Depression Counselling in Calgary, AB.

I have worked as a counsellor for the past 15+ years working with clients struggling from depression and anxiety. Depression can stem from many sources and I establish whether the depression is situational or systemic. What this means is that depression that is situational is that a life event or situation is causing difficulty in the person's life such as depression resulting from grief and/or loss. When depression is systemic, there is usually a long term experience of depression in one's life and has been either on-going since childhood or early adulthood or intermittently since then. This usually indicates that there is unprocessed trauma in a person's background.

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 treatment counsellors can help clinically depressed or mildly depressed individuals find the origin of their depression, so it is treated more permanently. In combination with meditation or without, cognitive behavioural therapy, bi-lateral stimulation, EMDR and exposure therapies are skillfully woven into Shift’s protocol, to create a structured and highly effective treatment. Risk factors and development factors are investigated in the initial intake session. Continued screenings for treatment progression and depression symptoms are present in all subsequent sessions, as well.

We’ve been told over and over that depression is the result of biochemical imbalance and requires medication to be treated. But more recent research suggests that declaring biochemistry as the leading cause of depression has been overblown. I recognize that sometimes antidepressant medication is helpful, but newer research supports my experience that it has been overprescribed. While I know that depression is an unwanted visitor and that it can be hard to see how it serves any purpose, I invite you to consider it as an opportunity to go more deeply within to come to some greater healing and understanding in your life. I am here to facilitate that process with as much comfort as possible.

I believe in an approach to helping that starts from building on the strengths of the client; using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused, and Problem Solving pragmatic approaches to help the client learn new strategies to initially cope and then delve into changing the way they think about themselves and their world. Breaking and changing ineffective and damaging thinking patterns and replacing them with more effective and sound habits and patterns is the groundwork for change. I also believe that using an existential approach that takes into account searching for and creating meaning is crucial to building success and growing out of depression.

Depression issues can both result from distress in relationships and precipitate distress. Support in addressing depression issues can have a signifiacant positive impact on overall relationship functioning. The fact that relationships are one of our primary coping mechanisms multiplies the potential distress when depression is present as it impacts the very mechanisms we use to cope.

People today choose to do counselling for a variety of reasons. Think about what you are struggling with in the moment; it may be depression, anxiety, or it may be something like wanting to change jobs, finding motivation, or building confidence. Therapy is for everyone and it is empowering. You may not think so, but seeking the guidance of a professional counsellor or psychotherapist to overcome your concerns is an indicator of individual courage. In a warm, supportive and non-judgmental environment, you will gain new skills to cope with your challenges. The process of therapy can help shift your perception and change unhelpful patterns of behaviour into meaning growth and empowerment.

Everyone feels “down”, gloomy, discouraged, or sad from time to time. For some people, however, this “low” or depressed mood persists. When symptoms last for two weeks or more, and are so severe that they interfere with daily functioning, it is called depression. While clinical depression usually occurs in adulthood, it can also affect children, adolescents, and seniors, but it is more difficult to recognize in these groups. Factors such as low self-esteem and self-defeating or distorted thinking styles are connected with depression, otherwise known as a mood disorder. Events or circumstances in early childhood may also increase the likelihood of depression in adulthood. There is good new....

Depression can be all-consuming and life can seem overwhelming, difficult and hopeless at times. Despite the feeling of hopelessness, there is a reason to hope. Depression is manageable and something my clients can and do overcome. Because depression is unique to each person, I tailor my counselling style and approach to what works best for you. I also offer hypnotherapy because of the success it has in treating depression. Part of this process will involve being open to changing unhelpful patterns and behaviours. With your willingness and my guidance and support, you can identify what contributes to your depression, how to catch yourself from regressing and identify how to maintain progress

Being in a dark place can seem so much more bleak when no one seems to be able to understand. And, it's even worse when those you love just expect you to pull yourself together and get on with it and it feels God is just as far away. Come and experience a special place of deep understanding for women's depression where your faith is integrated with the empowerment that comes from owning the skills you need to walk out of depression and breath again.

Feeling sad or down from time to time is normal and typically short-lived. Longer periods of sadness may occur with grief or loss of a loved one -- also very normal. It's unrealistic to imagine we should feel happy all the time. But, sometimes, the normal and transient experience of healthy sadness become long-lasting and persistent sadnessor depression that settles in to stay and interferes with day-to-day life. Whenyou're depressed, you can't just 'snap out of it'. You might feel anxious, pessimistic, guilty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, irritable. Depression affects sleep, appetite, sex, and energy. But depression is treatable. I can help you turn the tide of your depression.

Feeling blue, down in the dumps, overwhelmed, pessimistic, these heavy sensations are most often part of the challenges of everyday living. But when these kinds of feelings persist, or take over one's emotional life, you may be experiencing symptoms of depression. I will be interested in learning about your mood, your sleep patterns, your ability to concentrate, even some of your most negative thoughts. If depression is clearly present, we will explore strategies around getting to the bottom of your concerns or symptoms, whether a medical intervention is needed such as medication from your doctor, or some deep talking and re-thinking circumstances would make a positive difference.

Tons of people struggle with depression. It can come from different sources; I take the time to help my clients understand the nature of *their* particular depression as it fits into their entire life: mind, body, and soul, better helping them fight for hope and joy. My treatment approach gives clients the strategies, resources and support that can strengthen their abilities to fight this stubborn darkness, leading to greater fulfillment and flourishing in life and relationships.You can feel better again!