL themselves and others when they go off their meds.  GCC should stick to what they are good at (cults and ruining lives) and leave medical advice to those who actually finished school and are using their medical degrees *end rant*

[DevastatedTC]

I liked what Ned posted in the sense that there is a spiritual source that is often behind our depression. My personal experience is that medication often can be used to deal with only certain aspects of depression. For instance, if I'm depressed because I've been doing something wrong, taking medication to feel better probably won't take care of the root issue in my life.

That being said, a lot of people in GC's depression is due to the fact that they don't feel they are meeting the spiritual standards being set up in GC. That was true in my case. Once I got out, I started feeling like myself again. I could have normal relationships over time and wasn't worried about meeting spiritual quotas (did I read my bible enough this week, did I share enough this week, did I pray enough this week).

[Linda]

Excellent points, DevastatedTC.

Over the years, dozens, perhaps hundreds of people have had their minds messed up by this group and have suffered from depression, confusion, grief, sorrow, loneliness caused by lost friendships (caused by being shunned), etc. Wellspring was even started to offer counsel to people damaged emotionally/spiritually by Great Commission.

Obviously, any number of things can affect mental health and cause depression (including major physical things like heart disease or spiritual things like guilt caused by sin). The statements, "I've never met anyone who's struggling with depression who isn't focusing too much on themselves and who wouldn't get better almost instantly if they weren't so self-focused and would just serve others," and "Don't wallow in your own self-pity," might be true in this speaker's experience, but it is profoundly unwise to state to a group of people as a blanket statement.

I can't help but wonder whether the talk against counsel is a defense mechanism GC uses to keep people from divulging to local professionals just how controlling and sectarian this group is. Making sleep deprived (due to getting up early for the required 5am quiet time or meeting with a mentor) people who have been separated from their families and put under the "authority" of self-appointed GC elders who make life decisions for their underlings feel guilty about depression and telling them they are just too focused on themselves is one more way to control.

That said, I did hear Mark Bowen teach once that people suffering from depression should not worry about taking medication on a temporary, as needed, basis. He likened it to throwing a life preserver to a drowning person. So, apparently, GC leaders differ in their views on this topic.

[EverAStudent]

Having once worked in the pharma industry (for the pioneer of the ssri drug class) you ought to be aware that the drug companies do not know the mechanism of depression or its causes.  Read the labels.  They state depression is "assumed" to be a result in part from "possible" chemical imbalances which ssri's are "thought" to correct. 

Moreover, the pharma companies also know that ssri's are only as effective as "talk therapy," that is, discussion-based counseling.  When combined with "talk therapy" ssri's do boost the effectiveness of the overall therapy.

The point of the above?  Depression's causes are not yet scientifically known or proven, ssri's treat some symptoms, and depression can be treated effectively with "talk therapy" indicating it is as much or more a spiritual issue as it is a possible biochemical one.  Remember, you cannot talk a broken leg into being healed, but talk therapy can heal a depressed person. 

Not that I would defend GC doctrine, but objectively speaking they are not entirely wrong on this matter.

[Ned_Flanders]

I can't help but wonder whether the talk against counsel is a defense mechanism GC uses to keep people from divulging to local professionals just how controlling and sectarian this group is.

Possibly.  Honestly, I think it's more about this Church not wanting people to be influenced by anyone but them or those they approve of.  

I would also like to share this: in my last couple of years at GCx, they re-invented themselves again, and the student groups were reorganized into specialized ministries.  One of the ministries was "The Support and Recovery" ministry.  I was not a part of it but while I was in my own little ministry group, I would look over and see this Support and Recovery group talking to each other... and without even any supervision from an elder or ministry leader.  I knew of one person in that group, whom I suspect went through severe childhood abuse (including sexual abuse) frequently wiping away tears.  I have no idea if that person or any of the others ever sought professional help.  Anyway, when I told my wife about this group, she couldn't believe it.  The idea of people sitting down talking to other people who are not trained in professional counseling to know how to respond, how to listen and what to say to someone who may have just shared devastating news is, frankly, quite scary.  

[Linda]

EAS, to clarify. I think that to suggest the cause of depression is that depressed people are thinking about themselves too much is foolish. Things like brain injury, strokes, heart disease, are known causes of depression. There might be issues of abuse. Spiritual or physical. There might be issues of guilt for unconfessed sin. Or false guilt over past confessed sin. I wasn't taking a stand on medication, what I was trying to say is that depression isn't a one size fits all diagnosis and to suggest the cure is thinking about yourself less is unwise.

