Depression Counselling in Oshawa, ON.

The combination of schema therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective approach to dealing with depression. The CBT aspect of the therapy provides insight into HOW depression affects our lives. The schema portion of the therapy addresses the question of WHY depression exists in our lives. The therapy is comprehensive and intense and I encourage you to give it a try.

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.

In many cases, I view depression as an "alarm bell" that tells the individual that there is something wrong in their life. Have they turned their anger in life toward themselves? Are they not living their best, or preferred, life? Is there something that's happened in their life that is getting them down, but they don't realize how much power it truly has? Depression can also be about learned helplessness, or having a sense, through experience, that there is no point in even trying at something. Such helplessness can come from feeling defeated, feeling significant guilt about something, & even from self-defeating 'self-talk' that an individual engages in (without completely realizing it).

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.

Experiencing big emotional ups and downs is normal, but there can be times when it feels like the lows are getting longer, more frequent, and harder to deal with. Therapy should be a safe space where you feel comfortable sharing and exploring your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with someone who offers you empathy, authenticity, and acceptance. I work collaboratively with clients to explore how feelings of depression show up in their lives, and to strengthen and develop strategies to minimize the impact they have on living the life you want to live. Book a free consultation to learn more about my approach and explore if we are a good fit.

Sometimes, we think of depression in social terms as the sadness and aloneness we feel that doesn't significantly interfere with our daily abilities to function. At other times, depression may dramatically limit the energy or interest we have to do anything. This may require the help of your physician to rule out the biological causes of medical problems that present as depression. In both examples, therapy is necessary to increase the possibility of a good outcome. When I've met folks suffering from all forms of depression, I've relied on my education, training and experience to provide counselling and therapy. Depression is difficult, but you don't need to be alone to manage it.

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.

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 !

I can offers a safe space to explore and understand the underlying causes, negative thought patterns, and emotional challenges of the depression you are going through. Through various therapeutic approaches, I can help you gain effective coping strategies, develop healthier thought patterns, and build resilience. I have 12 years of experience helping clients manage and thrive through depression.

Depression is a very common problem that millions of people struggle with. There are different types of depression, some that are linked to life situations, and others to a chemical imbalance in your body. Learn how to come out of the grey "fog" you are living in and experience a more abundant life. Examine ways to uncover the roots of depression and start living life to the fullest again.

Our emotions work to provide us with information about a situation, environment, or relationship. When we experience depression, it is typically because we have experienced many disappointments in our life, or believe that we have let important others down. Our coping strategies become overwhelmed and we experience feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Together, we can explore the circumstances surrounding your depression symptoms to develop an understanding of them. This will assist us in identifying new ways of reducing and managing these emotions, to improve your daily functioning and overall quality of life.