Depression Counselling in Picture Butte, AB.

Depression is a mood disorder that can cause a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest that can interfere with daily functioning. Reaching out for help is a step towards wellness. Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but it is a very treatable condition. Therapy for depression helps you overcome the feelings of hopelessness and despair and to gain control of your life.

I work with individuals navigating depression using Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Together, we explore how depression affects your relationships and daily life. Through practical strategies and compassionate support, I aim to help you understand and manage your emotions better. Let's collaborate to explore ways to improve your well-being and relationships.

Depression is on the rise in not only Canada but around the world. There a variety of reasons why this is - I have come to believe its the rise of a society that is busy and not taking care of themselves emotionally and physically. We are focused on the future and not enough on the present. Counselling allows a person to slow down and be in the present. People can then receive care and support as they walk through their feelings, thoughts and stories of their life.

In our sessions, we will explore the factors that contribute to feelings of depression and low mood and practice skill-building. We can learn to identify and shift the thinking patterns, accept and process our emotions, and detach ourselves from any expectations that may be keeping us stuck. We can also learn new ways to relate to ourselves and support ourselves through depression.

Depression is not a sign of weakness or something that you can "just snap out of". It is an illness that requires professional treatment. I can help you investigate what is contributing to your depression, find ways to accept, change or adapt to these situations, set realistic goals for the future, identify unhelpful thought processes or maladaptive behaviours that are contributing to feelings of hopelessness, and develop skills to cope with problems in order to prevent future episodes.

Many people may view depression as unhappiness, but, it is simply more than that. Depression can affect sleep, appetite, sex, pain, energy levels, and emotions. Experiencing depression can make a person feel alone, isolated, stuck, and hopeless. If depression has come knocking at your door, I am here to help you open the door and assist in understanding and managing symptoms. You are not alone and you don't have to figure this out on your own.

Our thinking and our behaviors can have a significant impact on our mood. Learning to understand the core beliefs that we carry and how they cause us to engage in distorted thinking can make a difference to our mood and joy in life. Changing our actions, can impact how we feel. Motivation and energy are low - making change difficult! Work with me to determine the best ways to get you back to a point of experiencing joy.

Depression often comes from certain styles of thinking and making meaning. It does not have to be a permanent state. Together we can explore how you think, communicate and act that gives you the blues and what you can change to be happy and find meaning in life again. Depression not only affects your health but the welfare of those around you. Why prolong a misery? Take steps to cross over this trough and reclaim your vitality!

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.

Depression is finally being recognized and accepted as something that any person can experience. I do not believe that there is any one “magic cure” for depression. However, when given the option, the most productive approach seems to be a combination of medication (natural-based or not, depending on preference) and one-on-one therapy (not to exclude group therapy as an additional resource). Without being too simplistic, the root of most depressions is the presence of anger which has been turned inward. Most of my clients have responded well to therapy when they are given a safe, non-judgmental place to explore the roots of their anger (see notation on “Anger Management”).