[EverAStudent]

Things like brain injury, strokes, heart disease, are known causes of depression.

Yes, traumatic brain damage as described above does sometimes lead to depression. 

However, except for maybe 1% of the 10's of millions of people taking ssri's for depression brain trauma has not been diagnosed as the "cause."  For the 99% of depression sufferers the pharma industry still does not know what mental mechanism "causes" depression, only that ssri's can temporarily ease some symptoms of depression in about 50% of the cases. 

[Linda]

Again, my point was that the comment about thinking about yourself less is ill advised, does not necessarily help and, in fact, could be dangerous advice.

I actually knew a young man who was intensely involved in a shepherding movement (not GC) who committed suicide.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 comes to mind. "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." If someone is "fainthearted" we are to encourage, not admonish. Before giving advice, a person would be wise to know the situation and the person. Life's problems are not one size fits all.

Also, I sometimes wonder if many in GC are not conflicted and depressed by the teaching/core values of the movement. Protestant Christians know that the Holy Spirit is our guide, not self-appointed (well intentioned, but deceived) men who claim authority and demand obedience. I would imagine that conflict causes untold grief.

[EverAStudent]

Linda, I do not mean to "argue" (disagree, perhaps, but not argue). 

Over my years I have watched the world redefine almost every "sin" into mental health disorders.  Liars are compulsive delusionals.  Anger is a symptom of bipolar disorder.  Rapists are sexually addicted.  No one is sinful anymore, just sick because their brains are broken.

As we all know, broken brains are NOT the fault of the victim of the illness.  The sick person could not stop their brain from breaking.  The ill person is not to be blamed, but healed. 

Sick people with broken brains become convinced they cannot recover without the help of drugs or surgery.  Illnesses require that after all, drugs and surgery.

When all matters of self-control (or lack of self-control) become attributed to broken brains instead of to the spiritual nature of sin then the church has no role to play in society.  In fact, the church will soon be lambasted for ignorantly and intolerantly referring to "sins" (a primitive and suerstitious concept) instead of acknowledging that abnormal behavior is always a mental health problem which the suffering victim was unable to prevent.

No, the more typical answer is sinfulness, not very often a broken brain.  Most usually a liar is a sinner, a glutton is sinner, a rapist is a sinner, a drunkard is a sinner, a murderously angry man is a sinner, a wife beater is a sinner.  Sin is the fault and responsibility of the sinner to both prevent and to overcome, with the leading and grace of Christ. 

[MarthaH]

We had a Celebrate Recovery group at our church. It was basically the blind leading the blind (no disrespect meant to the people who participated). The pastors hated the fact that a group wanted to be created to deal with past hurts and they gave no support to it whatsoever. People who were in the midst of their struggles ended up leading the group and eventually, with no support, it dissolved.

When I asked a pastor how to help the group, he responded with no empathy at all and merely said, "tell them to forget what was behind and move forward."

May I also add that I knew 3 people who were on the verge of suicide during my time there who had to be "talked down." None of them are in the church anymore. They were considered weak and the ministers who "talked them down" were considered spiritual superheroes (even though, in my opinion, their system was a major contributor to their suicidal desires). Think about how sick and twisted that is!

I'm sure that within the history of the movement there have been many people who have thought or attempted to take their own lives. Fortunately, as far as I know, none have been successful. For many, what pushed them to the edge may have been what eventually led to their escaping GC.

[Linda]

EAS, are you saying that all depression is caused by sin? Because if you are, I totally disagree.

My comment was not to defend or attack the use of medication to help with depression. My point was to address the quote from Faithwalkers that was quoted in the original post on this thread. The speaker seemed to assume that all depression could be cured by being less "self-focused".

My point was to say that depression can be caused by a variety of things. Some of these reasons are physical (heart/circulation/brain injuries), some are unconfessed sin, some are unnecessary grief over past sin, some are caused by grief over the loss of a loved one, or a diagnosis of a serious illness, or permanent disability, or an attack by the devil or fill in the blank.

To assume the solution to all of the above is to "think of yourself less" is not helpful or wise. That was my point.

[EverAStudent]

Martha H, the inability of clergy to support recovery groups and recovery efforts is in large part a matter of clergy not being trained in Nouthetic-Biblical-Christian Counseling.  Had such clergy been so trained they would have seen the necessity of participating in and even leading such groups to help such souls learn to have hope that their issues can be overcome in Christ and overcome via the disciplines of self-control and righteousness as described in Scripture.

