Depression Counselling in Bowmanville, ON.

You have been down for such a long time, or maybe you go in and out of feeling blue and want to get off the rollercoaster. I use Emotion Focused Therapy to help you explore and experience safely the emotional spectrum that underlies depression. I will work slowly and carefully with you to help you to resolve the heaviness that has robbed you for too long so that you can be more resilient and joyful in life.

Depression is not a sign of weakness! I can help you alleviate the guilt that accompanies depression. I am trained in evidence based strategies that are as effective as medication, but also better for relapse prevention. Being compassionate to the self and learning to adjust negative thought and behaviour patterns are key factors in overcoming depression. I will work with you to establish small manageable goals that will not overwhelm you. I will help you to improve relationships that typically play a major role in sustaining depressive symptoms. Simply taking the time to talk and process your thoughts will help you to feel better after only 1 session.

People struggling with depression are often battling negative thought patterns, low mood and sometimes behaviors that may include withdrawal, lack of energy and low motivation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets negative thought patterns. The premise of CBT is that our thoughts, feelings, and actions are influenced by each other. If we can reframe these negative thoughts, we can change how a person feels and hence change some of the behaviors associated with depression. All three therapies: CBT, ACT and DBT have been shown to help with mood disorders such as depression.

All experience some form of depression at one point in their life or another. You are definitely not alone here. Whether the depression shows itself as constant sadness, an inability to move, or anger and frustration, it can be extremely overwhelming and difficult to deal with. It is my goal to help you overcome the depression and the painful effects of it by discovering it's roots and working through chopping it down. I will also aid in discovering or rediscovering your unique strengths, skills and ambitions in order to plant new productive, inspirational roots of joy, happiness, and freedom.

Depression is a series of symptoms that can persist and impact all areas of a persons life, and make living feel like moving through mud. Often, depression tells us to stay quiet and alone, but healing happens when we reach out for help. Therapy for depression can offer insight, connection, compassion and plans for symptom management. Connection is an important element in recovering from depression, and therapy can help give a voice and a space for you to find support.

When I work with people who are weighed down with symptoms of depression, I find that it is important to remember two things: go slowly, and go together. Employing a trauma informed, family systems and somatic lens to what you are experiencing can help provide insight into how to move through and manage it. Journeying with clients through their depression is a great honour, and is something I take very seriously. I find that for many people, holding onto hope that things could be different, is something that can seem too much. Part of my commitment to working through depression is that, until you are ready, I will hold onto hope for both us.

Depression can be overwhelming, and at times feel completely hopeless. The aim from individual psychotherapy for depression will be to discuss the thoughts, moods, and physical symptoms you are experiencing to collaboratively make coping tools. The goal is to separate depression from who you are as an individual and slowly allow you to participate in daily activities again.

In my approach to counseling those facing depression, I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help clients understand and reshape their emotional responses. By exploring the patterns that fuel depression, we work together to build a foundation of emotional resilience and connection. This process empowers clients to develop a greater sense of self-acceptance and deeper connections with others, helping them find relief, renewed hope, and the skills to navigate future challenges with confidence.

People are often faced with moments of sadness which can sometimes lead to chronic sadness. My work with clients could involve deep reprocessing of certain memories related to depression which allow clients new insights into how to face their depression. Further to this, by guiding clients on their recovery from depression, we are able to pinpoint aspects that must be addressed to help the recovery process which may include mindfulness, thoughts, and/or behaviors.

I work with clients to improve low mood and other symptoms of depression including, motivation, focus/concentration, social isolation, fatigue, guilt/shame, irritability and loss of interest in usually enjoyable activities. I work with the client to address their inner critic which often works to maintain symptoms of depression and use behavioural activation to break the cycle of depression. I encourage self-compassion and take a gentle approach that empowers the client and helps to renew a lost sense of hope.

Social anxiety and shyness can easily lead to feelings of depression. If you feel depressed because you feel alone, isolated and have trouble making friends, you might be glad to know that there is a way to learn and practice the social skills you missed learning as a child. You can learn and practice new skills, meet new people, learn how to start conversations and create your own social circle. Life can change and it takes just one step to start the process rolling in the right drection.

If you are looking to this page chances are you know that life is not as enjoyable as you would like it can be. One of the symptoms of depression is feeling unmotivated so congratulation on getting out of that trap and start looking for help. Depression may be a result of other underlying issues you may be carrying for a long time. Many times I noticed accumulated anger in patients which are not able to express it in a constructive way. When this anger is directed to themselves it can result in depression. Together we can identify what is triggering and perpetuating it and we can change the course out of what feels like an emotional trap. I will be me pleasure to witness your growth.

Are you looking for better ways to cope? Do you feel sad, unmotivated, hopeless, or like everything is slowing down? We can assist you to live a better quality of life by helping you to explore the issue related to your struggle, by helping you to understand that issue, and by helping you to increase your sense of hope about yourself, about the world, and about the future. We understand that seeking therapy can be daunting, we appreciate your courage in seeking therapy, and we are committed to collaborating with you in a safe, non-judgmental, and caring environment.

Solutions and supportive appraoches to effectively help people suffering from depressed mood include, cognitive-behavioural and narrative therapy, often combined with interpersonal /relationship assessment utilizing a family and social systems approach. These therapies are well grounded in clinical research and literature. Through a guided exploration of thoughts, feelings and behaviours related to sadness and depression, people can identify the factors contributing to imbalances in mood, thereby discovering solutions and strategies for positive cognitive shifting, behavioural changes and spiritual growth. While the work is challenging, it can also be light-hearted and even fun at times !

Depression leaves you feeling so sad, afraid, lost and out of control. It's a horrible way to feel. Energy is low, and you don't want to do much of anything, talk to people, or do things you once enjoyed. It is debilitating. Hope that anything will be different is hard to believe. Therapy helps and having a plan helps. We've helped many people break through depression and come out the other side. It supports you in working through the pain and finding actionable steps to move through the fog. Depression creates a negativity bias that is not your fault, that's what depression does. Therapy helps you regain balance and find your way again.

Depression can leave us feeling hopeless and sometimes even the way our loved ones respond can actually increase our sense of isolation. In my work with clients experiencing depression, I focus first on understanding and appreciating each person’s unique story. Fostering a trusting and collaborative relationship creates an environment that feels safe to explore our emotions and paths to healing. Contact me today to book a free consultation to start your healing journey.

At New Roots Therapy, we aim to understand depression in a way that is not pathologizing or failing. Depression can have both internal and external roots; many times, depression is an active response to something that is out of balance in one's life. Regardless of its cause, we ultimately believe that a person is not their depression, but a person can be influenced by depression. By the same token, we believe that people have the ability to be active in influencing the impact of depression on their lives and we hope to explore this with the people we meet.

Clients struggling with depression benefit from our compassionate and evidence-informed therapy approaches. Our skilled therapists provide a supportive space to explore emotions, identify underlying causes, and develop effective coping strategies. Using techniques, such as cognitive-behavior therapy, mindfulness, and strength based approaches, we help clients gain motivation, improve mood and rebuild a sense of purpose. We empower client to navigate their journey toward healing and emotional well-being.

Depression is often a response to having experienced profound psychological pain. It is a way for us to retreat or numb ourselves from the overwhelming emotions of such stressful circumstances. It acts as a protective shield in a way. In therapy, we will work towards addressing the underlying sources that are contributing to feelings of deep sadness. This can be a difficult task and as such it can be helpful to include strategies alongside our reflective work which may include CBT, DBT, Mindfulness, and Behavioural Activation. Book a free 15-minute consultation with me to see if I’m the right fit for you.