Depression Counselling in North Cowichan, BC.

My approach to dealing with depression is to face it on two levels. First, there are the cognitive behavioural treatment options to address the basic skills needed just to get through each day. We will build a strategy together and I will help to keep you on track. Then the real therapy begins. Together, in a safe manner and at an acceptable pace, we will unveil some of your defences and rediscover your trapped potential - the part of you that gives life real meaning and purpose. I truly believe your life means something and that you have purpose.

Living with depression can be like wading through mud. Every step requires enormous effort. All the while, the gas tank is empty. For many, the urge is to take to bed, as the world just feels like too much to face. I like to work on the root cause of depression while simultaneously collaborating on small manageable steps to regain confidence and interest in living a valued life. I find that working on what seems to be an unsolvable problem is often the starting point of recovery. My goal is to provide support and guidance that goes beyond just the sense of feeling "better". Rather, my aim is for my client's to thrive, with the newfound capacity to experience joy and happiness.

Using a biopsychosocial approach we strive to support depression and depressive symptoms with a holistic approach that may include, but is not limited to: destigmatizing psychotropic medication, deconstructing maladaptive beliefs using cognitive restructuring, and encouraging movement through behavioural modification. Depression can look many different ways and we will always work with you towards healing at the pace that works best for you.

Depression results from a chemical imbalance in the brain. It is not the result of a personal weakness or lack of coping skills. The impairment is real and can result in feeling sad, anxious, overwhelmed and in some cases suicidal. Fortunately, depression can be treated with both medication and counseling; the combination usually being most effective. Counselling can help persons who experience depression in providing an outlet for voicing frustrations and obstacles, identifying support avenues, leaning new coping skills and exploring the most recent avenues of treatment. Counselling offers a non-judgemental and confidential sounding board.

Depression is often associated with negative beliefs about oneself and the world, and EMDR can help to desensitize and reprocess these negative beliefs, leading to a more adaptive and positive worldview. Through the use of bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, EMDR can help to process the distressing memories and beliefs, reducing the intensity of the emotional response and increasing emotional resilience. By addressing the underlying negative beliefs, EMDR can help to alleviate symptoms of depression and improve overall mood and well-being.

Depression can leave people feeling lonely, misunderstood and scared. My approach to counselling is to understand my clients and create a nonjudgemental space where they feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. I want my clients to feel understood and that they care to share whatever they need to. I like to introduce tools and skills to help when my clients are feeling low.

Depression is a clinical diagnosis that goes beyond "just having the blues" for a couple of weeks. Under a physician's care, counselling is indicated as the best treatment alongside medication and/or lifestyle changes. If you are struggling with the symptoms of depression due to a diagnosis of Major Depression; Bipolar depression; Postpartum depression, or Seasonal Affective Depression Disorder (SADD), I use an approach to meet your needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Dialectical Behavior Therapy; Depth psychology, Expressive Arts Therapy, and Narrative approaches are beneficial modalities that support the resolution of symptoms of depression.

I am honoured that you are interested in my services and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I have been described as slightly non-conventional in the counselling world, which suits me perfectly, and also tends to suit youth who are trying to stand up to the force of the problems in their life. I am very comfortable working with this population, and I feel fortunate that I can connect with teens the way I do, conventionally or in a way that makes sense to them.

Clients have talked about being down there in ‘the pit’, not being able to see any light, only darkness with no path. You are doing less and less, you are losing motivation to connect with others, or even get out of bed. Using behavioural activation, where we listen to or thoughts instead of our feelings, we can pull ourselves out of the downward spiral of depression. Sometimes that means treating trauma too. With help, imagine someone throws down some tools and materials, we make a plan to build a ladder, and with support and encouragement, you get yourself out of that pit. I know there's a path and I have helped others find it.

When struggling with depressed moods, everything feels heavy and you lack a sense of meaning and purpose. Even the most simple tasks can feel impossible. If you find yourself turning to alcohol, substances, or other addictive behaviours to cope with depressed moods, there is a way out. I help clients with addictions overcome the depressed moods causing them to turn to substances or addictive behaviours to cope. Everyone is different, so I work with you to develop a plan that fits your unique situation. If you are unsure where to start, send me a message. If I'm not the right fit, I can connect you to resources that will allow you to start getting help today, without having to wait.

Grey Matters International, Inc. and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, Ph.D. handles depression and other emotional disorders in a very unique way. Most of therapy or counseling processes utilize validation, unconditional positive regard, and reframing as common techniques to get someone to heal from their depression. Though this can be helpful, it rarely fixes the core problem behind it and for tough cases we then refer them usually to a psychiatrist for medication which can have tons of side effects. Instead, why not try a natural and arguably more effective way to not just change your mind, but change the brain--where the depression is rooted. Contact us at kevin@kevinflemingphd.com.

My approach is to work with you to understand all of the many layers of your life which may have caused your depression. Then we can collaboratively develop a plan for getting better, one step at a time. I use therapies such as CBT, ACT, and EMDR as needed to speed your recovery in collaboration with you. Most important is our therapeutic relationship and connection for change you can count on.