Depression Counselling in Stouffville, ON.

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.

Depression is common and pervasive in our society. I will help you explore the reasons for your depression and what keeps it going as well as provide support practical, powerful and effective tools to help you manage and move through this challenging issue. Some depressions may be based in trauma and I use a trauma-informed approach to therapy in general. You don't have to continue to suffer with depression and you don't necessarily need to rely on medication either. Effective help is here!

When one is depressed the range of thoughts and feelings encompass a wide spectrum. Sadness and despair might be pervasive. One can feel as if they have fallen into a deep dark pit where everything is covered in negativity and hopelessness. In this state, one can feel inadequate, discouraged, unable or unwilling to make decisions. In addition, guilt, shame, profound low self-esteem and loss of interest in relationships, sex, career and even life itself are commonly found. A variety of evidence-based tools, specific to the needs of the individual, applied skillfully at the right time, can dramatically lift one out of that deep, dark pit and help avoid relapse.

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.

I’ve been helping people lead more intentional lives for over 20 years. Depression can cause you to feel lonely, helpless, and confused. I’m trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, developmental models,and anxiety and depression management. I will support you in creating a set of tools to help you manage your depression. Most importantly, you're a distinctive person, with distinctive needs. My goal is to work with you as a unique individual, and focus on YOUR goals.

Many years ago depression was called melancholia and was not considered so negatively as it is in our current "performance" focused culture. We are expected to be "up" continuously in today's busy life-styles, with work, children, relationships, and even in our playtime. The result of this sort of expectation can be debilitating and certainly can lead to long bouts of feeling out of control, unfulfilled, unmotivated and ultimately immobilized. Depression can certainly be dealt with through very effective therapeutic techniques. I work with clients to better understand the root cause of their sadness and help them to look at the possible meaning behind their depression and how to best cope.

If you are reading this profile, you are probably concerned about yourself to the point that you want to seek help. You may feel depressed, hopeless and helpless. You are frustrated that you cannot do or enjoy things you used to be. You may want to be heard and get supported but do not want to be around with people etc... You probably even know that you are experiencing symptoms of depression but not sure if how to feel better, like your normal self again. With over 12 years of clinical experiences, I humbly and wholeheartedly want to support you to get better. There are evident-based and effective approaches. Please don't hesitate to reach out and start to get the help you need now.

Depression is not something to be ashamed of, nor is it a character flaw or a sign of a weak personality. No one with depression can just "snap out of it". You wouldn't ask someone to "snap out of diabetes or some other illness and you cannot expect it of a person with depression. Everyone gets sad sometimes - a brief blue mood, feelings of disappointment or loss. The great news is that up to 80% of people who receive proper treatment improve as a result. There are two principle modes of treatment for depression - Psychotherapy and medication. You’re not alone; millions of families and friends have felt exactly like you. Your one step closer to change.

Depression can feel like a heavy blanket that slowly suffocates our motivation in life. Just reaching out for help can be a major undertaking when living with depression. I validate the true struggle that comes along with depression, and strive to find tools that work for you, to life the fog and get back to feeling like yourself again. You don't need to struggle through it alone, I am here to support you.

Depression is a result of non-processed grief, which itself comes from a sense of loss. It is the mechanism through which the mind tries to “take it easy” and focus on the loss. However, in today’s society, we do our best to avoid it or even deny it. Sometimes, we take the easy way of medication so that we do not face this darkness inside. A successfully therapy accompanies the client through this journey of introspection and creates supportive environment in which the client faces the loss. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit.

Depression can be a powerful force that can greatly impact our day to day. Depression can cause feelings of sadness, hopelessness, a lack of energy, or even numbness. You may feel stuck in previous patterns of behavior, or like you are running on ‘autopilot’. As a therapist, I know the impacts of these experiences, and I strive to work with you to better understand the depression, so that you can navigate it and develop the necessary tools to manage it. Connect with me today for a free consultation to begin your healing journey and move towards fulfillment, connection, and joy.

Depression is a complex experience that often colours all of our life and perception through its lens. Learning to live with and manage depression is a multi-faceted process that may benefit from some techniques and processes that we can explore together. Perhaps through exploring cognitive distortions, negative self-talk, or learning to recognize external triggers, we can chart a course toward smoother waters.

