Depression Counselling in Alberton, ON.

One of my passions in life is to help guide people through the process of recovering from depression. In many cases, the ways that people try to get themselves out of depression, paradoxically end up causing more problems. I will help you sidestep these habits that can develop (ex. 'thinking' your way out of it, being overly self-critical, isolating yourself and discontinuing activities you used to enjoy). I will help you learn how to more skillfully manage the difficult/ unpleasant emotions and thoughts that are part of the 'territory of depression'. You will learn how to be less self-critical, to tap back into positive emotions, to take much better care of yourself & feel 'alive' again.

My approach to depression counseling is holistic, compassionate, and client-centered. I create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore the root causes of their depression, whether they stem from unresolved trauma, life transitions, or negative thought patterns. Using evidence-based therapies such as CBT, and mindfulness-based practices, I help clients identify and shift unhelpful beliefs, reconnect with their inner strengths, and restore emotional balance. Clients often leave sessions feeling more empowered, grounded, and hopeful about their ability to heal and move forward.

Depression - it's a word we hear often and it's a condition that many of us experience. Depression can show up in lots of ways - maybe you always feel sad, or your motivation is gone, perhaps making it through a day seems impossible sometimes. Regardless of how you experience depression, counselling can be helpful. Approaches like CBT, which is part of how I work with depression, can help you identify and challenge negative thought patterns and distorted thinking, and unlock new, refreshing and positive perspectives on your life. Therapy for depression is a step towards improved mental well-being and a chance to work with a professional who can guide you through the healing process.

Depression can be one of the most difficult experiences a person can experience! It affects one in five of us. It travels in families. It feels like you are living under an ominous dark cloud. While it can make life difficult, it also can effect our concentration, our physical health, our relationships, our career and our self-esteem. Like cancer the early detection and treatment is in direct correlation to successful treatment. . I have journeyed with hundreds over the years. I am happy to help you through this!

It takes courage to come to therapy for the symptoms of depression, and I don’t take lightly the invitation to walk with someone through their struggles in this area. Together we look at how your thoughts impact your feelings as well as your life story to consider areas of healing from the past as well as solutions for the future. We also consider areas of your thought life that keep you stuck and hinder your forward movement in life.

While we all have days where we feel sad and 'depressed', if it goes on day after day so that negative thoughts make us feel exhausted, powerless, empty, discouraged and hopeless, then we need help. Leaving depression untreated can lead to several physical and mental complications and even suicide. Fortunately, trained counsellors can assist us in retraining our mind and teach us new skills to challenge depressive thinking so that we can lead a confidently depression free life.

Sadness is a common emotion. However, when sadness lingers in our lives, is long term, and affects our day to day life, then it is something to be addressed. I help clients to take steps towards reducing depression through related actions. Alongside this, I work with clients to understand how the depression is controlling them and what strategies we might consider to reduce this control. For example, clients often find it helpful to engage with others, challenge their thinking, consider their past positive experiences, and consider changes to their environment to begin to feel more and more positive emotions and less depressed.

Each New Leaf Psychology Centre associate has experience offering therapy for depression. Therapy can help you feel less depressed, engage more fully in life, and feel more optimistically about your future. Ms. Saliba specializes in providing therapy for youth who are depressed and engage in risky behaviors such as self-harm. Dr. Gilani specializes in depression related to pain, physical disabilities, and injury.

Depression not only affects your mood state, but also your -- *behavior, *the way you look at yourself, *relationship with people around you and *physical and organic function. Gestalt therapy emphasizes your capacity to develop your potential. In therapy with me change will take place through the relational experience, and increased awareness, this process, is what gives meaning to discovery to you. In Gestalt therapy, what is considered is your totality, a combination of your sensorial, affective, intellectual, social, and spiritual dimensions (Brownell, 2010). Studies show that the patients treated with Gestalt demonstrated fewer depressive symptoms following the intervention.

I combine therapeutic art making with multiple therapeutic techniques and talking therapy based on my client’s need. Clients may be required to create directed pieces of art to gauge their moods and work through things and/or thought patterns that they are struggling with. I guide my clients to focus on their hidden strengths or things that are going well in their lives. This may be difficult to achieve at first, but as my clients work through the process they learn or rediscover things about themselves that may have not been known or lost to them. My clients learn to recognize what they are feeling, identify their triggers, and ways to manage these feelings and care for themselves.

