Depression Counselling in Lions Bay, BC.

Within an empathetic, safe and trusting relationship and environment, I will help explore the roots of your depression and educate about the various effects it has on ones psychical and psychological self. We will work together at providing you with whatever you might need to better cope with your depression or even alleviate it. I have implemented many mindfully based interventions which can help my clients gain a better sense of self, calm and relaxation, which can significantly help them cope with their current mental state.

To provide psychoeducation with depressive symptoms and how this will not only affect their mood, but also their own body's response. The mind and body connection will be pivotal. To explore the root cause of their depression and provide coping strategies that will be enable the client to live a good quality of life. Talk therapy with the incorporation of CBT, DBT, and SFBT.

Research tells us that depression is the most treatable mental health issue. I am passionate about conceptualizing depression as a symptom instead of root problem. Depression is a normal response to things like painful life experiences, suppressed emotion, attachment trauma, abuse, complicated grief, loss of self-efficacy. Re-establishing connection to ourselves (i.e., our inner worlds), our bodies, important relationships, spirituality, meaningful work in life, etc., have all been shown to lead to a significant decrease in depressive symptoms. Savoring positive emotional experiences, and being relentless in the search for hope, are things I partner with my clients to do.

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.

Many adults and children will encounter depression at some point in their life. One of the crucial elements of healing is talking your feelings through with a trusted professional. I can help you combat your depression by addressing the feelings themselves and the issues that cause them. I offer a combination of focusing on solutions and supporting you through the difficult times. We will work together to resolve your current issues, free you from the many symptoms of depression and develop a strategy to prevent it in the future. I work with a holistic approach that is tailored to you. Contact me to start making changes today.

The emotional as well as physical pain of depression can seem unmanageable at times. Using a combination of Cognitive and Behavioural therapy, as well as a psychodynamic approach I first help individuals manage and combat the symptoms they are experiencing. I then gently push them to explore and understand the deeper correlates and events (past and present) that contribute to their ongoing sense of feeing unwell.

Depression can feel debilitating and leave people feeling isolated and unsure of how to get out of that "grey" zone. I describe it that way because when depressed, everything feels grey and nothing seems to matter. I think it is very important to uncover the underlying causes of a client's depression. This typically involves an increased awareness of how they are seeing themselves, and changing these negative thought patterns. In a way, depression can result in self loathing and recrimination. I help my clients make significant shifts in how they see themselves and others.

Modern populations are increasingly overfed, malnourished, sedentary, sunlight-deficient, sleep-deprived, and socially-isolated. Research is showing that depressed people who put time and energy into activities that will help them recover have a higher recovery rate. Things that can help improve mood and feelings are: physical exercise, diet, managing our thoughts and feelings, self-care, social contact, improving our body 'clock' and mindfulness. None of them work like a magic cure, but when used regularly and in combination, they will help you feel much better. Everyone's mood fluctuates, so even if you put these things into practice, you will still have bad days. Be patient, it takes time

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 is extremely complex - at times it can completely turn your life upside down and rob you of any joy or happiness that you previously felt. Yet other times it can also show up in more subtle ways throughout your life, almost unknowingly at first. Every person is different but one commonality with depression is that it can make you feel incredibly alone and self-deprecating. Isolation feeds depression and hinders our functioning. My aim is to create a compassionate relationship so that you don’t feel alone. I’ll offer empathy and kindness while we gently work as a team to find what works for you in your journey towards a healthier mind.

Having difficulty coping with life? Feeling unfulfilled? Feeling overwhelmed? Don't know who you are? In a life or work transition? Suffering from seasonal affective disorder? I will create a warm, safe environment and help you discover what changes you can make to feel better, happier and more satisfied. Change feelings, thoughts and behaviours to help you break the cycle. I can help you process your thoughts and feelings and gain insight into yourself. Together we will work with the tools your need to create a new beginning helping you find new meaning in life and setting up goals for the future.

Are you struggling to get out of bed, losing interest in once-loved activities or feeling helpless and hopeless? The lethargic and foggy shutdown of depression can make everything in life feel just a few inches out of reach. The good news is that depression is readily treatable. I would be glad to help you explore what is keeping your body stuck in numb disconnection. Next, we form a plan to help you back to your best self. Together we tackle here-and-now symptoms with strategies of mindfulness and CBT, while also untying old knots from the past with emotion-focused and inner-child work. The heaviness of depression is your body asking for care. Are you ready to answer its call?