Studies have shown that psychotherapy for depression can be as effective as taking antidepressants. Depression can range from mild feelings of sadness and emptiness to all-encompassing, fully debilitating darkness. If you are experiencing feelings of depression, emptiness, hopelessness, and sadness and are finding it difficult to function in your day to day life, psychotherapy can be helpful in helping you to understand what is going on with you and help you to rise up from the depths to lead a more satisfying and meaningful life. It can also assist you in re-engaging in the process of living and in relationships with the people who are important to you.

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 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.

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.

Talk therapy is the hope of many individuals struggling with mental health. After clients acquired enough awareness of self and insights about their past, they commit to engage in different practices and perspectives, expecting to complete the healing process. However, research has shown that more often than not – a single approach is just not enough. Trauma and other adverse experiences affect the brain deeply in many regions. There are many brain structures affected, with neuro-networks firing and wiring together, communicating in millions of patterns, most often by the fear-driven brain. The survival mechanism in your brain creates a fear-based reality that interferes with life.

Depression is a debilitating illness that can impact every aspect of a person’s life, including their thoughts, emotions, and physical well-being. Some common symptoms of depression include mood changes such as persistent sadness, irritability, agitation, anger, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite and eating, changes in sleep patterns, loss of energy and motivation, difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, guilt, and at times thoughts of suicide. Therapy for depression typically involves weekly sessions where you will work with your therapist to understand your triggers, develop coping skills, and make positive changes in your life.

Every single person has experienced significant disappointments and losses in their life at one point or another. Afterwards, it's normal and even healthy to feel sadness, hurt, anger or numbness. But when these feelings stick around for a prolonged period of time - and are perhaps joined by thoughts of self-criticism, worthlessness, loss of purpose, or despair - it's the right time to seek help and speak with a professional. My approach is centred fully on your needs in this space. It's important to me that you feel that someone cares about you, and is walking with you through the dark times of life. I am kind, non-judgemental, empathetic, and a great listener. Reach out today to begin.

Aside from bio-chemical imbalances in one's body, depression can arise from a number of situational and relational factors. We can explore how any of these can be understood, responded to, and lived with in a way which can help to alleviate depressive challenges. It can be difficult to gain awareness of what's not right, and how to get things right, when you're battling just to survive. Our work together can help to clarify what's happening, and how to put helpful coping practices to work.

Sometimes we just don’t feel quite right. We can feel stress and change mounting out of our control. Maybe this is a feeling you have had before, or maybe it is a new feeling. Either way, we can help you to navigate this by working on understanding why it is happening, learning skills to cope, and resolving its root causes. Contact us and we can help you on a path to feeling more connect to life and to yourself again.

I utilize a cognitive behavioural therapy approach for treating depression. I work with the client to help them identify the toughts that they are having that lead to feelings of depression. We also work to discover the unhelpful habits that they have that lead to low mood. This is accomplished by discussion within the therapy session, however clients are also provided with homework in which they are asked to work on strategies in their environment to identify faulty thinking patterns.

Depression is different from ordinary sadness. With sadness, the person experiences a negative event, cries, and grieves over what happened. Afterward, the person feels a little bit better. Depression, on the other hand, occurs when the person falls into a pattern of negative thinking and inactivity. It is associated with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. After an episode of depression the person does not feel any better. Treatment of depression largely involves teaching people skills to identify and modify negative thinking patterns; reversing withdrawal from activities; finding ways of managing or solving life problems; developing acceptance for things that cannot be changed.

With the fast pace and challenges of life, you do not have to face them alone. Sometimes you need a helping hand and a friendly ear to talk to. It's my passion to help people. I offer counselling and psychotherapy for individuals, couples and families. I work with clients to improve their resiliency, and uncover their strengths using a client centered approach and different modalities to meet needs .

Depression can feel like a never-ending dark tunnel in which hope, purpose, joy, and motivation to live life can seem impossible. Depression can also lead us to feel disconnected from the very things that make life worth living and it can also make reaching out for help challenging. Should you decide to reach out for help, I will work with you to safely explore how depression has been affecting you and identify some of the factors that may have led you to feel depressed. I will also support you in developing tools to cope with depression so that you can experience a greater sense of connection and purpose within your life. Contact me or book a free consultation if you wish to learn more.