Depression Counseling in Vashon, WA.

You did not choose to be depressed and it’s not something most people can simply “shake off.” Depression is real. It’s life altering and can trick you in to believing that you can never be happy again. I am here to help. I would be honored to walk with you as we challenge the narrative of your depression while acknowledging how incredibly hard and real it is. You are not alone, and hope can be the beginning to your own healing.

The treatment of depression begins initially with the addressing the depression symptoms that are disrupting your life. Without attention to these symptoms first, it is difficult for individuals to begin to examine the reasons behind the depression without provoking more of it. Once these symptoms are looked into, we will start to examine the life situations you are in and the relationships, stories, family roles, events and unprocessed emotion that may be the root of the depression. With some time, consistency, openness and commitment to the process, individuals will find their symptoms eased and the enjoyment of every day returned.

Depression can be an endless weight that interferes with a sense of purpose, meaning, and connection in your life. Together, you and your therapist will explore what is contributing to your depression (cognitively, behaviorally, biologically, and situationally), brainstorm manageable solutions, build skills to implement those solutions, and create plans that support lasting change.

When depression takes over, saps all color from life, drains passion from relationships and interest in activities, takes you by the throat, squeezing your chest, deadening your limbs, making it difficult to breathe or move, I hear a cry for the authentic being within to be truly seen, heard, loved, and accepted. We work to gently help the true you rise through the layers of pain, layers of expectations and lies, layers of imposed identity, that bury your heart and spirit. We work to release or transform all those layers, creating a foundation for and affirming the worth of your authentic self and rebuilding your sense of purpose.

Depression isn't just a lack of happiness, for many, it can also be a debilitating condition that robs you of the ability to live your life to the fullest. With understanding, care, and non-judgement, I will teach you the skills you need to help you overcome your depression so you can live the life you want, with the strength and resiliency you deserve.

Everone experiences pain, struggle and stress in life and you may be feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. There are many different causes and different symptoms of depression.YOU ARE NOT DEFINED BY YOUR DEPRESSION: You are more than your mood. We can work on looking at your depression, understanding it, creating some skills to help you become more resilient, look at your thinking, your lifestyle patterns and your relationships. Remember you can learn how to deal with depression! The challege of depression can be an opportunity for personal growth. Let's take action and you'll feel better!

We want to acknowledge how strong you are for looking for help. Our therapists cultivate a safe and nurturing environment to explore your emotions, thoughts, and behavioral patterns. Throughout therapy, you will gain valuable coping strategies to challenge negative cognitive patterns, foster self-compassion, and engage in meaningful activities that boost purpose and happiness.

All of us go through difficult times, however some times some us go through more than our fair share of difficulties. It is during these times that we can benefit from someone who can lend a non judging ear, provide hope, support and gentle guidance. I take great care to see that your needs are being met. We always move at your pace and focus on your goals. I will hear your concerns and together we will tackle what is important to you.

I work with many clients who are depressed and am generally very good at assessing which clients would benefit from medication in addition to talk therapy and which clients would benefit from therapy alone. I am very good at relating to depressed clients and try to help them regain connection to self and others as well as find meaning in their suffering.

There is a way to move beyond depression and make sense of suffering. We will work together to help you develop a new and different relationship with your painful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so you can have greater life satisfaction. Struggling with your feelings pulls you away from the life experiences you want. By learning ways to let go of the painful struggle with difficult thoughts and feelings, you are free to connect with what is meaningful to you. I want to help you become more grounded in the present moment, gain clarity on what really matters to you, and commit to living a full, satisfying life.