Depression Counselling in Niagara Falls, ON.

While we all have days where we feel sad and 'depressed', if it goes on day after day so that negative thoughts make us feel exhausted, powerless, empty, discouraged and hopeless, then we need help. Leaving depression untreated can lead to several physical and mental complications and even suicide. Fortunately, trained counsellors can assist us in retraining our mind and teach us new skills to challenge depressive thinking so that we can lead a confidently depression free life.

Experiencing depressive symptoms, low mood, low affect, low-ness is hard. Using psychodynamics and person-centered, strengths based therapies, I strive to aid clients in understanding the patterns of these symptoms so we can, collaboratively work together to process these feelings and devise ways that work for you to regulate and improve mood over time.

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.

Depression can be mild moderate or severe. It need not be severe in order to ask for help. Wherever your depression is along the continuum of severity, we can work together to develop strategies to help you work toward rediscovering motivation, increase energy levels, let go of the tendency to dwell on negative thoughts and feel more connected in your life and your relationships.

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.

Depression can affect every aspect of your life from creating changes in your mood, intense feelings of sadness, to impacting your work performance, disrupting your sleep, and causing changes in your enjoyment of once pleasurable activities. I utilize evidence-based practices, including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and narrative therapy, to examine both the current impacts and potential underlying causes to help you manage and break the cycle of depression.

When it comes to depression, I believe that small change leads to bigger change. In my work with clients who experience feelings of depression, I take a more concrete, solution-focused approach and aid clients in taking small steps towards a greater goal, all while soliciting strengths and resources and moving at the client’s pace. In doing so, my hope is to help clients see how capable they are and transfer this knowledge into other domains of their lives. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ensure we are a good fit.

Depression is a sadness that accompanies us wherever we go stealing our experience of happiness and joy. Others often do not understand that depression has changed our vision of a colorful, vibrant world to one of varying shades of gray. Depression can make tasks that were once completed without much thought like taking a shower, brushing one's teeth, or even getting out of bed, feel like an overwhelming challenge. Activities and people that we once enjoyed, no longer bring pleasure. "Why can't I just snap out of it?!" I use an integrative approach to therapy providing an empathetic, supportive dynamic to empower you to change your emotional experience of life.

The quagmire of depression can feel impossible to escape. Getting started is the hardest. In counselling we first explore ways you might change the situation. Initially you may not succeed. But even the effort will energize you and may lead to other actions, other arenas where you have more options. You will learn something new. Best of all you will feel more alive, more involved with other people and with daily life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy & it's offshoots are well-tested approaches to changing depression by altering your actions or expanding your thoughts. Another approach, Mindfulness, can give a broader perspective. Counselling helps you explore and discover what works for you.