Depression Counselling in Highlands, BC.

I am honoured that you are interested in my services and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I have been described as slightly non-conventional in the counselling world, which suits me perfectly, and also tends to suit youth who are trying to stand up to the force of the problems in their life. I am very comfortable working with this population, and I feel fortunate that I can connect with teens the way I do, conventionally or in a way that makes sense to them.

Are you looking for therapeutic help in learning about cognitive strategies for managing depression? Are you wanting a compassionate space to reflect and gain deeper insights into your experience with depression? Are you wanting time for deeper spiritual exploration into your experience with depression? Depression is often complex and does not respond to a "one strategy fits all" approach. Together, we will develop an approach that involves a combination of clinically sound methods that meets your needs in helping you to cope with the daily challenges of living with depression.

Clients have talked about being down there in ‘the pit’, not being able to see any light, only darkness with no path. You are doing less and less, you are losing motivation to connect with others, or even get out of bed. Using behavioural activation, where we listen to or thoughts instead of our feelings, we can pull ourselves out of the downward spiral of depression. Sometimes that means treating trauma too. With help, imagine someone throws down some tools and materials, we make a plan to build a ladder, and with support and encouragement, you get yourself out of that pit. I know there's a path and I have helped others find it.

I can guide you to take that first important step using relevant therapeutic insights and my own experience. If your depression is crippling your life or is hurting your loved ones, you need to do something even if it is hard to believe that anything can ever be different. You may tend to feel that nothing matters or that talking or sharing can not help you. Even when you feel you have little or no control, getting a sense of what is going on can provide a small opening you need to think and feel differently. A small change at times when we are desperate can make a huge difference in the end. Yes, it takes patience and tenacity. You need to show up and to be prepared to do what you can.

I am available to support at any point in your experience of depression. Recovery from a episode of depression can take time, warmth, patience and small steps. Prevention can involve learning about thought patterns, reducing triggers, plans for action, consultation with other health professionals and lifestyle changes. Some approaches I draw on include, talk therapy, mindfulness, EMDR (eye movement desentization and reprocessing) and CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy).

When you are depressed you may feel sad, weepy, hopeless, helpless, unmotivated, maybe sleep too much or not enough and also lose interest in sexuality, your friends and activities. These feelings last a long time and are really hard on relationships. You may think that you will never be happy again. You may have tried drugs but now want to take charge yourself of the changes you want to feel in your life. Counseling starts with your story of what is happening. I will ask lots of questions to help you get a clear idea of the causes and patterns in your life. We'll work on coping strategies and maybe try therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. You'll feel more content with your life.

Grey Matters International, Inc. and the work of Kevin J. Fleming, Ph.D. handles depression and other emotional disorders in a very unique way. Most of therapy or counseling processes utilize validation, unconditional positive regard, and reframing as common techniques to get someone to heal from their depression. Though this can be helpful, it rarely fixes the core problem behind it and for tough cases we then refer them usually to a psychiatrist for medication which can have tons of side effects. Instead, why not try a natural and arguably more effective way to not just change your mind, but change the brain--where the depression is rooted. Contact us at kevin@kevinflemingphd.com.

Depression tries to protect us in different ways: it isolates us so we don’t have to suffer the pain of rejection. It helps us avoid situations where it perceives vulnerability as too risky. It rationalizes our status quo by telling us we don’t deserve any better. My approach with depression is to make friends with it. What is it protecting you from? What soul-calling is it barring you from? When we understand how depression is serving you, we can start to build some self-compassion and self-acceptance. Once you begin to relate to yourself differently, you can start —slowly and at your own pace—to open up to the world and your own potential. Ready to feel lighter? Let’s get started.

I believe depression can be the body and mind's way of protesting against aspects of life that are uncomfortable and may not be working anymore. Exploring depression requires patience, gentleness and willingness to wonder what else your life could be. We will look at areas of your life that are successful and work together to find ways to transfer these feelings into all aspects of your life. Depression doesn't have to be a lifelong experience.

Dealing with depression requires that we both lean into the emotions that we are feeling while also making small and steady changes in our daily life. I can help you to learn how to tolerate negative emotions and understand why you might be feeling them. I can also work with you to set up small and achievable goals so that you can take the steps you want in making positive changes in your life.

Caught under a dark and weighty cloud that affects your thoughts, mood, emotions and behaviour? Maybe you're having trouble concentrating, remembering things or even contemplating suicide. Facing depression can alleviate feelings of sadness, worthlessness, guilt, restlessness, emptiness, irritability (just to name a few!). You may also feel relief from more physical symptoms such as a loss of energy and appetite, aches and pains, and digestive problems. Building on the joy and vitality that you may be overlooking in your life, we will pull you out of your pit of despair and teach you how to walk the path with no giant holes!

Feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, or constantly tired? Are you struggling with a sadness that won't lift, losing interest in things you once loved, or trapped in a cycle of negative thoughts? I get it. Depression is tough. But with the right support, you can find joy again, rediscover motivation, and build resilience. As a clinical counsellor, I'm here to help you reclaim your life with compassionate, results-oriented therapy using proven techniques. Let’s take this journey together. Book your free 15-minute phone consultation today and start moving towards a brighter, more empowered future.

