globali, sorry to hear you've had some problems.
Depression, is indeed a bloody awful disease, sometimes not taken serious by patients, friends and, I hate to admit it, some in the medical professional.
The good news is, that you and your doc. have identified the problem, and you are doing something positive about it.
The treatments available are very effective. In terms of effectiveness, the "juries out" on which group of drugs are more effective, between the two your GP has prescribed. The latest guidance I've seen, suggests that we should be using the "Prozac" type drugs, rather than the older types, such as clomipramine.
The therapy your doc. has suggested, has also been found to be very effective. The reason you have to wait for so long, is probably due to a lack of funding.....we also find it very frustrating.
Be patient, push for the counselling, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Most patients go on to full recovery.
Good luck.
ps be a little wary of some of the herbal stuff. St John's wart can mess up one of the liver enzymes which are responsible for metabolising the "traditional " drugs.