In working with individuals who struggle with depression, I primarily use a cognitive behavioural therapeutic (CBT) approach. The principal aim of this approach is to increase awareness that thoughts and behaviours drive emotion. In addition, the goal is to increase consciousness of distorted perceptions. That is, often individuals who struggle with depression do not think accurately, and if their thoughts are not accurate, than they cannot be trusted. The purpose of CBT is to bring awareness to cognitive distortions and then teach individuals how to rebalance their thoughts to be more accurate.

Treatment for depression obliges a therapeutic approach that is nonjudgmental and compassionate. Whether long-standing or mediated by situational factors, many of us find ourselves struggling with such feelings in our life-time–affecting changes in our sleep, concentration, decision-making, patience, energy, appetite, motivation and more – ultimately interfering with living our lives fully. I am experienced with working with adults suffering symptoms of depression, working together with their family and treating clinicians, as needed, in an effort to guide them toward systematic recovery, discovery, and to sustain good habits moving forward.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach to depression. CBT elects not to focus much on the past and instead focuses on identifying negative thoughts and recognizing healthier and more realistic ones. When a change in attitude occurs, it leads to a change in behavior. As we identify these negative thoughts, we will work together to create treatment goals such as a change to negative behaviors. When we identify these negative thoughts and behaviors, we will practice techniques in a safe, controlled environment that will help you to respond successfully in situations where these become present.

The fog of depression is often an isolating blackness, a heavy cloud that obscures the sunlight, casting shadows in all areas of our lives. You don’t have to endure this journey alone. In our sessions I will join you in this journey and sit with you in the darkness. Together we will navigate a safe path towards hope and healing knowing that even in the darkest moments you won’t be alone.

Depression can cast a shadow over every aspect of life, but there is a way forward. In a compassionate and non-judgmental space, we'll work together to understand and alleviate the symptoms of depression. I'm here to support you on your journey towards renewed hope and self-empowerment. Reach out for a free consultation, and let's begin your path to healing.

Negative commentary colours the experiences of individual’s living with depression. Negative thoughts, maladaptive attitudes, and perceptions of despair often are characteristic of people’s experiences with depression. Through Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), these individual thought-processes can be altered in favour of ones which facilitate emotions and behaviours more advantageous and functional to an individual’s daily life. As a practitioner of CBT, an awareness of how an individual’s beliefs may be maintaining symptoms of depression as well as the requisite skills provided to facilitate more adaptive ways of thinking to overcome it will be taught.

My approach includes using empathy and being non-judgmental during interactions with clients, in addition to meeting the client where they are at in their journey. Clients will benefit from depression counselling as they will have a safe environment to share and will be reminded that that with ongoing support they will be able to feel better because they are deserving of living a happy and healthy life.

Depression is all encompassing. It affects all aspects of our life including our physical health, our emotional state, our thinking patterns, our behaviours and reactions, and our relationships. We often lose interest in participating in life and this can lead to feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness. Although we can feel like a lost cause at times, there is always hope! Working together in therapeutic relationship, we can can help you reconnect with your joy in a supportive and compassionate way. If you want to start feeling better, book a free consultation or book a session today! www.kaleidoscopecounsellingco.com

While we all have days where we feel sad and 'depressed', if it goes on day after day so that negative thoughts make us feel exhausted, powerless, empty, discouraged and hopeless, then we need help. Leaving depression untreated can lead to several physical and mental complications and even suicide. Fortunately, trained counsellors can assist us in retraining our mind and teach us new skills to challenge depressive thinking so that we can lead a confidently depression free life.

Depression robs us from enjoying relationships and activities that were once fulfilling. There are many reasons people experience depression and there is no need to suffer alone. Psychotherapy can help by exploring aspects that are influencing depression as well identify strategies to manage it. It would be an honor to journey with you in managing depression.

A prolonged sense of hopelessness and finding little or no pleasure in activities that used to bring joy can be confusing. Our thoughts and feelings cause us to withdraw from those around us, which confirms our thoughts and reinforces our feelings, leading to further self-isolation. If you have been here for a while, it is going to feel like a lot of energy to get started, so we begin with one small thing. Matt can help you shift your perspective: acknowledging the good things in life and growing to appreciate the activities, things and people we make take for granted. Slowly, you can rebuild your sense of hope. The intention is to restore a balanced view of the good and the bad.

Depression is often associated with symptoms such as fatigue, loss of motivation, loss of pleasure, withdrawal, and feelings of sadness. Often, when individuals feel depressed, they stop engaging in activities they enjoy which can perpetuate depressive symptoms. There are a variety of evidence-based approaches to explore depression. Together, we will decide which approach is best for you. Please contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to determine if we are a good fit.