Depression Counselling in Jasper, ON.

Depressive symptoms can be overcome with proper treatment. A combination of antidepressant and therapeutic intervention is often most beneficiary when symptoms are elevated. Proper medication can help improve your mood but does not necessary address underlying issues. It is important to personalize a good treatment plan which reflects your reality, achievable and realistic for you. This involves understanding what is really causing you to feel the way you do, better self care, some life style changes.

Struggling with mood disorders can make life very challenging. The most basic tasks can feel overwhelming and unmanageable. I understand this from personal experience as well as years of work with clients who are diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder. It can be difficult to explain to others in our lives what it feels like to live with depression. I will validate and support you while helping you explore your feelings and find positive coping strategies that are the right fit for you. Book a free consultation to see if we are a good fit.

In any given year, depression will be present in 4 – 5 % of the Canadian population, and between 7.9 and 8.6% will experience depression during their lifetimes. (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2002) Despite its prevalence, there remains a stigma around depression. Untreated, depression can wreak havoc in a person's life, but with the right supports, (medication, if needed, and psychotherapy) depression can be managed and people can lived productive and meaningful lives. I provide a safe place for my clients factors which may be affecting their mood , and work with my clients to bring about necessary lifestyle changes and to move greater emotional health.

Depression is a change in mood that can lead to loss of concentration, increased reactivity, feelings of sadness, and a loss of interest in everyday activities. Depression usually develops over time, so we are unaware it is present. It will surface when we are under stress, grieving a loss, or facing life changes we did not choose, like a marital break-up, a pregnancy loss, or being laid off from work. A major depression or clinical depression can also occur due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. In these situations, we need medical assistance to move forward from a depressive event. However, most people find talk therapy improves their mood. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation today

Depression is an insidious companion, and can creep its way in without us realizing for some time. Shifting a depressed mindset can be extremely difficult but neuroimaging studies have shown that by practicing mindfulness we can begin to alter those well-trodden neural pathways and shift our neurochemistry by promoting the production of neurotransmitters linked to feelings of happiness. Psychotherapy can help you identify mindfulness activities and other tools that can help to promote the production of these neurotransmitters and deliver results rooted in neuroscience. I can offer an alternative perspective and act as the catalyst you need to begin making the shift out of depression.

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.

Life today is very stressful and symptoms of depression often accompany ongoing stress. Depression can interfere with your relationships, your work life and seriously interferes with your life satisfaction. Depression is often best treated with the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which Sarah uses to assist you in identifying the causes of your depression and the ways in which negative thought processes feed your depression. Sarah will help you to resolve your depression by helping you to change how you think and respond to depression triggers. Medication is sometimes necessary as part of depression treatment. The role of medication in your depression management can always be discussed.

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.