Depression Counselling in Nisku, AB.

Depression is a symptom that can be debilitating. The suffering is great and we often do not have the energy to handle life the way we feel we need too. Therapy is an evidence based way to treat depression. The work I do focuses on understanding the root cause of the depression, and working with you to begin allowing yourself to transform and live in a way that in congruent with who you really are.

The main approach for depression is cognitive. Firstly always I empathize and listen carefully to what is happening with the client and how they are coping. The main strategy is to explain the process of cognition, emotions and behavior. I give written homework to help the client change unrealistic and negitive thoughts into positive thinking, which then in turn changes their emotion and behavior.

At The Counselling Space, we recognize the debilitating effects that depression has on clients, not only as individuals, but also on their relationships. As a parent, partner, friend, or employee, it is very hard to function in life when depression has drained the life force and energy we rely on to enjoy day to day activities and relationships. Together, we work with clients to identify the smallest, most manageable steps clients can take to make changes in their lives. We understand that when depression comes to visit, change can feel overwhelming and even impossible at times - because of this, we follow your lead, nudging you forward in a gentle way to support your unique healing journey.

Sometimes depression feels so dark it is hard to get out of bed. Other times it is more like a "heavy cloud" that burdens you with constant negative thoughts and feelings. Sometimes people are haunted by a barrage of critical thoughts like "what's wrong with you", " you always screw up", " if only you were like other people". Counselling helps you change the way you think and feel about yourself so you can approach life with a more hopeful and positive outlook.

Sometimes we find ourselves stuck, with little to no motivation. We might also blame ourselves or others for how we got here. As a psychologist my role isn't to change you, rather it is to help you gain a greater understanding of what is going on. However, this isn't a stopping point. Through greater understanding we might also increase our compassion for ourselves. By giving ourselves some grace and working through the stress and challenges of our lives often we find that motivation to move forward and continue to grow and thrive!

As someone who has a history of depression personally and intergenerationally, I am well aware of the great challenges and opportunities for growth that this experience can bring. For those struggling with depression, healing can feel elusive, as if nothing will ever work. It often requires a wider lens, an eye for patterns and a deeply supportive and holistic orientation to shift this dynamic. My approach comes from my years of experience moving through and finally out of my own depression and integrating the ancestral patterns that laid the foundation for it in my life. I now come to you with a wide-reaching tool kit to support you in your journey.

The way you think greatly impacts how you feel, and navigating this on your own can be confusing. If you are one of the 1in 5 Canadians that experience depression at sometime in your life, there is help. Together we can take a closer look at how you think and appraise circumstances and events and explore how that impacts your overall outlook and feelings. When you change the way you think you can change how you feel and I am here to help with that.

When one is depressed the range of thoughts and feelings encompass a wide spectrum. Sadness and despair might be pervasive. One can feel as if they have fallen into a deep dark pit where everything is covered in negativity and hopelessness. In this state, one can feel inadequate, discouraged, unable or unwilling to make decisions. In addition, guilt, shame, profound low self-esteem and loss of interest in relationships, sex, career and even life itself are commonly found. A variety of evidence-based tools, specific to the needs of the individual, applied skillfully at the right time, can dramatically lift one out of that deep, dark pit and help avoid relapse.

Depression affects an estimated 1 in 15 adults every year, and 15% of people will experience depression at some point in their lives. It isn’t just an episode of sadness; you can’t simply snap out of it. If you’ve never experienced it, it’s hard to understand what living with this complex medical illness is like. Living with depression often means believing that things will never change; you are stuck in overwhelming darkness that will never go away.

Many people think depression is about not doing enough or being uncommitted to their goals, however, people who struggle with depression are facing the problem of being over-committed to their goals and failing. When I work with clients dealing with depression the goal is to manage goals and expectations and work on creating small changes that build momentum to larger changes.

The depression of our feelings can make things feel better for the moment and can even be a healthy way to manage in the short-term. The problem arises when we push these feelings down over time. What makes it worse is that others may even promote the depression of our feelings. But our feelings do not go away and we begin to feel depressed. Learning to reengage with our feelings helps us rediscover our strength in managing them. I have successfully worked with people from a variety of backgrounds to treat depression and look forward to working with you. Visit my website at www.prairieowlpsychology.ca from more details.

I provide help for individuals experiencing depression and how it may be affecting multiple aspects of everyday life such as work, family, friendships, other relationships and day-to-day responsibilities. In counselling I help clients better understand multiple aspects of depression, develop the tools needed to cope more effectively, and restore feelings of hope.

Depression is often a co-occurring concern of someone struggling with an eating disorder and/or eating related issues. We work with clients with complex presentations to help them work towards a life free from these mental health challenges. Our team is highly capable of helping clients who have multiple presenting concerns, including depression, eating disorders, anxiety, trauma, and personality issues.