Why are clergy not trained in Nouthetic-Biblical-Christian Counseling?  Because they have been belittled and intimidated into thinking that sin is actually a mental health issue and thus requires a mental health "professional" instead of a pastor to bring healing.  They are told that pastors can do nothing for broken brains and are told they are incompetent and committing malpractice if they try to lend spiritual help to what should be obvious is a biochemical-broken-brain disease. 

[Linda]

 "I've never met anyone who's struggling with depression who isn't focusing too much on themselves and who wouldn't get better almost instantly if they weren't so self-focused and would just serve others." and "Don't wallow in your own self-pity."

So, back to the original point, how does this teaching fit in with "Nouthetic Biblical Counseling"?

Sometimes, people need to confess sin. Sometimes they just need someone to sit beside them and weep with them.

[EverAStudent]

Linda, again, just a friendly dialogue from opposite sides of the opinion fence, not really arguing with you as a person.  

As I mentioned earlier, no one knows the mechanism of depression in the brain, so I would never say any one thing was the cause of all depression.  It has been observed that sometimes brain trauma can come prior to someone becoming depressed, but by no means always.  Similarly, purely spiritual factors, like the death of a beloved family member, can come prior to someone becoming depressed (even though nothing has damaged their brain tissue they may still become depressed), but by no means always.  

Like you I am neither defending nor rejecting the use of medications like ssri's for those who are depressed.  But I do challenge the idea those who are depressed have broken brains, particularly when they have experienced no cranial trauma.  The evidence for this is that 85% of depressed people will "feel better" over the course of weeks or months without medications, and that number goes even higher when talk therapy is added.  Medication works on about 50% of those to whom it is given, and such people feel better in just three weeks, somewhat faster than those who wait it out.  But the data do not lend themselves to the proposition that the brains themselves are broken.  

If their brains are not broken then there is a strong likelihood that the issues are principally spiritual.  David was depressed because he would not repent--a spiritual problem.  Jacob wreslted against reconciling with his brother driving him to very strange behavior until finally the Lord disabled his hip and he repented--a spiritual problem.  King Saul refused to repent which drove him to deep depression and madness--a spiritual problem.  King Nebuchadnezzar refused to admit he was subject to God so he went mad for a time--a spiritual problem.  

Much of the time depression is not a symptom of a broken brain but a symptom of the way in which we have decided to handle the hardships of our life (e.g. death of a loved one, sudden poverty, abuse by authoritarian clergy, divorce, paralysis, loss of a powerful office, etc.).  

When acute hardships hit, instead of depression some people turn to a lifestyle of angry outbursts (King Saul), others to booze, and still others to sex.  The hardships do not "cause" depression or other problems, nor do such hardships cause broken brains or diseased brains.  Rather, the hardships give people the motives to respond as they do, and people need to be counseled-taught-coached to have hope and to overcome the hardships in a manner that is pleasing to God.

Overcoming hardships in a God-honoring manner takes hard slow work.  Often it requires intentionally seeking out a spiritual advisor who understands how to apply the Scirptures in one's life, not via platitudes but through lifestyle choices and changes.  And that is the role of the well trained pastor.

[EverAStudent]

"I've never met anyone who's struggling with depression who isn't focusing too much on themselves and who wouldn't get better almost instantly if they weren't so self-focused and would just serve others." and "Don't wallow in your own self-pity."

So, back to the original point, how does this teaching fit in with "Nouthetic Biblical Counseling"?

Sometimes, people need to confess sin. Sometimes they just need someone to sit beside them and weep with them.

Linda, sorry, I made the previous post prior to seeing this from you.

It is my opinion that the above quoted GC teacher misses the point, by a wide margin.  Depression indicates a big problem has invaded someone's life.  The Nouthetic Counselor must help the person to admit what the problem is (very often a major loss in their life of some kind).  In the case of GC, the abusive authoritarian style of the pastors just may be the motivating problem that the person is trying to evade or cope with, and so, encouraging them to "serve more" will drive that person further into hiding via depression.

That GC pastor does not understand Nouthetic Counseling, Christian counseling, or biblical counseling. 

[Linda]

I think we are talking around each other.

So, back to the original point, how does this teaching (the one that started this thread) fit in with "Nouthetic Biblical Counseling"? Bucking up and thinking of yourself less and serving others is not a Biblical solution to all problems.

I am with you on what Piper talks about in his excellent and helpful book Battling Unbelief where he talks about battling anxiety, lust, bitterness, shame, pride, etc. with the Word/Promises of God. What he doesn't say is "buck up, don't wallow, serve more" which is what was taught apparently at Faithwalkers.

