The author describes his "Target Approach" to counseling depressed and/or suicidal patients. By tailoring a technique to selected characteristics ("targets") of the depression as well as to the personality of the patient, more effective counseling is achieved. This target approach involves 3 steps: (1) breaking the problem of depression into specific,manageable units; (2) selecting the specific units to be worked on; and (3) determining what types of therapeutic intervention would be appropriate for this particular patient. Included is a list of common target symptoms with some suggestions for therapy. (Author/HMV)