Depression Counselling in Ottawa, ON.

Depression affects how you feel, how you think, and how you act. Over time, it becomes so exhausting that "shutting down" sometimes starts to seem like a helpful or beneficial choice. If not shutting down, it may show up in other ways, such as unhealthy habits (drug/alcohol use, malnutrition, sexual promiscuity), self-neglect (poor hygiene, bad sleeping habits, isolation), and even socially or professionally (arguing with friends/family, not showing up for work / not completing tasks). Talking to someone about your feelings of sadness, helplessness, or hopelessness can be the first step to getting that flicker of light re-sparked in your life.

Here is a completely fresh, simplified paragraph for your Depression section that removes the word "system," focuses on "you" and "your body," and easily clears the 75-word/350-character requirement: When you are dealing with depression, it can feel like a heavy, suffocating blanket has settled over your entire life, draining your energy and making even the smallest tasks feel monumental. In our sessions, I offer a warm, compassionate space where you do not have to force a brave face or pretend you are okay. Moving beyond standard cognitive talk therapy, we gently explore how this deep exhaustion and emotional flatness are being held within your physical body.

Depression can seem insurmountable. Whether you've been living with it for a lifetime or it's just recently visited you, therapy can help you build the strategies necessary to move through depression safely and effectively, with self-compassion and patience. This is not something you have to go through alone, and it's something that doesn't have to feel like a permanent part of you.

Saint Paul University’s Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre welcomes a diverse clientele, for individual or couple’s therapy. Services are provided by counselling interns at the Master of Arts and Doctoral level in Counselling and Spirituality at Saint Paul University. *Services in French available

The lack of energy and interest that join depression can be debilitating. Not wanting to see family or friends, or even get out of bed is a reality for many with depression. How do we create a life worth living and spark up that fire of life? Let's work together to build a life for you that is worth living. Let's offer you a space to just be while we do so.

Depression affects millions—yet it can feel profoundly isolating, like a prison of heavy fog, helplessness, guilt, or numbness. You’re not alone: I’ve walked alongside countless clients and seen how therapy can puncture that solitude and lift shame. My goal is to bring empathy, in part shaped by my own life’s challenges, and a warm, non-judgmental presence. Using CBT to reframe unhelpful thoughts, ACT to make room for difficult emotions, and mindfulness to anchor you in the present, we’ll build practical skills and compassionate self-talk to dismantle hopelessness. The goal? To break through the barriers of shame and disconnection—helping you reclaim energy, purpose, and a sense of belonging

When sadness, low energy, or hopelessness take over, it can be hard to see a way forward. In therapy, you’ll find understanding and practical strategies to lift your mood and reconnect with what matters most. Together, we’ll work to uncover patterns that contribute to your depression and create personalized steps toward renewed motivation, purpose, and a brighter outlook on life.

About 1/3 of the population eventually suffers from depression (CMHA). Only family doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists are qualified to diagnose depression. My first recommendation is likely to be for you to discuss your concerns with your family doctor. If a person’s feelings of depression are occurring “out of the blue” and believed to be of a chemical nature, family physicians or psychiatrists may recommend medication. Social workers (like me) provide talk therapy. I can help you take an honest look at what may be contributing to depressive feelings in terms of your thought patterns, current and past events and relationships in order to help you gain skills to decrease symptoms.

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 can cast a shadow over every aspect of life, but there is a way forward. In a compassionate and non-judgmental space, we'll work together to understand and alleviate the symptoms of depression. I'm here to support you on your journey towards renewed hope and self-empowerment. Reach out for a free consultation, and let's begin your path to healing.

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.

Depression can feel like an endless weight, isolating you from the world and draining your sense of hope. I understand the pain and exhaustion it brings, and I’m here to walk with you through it. Together, we’ll explore your emotions in a compassionate, non-judgmental space, helping you find strength and clarity. My goal is to support you in rediscovering purpose and a path toward healing. Please schedule a free consultation with me to see if we are a good fit.

I approach depression with the understanding that it often reflects a nervous system that has been carrying too much for too long. Rather than treating it as a personal failure, we explore it as a protective response shaped by stress, exhaustion, disconnection, or old patterns that once made sense. In our work, we slow things down so you can notice what feels heavy, what feels numb, and what still has a spark of energy or meaning. I offer a calm, steady space where you can reconnect with your own rhythms, rebuild internal capacity, and gently strengthen the parts of you that want more ease, connection, and possibility.