Depression Counselling in West Grey, ON.

Treating Depression is complex. Understanding origins of depression (i.e. genetic, trauma, biology, situational vs pervasive) is the beginning of treatment. From here we begin to process and strategically treat the depression using a team approach; Psychotherapy, pharmacology, physician, family and friends. Treatment should begin with intensity then be tailored with management.

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!

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.

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.

Depression can manifest in various ways, ranging from persistent sadness and fatigue to feelings of hopelessness and a lack of motivation. It can be an overwhelming experience that affects not just your emotional state but also your physical health, relationships, and daily functioning. My primary aim in our work together is to create a supportive and empathetic environment where you can feel comfortable exploring your thoughts and feelings. Finally, I want to emphasize that this process takes time, and it’s okay to have setbacks along the way. Healing is not linear, and it's important to be gentle with yourself as you navigate this journey. I am here to support you every step of the way.

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.

Hope, purpose, self-respect, and connecting with those close to you are vital for a full and healthy life. Depression can often come like a wave and steal them from you. When these factors are missing from our lives it can result in feeling helpless, irritable, lonely, confused, and negatively impact your energy, sleep, appetite, and ability to concentrate. Working with strategies to help you process negative thoughts and difficult emotions, therapy can help you develop a sense of control and safety in your life, as well as work on a more positive sense-of-self and of those around you. Change is possible and joy is available, we can do it together.