Depression Counselling in Strathmore, 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.

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.

Counselling for depression can help you in many ways: • offer support • problem solving • recognize and change your thinking and behavior • get your emotional needs met • relate to others • improve skills such as communication, boundaries and assertiveness • increase your self-esteem • deal with guilt and a sense of failure • treat the causes, not only symptoms • get you back into living your life • avoid recurrence. I use physical, emotional, cognitive, interpersonal and spiritual methods to treat depression. I have a special interest and expertise in working with pregnancy and postpartum depression that preserves the well-being of both mom and baby and the whole family.

When struggling with depressed moods, everything feels heavy and you lack a sense of meaning and purpose. Even the most simple tasks can feel impossible. If you find yourself turning to alcohol, substances, or other addictive behaviours to cope with depressed moods, there is a way out. I help clients with addictions overcome the depressed moods causing them to turn to substances or addictive behaviours to cope. Everyone is different, so I work with you to develop a plan that fits your unique situation. If you are unsure where to start, send me a message. If I'm not the right fit, I can connect you to resources that will allow you to start getting help today, without having to wait.

Research has clearly demonstrated that mindfulness-based approaches to depression are so powerful that they can reduce the chances of having a relapse by 50%! That's a big deal. A depressed mind is busy creating all kinds of negative thoughts. Mindfulness-based therapy will teach you a new way to relate to your thoughts. You don't have to believe everything you think! Especially the bad stuff, becuse it's often not true.

Cognitive behavior therapy has been found to be one of the most effective treatment modalities for working with depression issues. Clients can expect to gain an understanding of the roots of their depression and/or anxiety, the possible treatment outcomes and be able to have hands-on experience for working through ones depression if they are working with Cory. The ultimate goal is to help clients regain control of their lives.

Using active techniques, the client works towards increasing structure in their day and motivation by focusing on values. With an experiential approach, each session becomes a chance to celebrate victories, self-reliance, and strength of character. The client is challenged to become more responsible in their quest to live a better life, trying out techniques that can be carried forward day-to-day.

If you struggle with hopelessness, fatigue, sadness, guilt and / or negative thinking, seeking an external support may provide you with the perspective and support required to initiate meaningful change. There are a number of different tools and techniques available to those living with depression or mood concerns. Please contact me to discuss my approach and how I may be able to help you address the struggles you are facing.

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.