Some have degrees but are not to smart to say the least. I think what’s missing from our generation are caring, smart people who one can go to to work issues through.
The ideal would be that one should feel comfortable enough to work out issues with their Rav or Rebbetzin. But Rabbonim are very busy these days and most of them don’t a have time for such matters and Rebbitzins cannot be counted on for these things either as most people don’t have a kesher with their Rebbitzins.
Maybe one should go to a wise therapist, but I personally don’t believe in therapists. I have had a family member who went to a lot of “wise” therapists who have very good reputations and had them wrapped around their finger. The family member sold their own version of what’s going on and the therapists were giving their advise on how to go about it. I know about it because that family member had me listen to tapes that they taped down ( for various reasons) of the sessions with these therapists and counselors. I had to keep myself back from laughing when I heard the “great” advice to situations that didn’t exist.
I think medication should only be given in SERIOUS MENTAL – NOT EMOTIONAL- instances.
I don’t believe in “chemical inbalance” in emotional instances like depression. There is always an underlying factor, such as when a woman has depression after giving birth. She sleeps little, hormones overwork, has other little kids to take over… a lot of issues here can be too much for a woman too handle and she can break down from being overloaded.
Depression can also come from spitiual emptiness, where one has emunah question and doesn’t know where to get answers.
There are different underlying reasons for depression and I think that medication will cover up, but not help in the long run. One needs to get to the root of the problem to truly be helped.