I know all about the deep darkness of depression and how to climb out of it. Depression can be brutal and isolating. First we need to be witnessed and understood in our pain in a safe comfortable non-judgemental space. Then we can learn tools and strategies to face the things that seem impossible to face. I will support you to take the steps necessary to improve your depression.

Depression can feel like a wet blanket you wear around you day in and day out. You may find it hard to remember what if felt like before or have hope that you will ever feel normal again. The most valuable thing I can do for a client with depression is to inspire hope, to help you regain your confidence and recover a positive, constructive outlook on life. My therapeutic approach for helping clients move through their depression incorporates a compassionate and nonjudgmental acceptance so important to supporting changes in ourselves.

Using Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Shelley helps clients with depression explore their distorted thinking that leads to feeling hopeless and defeated. By reframing their negative thoughts clients can begin to see their world in a more positive and empowered perpective. Shelley helps clients to embrace themselves in a compassionate and empathic way, and to explore what they can learn, or change in their life that might come from this difficult time. The concept Pain in the Service of Growth helps clients to understand that their negative feelings might be an indication that something needs to change and to feel supported in making those changes, with Shelley's guidance and encouragement.

Depression can affect many areas of a person's life, including mood, motivation, energy, sleep, relationships, and overall wellbeing. My approach focuses on understanding the factors contributing to depression and helping clients develop practical strategies to improve mood and build resilience. I use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based approaches to help clients identify and reframe patterns of thinking that contribute to hopelessness, self-criticism, guilt, or feelings of helplessness. Treatment may also include behavioural activation, which helps clients gradually increase activities that support wellbeing, connection, pleasure, and a sense of accomplishment.

Therapy with me offers a grounded, compassionate space to explore your experience of depression without shame or pressure. Together, we'll gently untangle the weight you've been carrying, reconnect with your strengths and build tools for navigation daily life. Whether your depression feels like numbness, sadness, or exhaustion, you don't have to face it alone. Our work will focus on hope through relationship, creating space for change, and helping you feel more life yourself again--bit by bit.

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 holistic orientation to shift this dynamic. My approach comes from my years resolving my own patterns of 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. I offer EMDR and other trauma processing approaches to support you when appropriate.

Depression can feel deeply lonely and isolating, making it difficult to reach out or believe that things can get better. It’s common to add to this burden by blaming or shaming yourself for feeling the way you do, which only makes healing harder. Together, we’ll gently explore your experiences with compassion, work to break these harmful patterns, and develop practical strategies that foster hope, resilience, and a renewed connection to life’s brighter moments. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to face it alone.

Depression is usually marked by a change in eating habits, sleep, and energy levels. The person may suffer from isolation and a sense of worthlessness. I work to draw out my clients' concerns and deeper thoughts as well as their doubtful concerns. Every person has the potential of drifting into a depressed states, and some people live here a lot. But sharing one's personal thoughts and unmet needs is a powerful way to draw a person out of their depression. I also focus on some of their past successes, even in situations that appear to be futile. We all have the power to survive and overcome, even when things seem hopeless. Bearing witness to the moments of success, contribute to forward moti

Feeling sad or low is something everyone goes through at times. But when those feelings don’t go away, begin to worsen, or start interfering with daily life, they may be a sign of depression. Depression can feel very isolating—you may worry that no one understands, or that things will never get better. In a safe and supportive environment, Laurie helps clients explore what may be contributing to their depression and find research-based strategies that can ease symptoms and support lasting change.

Dr. Sloat's therapeutic approach* to treating depression stems from her belief that depression is best treated while a person is feeling well. Although she acknowledges that depression should also be treated while acute, she also recognizes that depression tends to be episodic for long term sufferers, and the best way to long term success is to create tools and strategies while well that inoculate against further episodes. In short, Dr. Sloat describes her approach as "Depression Management". *Approach includes CBT, i.e., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Just about will experience depression at some point in their lifetime. Sometimes, there is a clear reason for its presence… sometimes it might not make sense. Depression can knock us hard, flatten us out and keep us down. Sadness, unhappiness, unmotivated, helpless, discouraged, hopeless, numb or just feeling empty with no energy… it manifests in all kinds of ways. In my practice, I help people to gain insight into their relationship with depression and develop a personalized approach to get through to the other side. With some help, change is very much possible. You can get up again and move toward different experience in life.

Living with depression can be like wading through mud. Every step requires enormous effort. All the while, the gas tank is empty. For many, the urge is to take to bed, as the world just feels like too much to face. I like to work on the root cause of depression while simultaneously collaborating on small manageable steps to regain confidence and interest in living a valued life. I find that working on what seems to be an unsolvable problem is often the starting point of recovery. My goal is to provide support and guidance that goes beyond just the sense of feeling "better". Rather, my aim is for my client's to thrive, with the newfound capacity to experience joy and happiness.

Depression can leave you feeling exhausted, disconnected, stuck in self-doubt, or struggling to find motivation for things that once felt manageable. You may find yourself withdrawing from others, overthinking, feeling emotionally numb, or carrying a harsh inner critic. In therapy, we'll explore the underlying emotions and protective patterns that may be contributing to your depression rather than simply trying to push difficult feelings away. Using a blend of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and somatic approaches, we'll help you reconnect with yourself, build self-compassion, and create meaningful, lasting change.