Also, I do believe that depression can be caused by demonic activity and not just sin. GC has a system of leadership that involves ambition. Here is what James has to say about that.

"But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice."

When it comes to GC, frankly, I do not rule out spiritual attack as a cause of depression.

Either way, the solution is not to buck up and think of yourself less. That's my point.

[wisemind]

     Clinical depression is a very real and serious illness that affects all parts of a person's life and in severe cases can even result in suicide. Although we don't always know the exact causes of clinical depression, we do know that it is a medical illness with biological components. We also know the genetics and certain brain chemicals may play a part.
     Depression is now among the most treatable of all mental health conditions. This has not always been the case. Just because we don't fully understand the physiological reasons for and illness or we don't fully understand how a medication works doesn't mean we should discourage hurting people form getting help.
     I believe medications are a blessing given us by God to help heal diseases or at least manage them. (such as high blood pressure, thyroid conditions, pain control, and mental health disorders.) Even if, as you say, medication helps only half the people who suffer from depression, why deny 50% of them the chance to benefit from the treatment if it helps the symptoms improve.
    Talking to a trained therapist isn't just getting things off your chest - it is a way to change the way you look at things, identify thought distortions that you may not be aware of, and identify lifestyle changes that can help in recovery. Two specific types of therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy, not only treat the symptoms of depression, but also help prevent them from returning.
     It is very important to understand that even with treatment, recovery can take months. Some people may find medication most effective, for others psychological intervention may be most helpful, and a combination of treatments may work best for others. Thus, it is best to approach a mental health professional - not your GCC pastor - to find out more about the different types of treatment and develop an individualized support plan.
     I do believe that all illnesses - depression included - are a result of our fallen, sinful, imperfect world. But telling a depressed person that the depression is a result of "sin" in their life and they need to figure out how to get right with God to be healed just heaps guilt and despair on top of the emotional, psychological pain that are already experiencing.

     My huge concern with GCC is that their system of beliefs fosters depression and poor mental health. When people are clinically depressed, they can't "snap out of it" any more than they can "snap out of" an ulcer or diabetes.The pastors do not encourage people to seek real help of outside their church. And Christians who, out of fear or ignorance, judge those who are depressed only make the person's life more painful. People suffering from depression need compassion, concern, and others who will reach out and help them seek treatment to recover and find hope again.   

[EverAStudent]

Since all the warnings I invoked in post 10 above ( http://forum.gcmwarning.com/general-discussion/depression-in-gcc/msg12957/#msg12957 ) about the church being replaced by "mental health professionals" have been realized in the anti-pastor post above, I will not here again echo my sentiments except to say that when all sin becomes a mental illness the world will no longer tolerate the notion of churches, Jesus, repentance, or the Bible.  

Instead I will just ask questions based on the presumptive comments of the last post:

depression is a very real and serious illness

From an atheistic world model is it not true that every "sin" is just a form of mental illness requiring only the care of mental health professionals?  
Nonetheless, from the Scriptures is there any biblical basis for saying depression is an illness and not a spiritual issue?

Although we don't always know the exact causes of clinical depression, we do know that it is a medical illness with biological components.

Does the term "medical illness with biological components" mean "tissue-invading pathogen" as it seems to imply from how you used it?  
If so, can you cite your FDA approved clinical study that proves that depression and brain chemistry changes are generally caused by invasive organisms and substances (e.g. virus, bacteria, radiation exposure, smog)?  
If "medical illness with biological components" as you have used it simply means "bad thinking leads to bodily and behavioral changes" then why not just say that instead of trying to make it sound like depression has an invasive organic cause?

We also know the genetics and certain brain chemicals may play a part.

What does "may" mean?  Does "may" mean that brain chemicals may not play a part?  
How can any medical doctor know if depression is brain chemistry related since brain chemicals cannot be sampled or measured in living patients?  (Is not human vivisection frowned upon in the US?)

Just because we don't fully understand the physiological reasons for and illness or we don't fully understand how a medication works doesn't mean we should discourage hurting people form getting help.

Who said hurting people should not be helped?  
Is that a straw man argument designed only to inflame passion?
Does this comment imply that only "mental health professionals" can help the depressed and not pastors because there is no spiritual component to depression?
Can a medical doctor without biblical training treat a spiritual condition?

I believe medications are a blessing given us by God to help heal diseases or at least manage them. (such as high blood pressure, thyroid conditions, pain control, and mental health disorders.)

Don't most Christians believe medications are a blessing from God?  
Did not Jesus believe medications were a blessing from God?
Who said otherwise?
Did the GC pastor say medications are not a blessing from God?
Who are you arguing with?
Is not depression the symptom of a larger problem and itself is not the instigating "illness"?

Is it not true that since the organic causes and mechanisms of depression are not scientifically understood, and that the metabolic functioning of SSRI's is not actually known, and since no brain chemistry measurements can be taken on living patients, that every dose of brain-chemistry-altering drug is actually an experiment on the "mentally ill" patient in hopes of alleviating some symptoms (not the underlying cause)?  
Is it really compassionate to experiment daily on the "mentally ill"?

Even if...medication helps only half the people who suffer from depression, why deny 50% of them the chance to benefit from the treatment if it helps the symptoms improve.

Who are you arguing with?  Who said medications should not be cautiously used?

If 50% of depressed people will not be helped by drugs, then does not compassion demand providing them access to spiritual counselors, pastors, and Nouthetic Counselors?  
Would you really deny 50% of depressed people the spiritual help they need?

Talking to a trained therapist isn't just getting things off your chest - it is a way to change the way you look at things, identify thought distortions that you may not be aware of, and identify lifestyle changes that can help in recovery.

What if we replace "trained therapist" with "trained pastor" into your own paragraph?

Talking to a trained pastor isn't just getting things off your chest - it is a way to change the way you look at things, identify thought distortions that you may not be aware of, and identify lifestyle changes that can help in recovery.

Now is that not the very goal of all spiritual coaching?  Do we not help the unbeliever come to see their distorted thinking and identify lifestyle changes such as repentance and reconciliation with God?  Is this not the very core of the gospel?

Two specific types of therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy, not only treat the symptoms of depression, but also help prevent them from returning.

Are not CBT and IPT both "talk therapies" or pastoral techniques, not actually medicinal treatments for organic illness or for tissue trauma?
Do not homework-based CBT, and role-playing-based IPT, seek to instruct a person how to think and value their circumstances differently and stop thinking "wrongly" (i.e. "maladaptive thoughts") with the goal that different thinking will lead to changes in their behavior and changes in their responses to the environment?  
Is that not also the goal of pastoral coaching?  
Is not spiritual counseling's aim to help a person to stop thinking wrongly with the end goal that they begin thinking properly, change their value systems, and begin behaving as children of God?

If CBT and IPT both employ pastoral and spiritual coaching techniques with some success among depressed persons then does that not indicate depression is a spiritual problem and not a pathogen-based disease?

it is best to approach a mental health professional - not your GCC pastor

What about approaching your Nouthetically trained Baptist pastor?  
Or are only "mental health professionals" qualified to coach a person to think properly and thus help talk someone out of their depressions?  
Is not that kind of elitist exclusionary attitude both intolerant and dismissive of Christ, the Holy Spirit, pastoral counseling, and the church?

I do believe that all illnesses - depression included - are a result of our fallen, sinful, imperfect world. But telling a depressed person that the depression is a result of "sin" in their life and they need to figure out how to get right with God to be healed just heaps guilt and despair on top of the emotional, psychological pain that are already experiencing. ... And Christians who, out of fear or ignorance, judge those who are depressed only make the person's life more painful. People suffering from depression need compassion, concern, and others who will reach out and help them seek treatment to recover and find hope again.

Does not Cognitive Behavioral Therapy state that depression is generally the result of wrong ("maladaptive") thinking, improper value systems, and subsequent incorrect behaviors such as those associated with depression?
Did not Jesus call the maladaptive thinking, improper value system, and incorrect behaviors of the Prodigal Son "sins"?  
Are you suggesting that simply changing the descriptor from "maladaptive" to "sinful" makes Jesus uncompassionate, unconcerned, and judgmental?
Does changing the label from "sinful" to "maladaptive" really impart a help to the suffering person?
Does a person gain more hope to hear that their brain is broken and their thinking maladaptive, or, from hearing that the Scriptures provide abundant guidance to help ease them out of their poor thinking habits under which they have been trapped?
Is there ever a time to tell a suffering person he has some sin in his life from which he must repent?

Is Jesus not in the very business of changing lives for the better?  
Do we really want to leave Jesus out of the healing picture?  

Like I said, just a bunch of questions.  

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When all sin becomes a mental illness the world will no longer tolerate the notion of churches, Jesus, repentance, or the Bible.
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