Our practice incorporates the compassionate inquiry approach to delve deeper into the underlying factors contributing to depression. Additionally, we utilize approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other approaches to assist clients in developing awareness of the thoughts that lead to feelings of depression. Furthermore, we integrate positive psychology techniques to promote well-being and resilience.

Depression is real and it can range from feeling a little sad to being seriously clinically depressed. It has been my experience as a counsellor to find that many people are sad and label themselves as "depressed" when actually they are unhappy with their lives for all kinds of reasons. The biggest benifit for many of my clients is discovering that they begin to feel alot better as they work through their feeligs about what makes them sad. And often ,as not ,this process does not take that long.

Depression can be a debilitating mental health issue, but the good news is there are excellent therapies out there designed to help treat it! Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments in helping with depression. CBT is a shorter term and skills-based therapy intended to help individuals learn strategies to better manage their mood and improve the quality of their life. I'd be happy to discuss more about CBT for depression with you!

Depression drains your energy, hope, and drive, making it difficult to do what you need to feel better. But while overcoming depression isn’t quick or easy, it’s far from impossible. You can’t beat it through sheer willpower, but you do have some control—even if your depression is severe and stubbornly persistent. Recovering from depression requires action. But taking action when you’re depressed is hard. In fact, just thinking about the things you should do to feel better, like going for a walk or spending time with friends, can be exhausting. Getting the support you need plays a big role in lifting the fog of depression and keeping it away.

If depression could speak, it would say "why bother?" Depression leaves us feeling unmotivated, hopeless, and negative about ourselves and our potential. In counselling, I provide a compassion-focused approach to treating depression that will help you to increase your sense self-worth and build motivation to mobilize yourself. I believe that when treating depression, it is essential to explore emotions such as anger, guilt and shame that often perpetuate a defeated and empty state. Doing so can feel uncomfortable, but is ultimately liberating. Many of my depressed - even suicidal - clients report that therapy has helped improve their mood and take meaningful action in their lives.

Being able to talk about our experiences and allow our feelings to surface is a first step toward unlocking ourselves from the weight of depression. The therapeutic approaches I draw on to support your shift out of a state of depression to a happier, more hopeful perspective will depend on your unique circumstances. f safety and trust feel confident to start sharing your experience with me, knowing that you are seen and understood. Often we have not had a place to share our struggles where we felt heard and accepted. Even the small shift in perspective that can be the result is enough to begin change.

Do you find yourself waking up in the morning unmotivated, low energy and just blah? Is it hard to remember feeling happy and excited? Depression may creep up on you or it may be feel like you are at the bottom of dark hole that you can't find your way out of. Together we will work to discover the source of your sadness and re-build your life. There is hope and things can feel better.

I can help you explore feelings that you may not be aware of. I can help you understand how your behavior and mood can be affected by unresolved issues from your past or present. Some depression symptoms may be low self-esteem, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, changes in sleep, and feelings of loneliness. I offer counselling that will help you understand and work through difficult relationships or situations that may be causing or contributing to your depression. I encourage you to talk through your feelings in order to make positive change in your life.

Depression is often missed in the early stages especially if people are naturally high functioning and task oriented individuals who have been struggling for a while. Depression can be a very lonely and frustrating experience. Causes can range from trauma, genetics, caregiver burnout or just life. The worst part is how depression can steal motivation and joy of life leaving people with a chronic sense of hopelessness that medication doesn't always help. Being in a safe place to access the feelings below the surface can help. I offer therapeutic modalities like CBT, Hypnotherapy and Holistic therapies such as mindfulness and energy healing for depression.

Feelings of sadness and depression are one of the most common reasons people seek therapy. While common, everyone's experience of depression is unique, including how it began, how it feels and how it affects present day functioning. Heather always uses a collaborative approach with clients and a blend of therapeutic approaches, including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, interpersonal therapy, and an exploration of the relational, situational and social contexts and patterns that may be contributing.

Depression is often associated with negative beliefs about oneself and the world, and EMDR can help to desensitize and reprocess these negative beliefs, leading to a more adaptive and positive worldview. Through the use of bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, EMDR can help to process the distressing memories and beliefs, reducing the intensity of the emotional response and increasing emotional resilience. By addressing the underlying negative beliefs, EMDR can help to alleviate symptoms of depression and improve overall mood and well-being.

My approach to depression is to support you in accessing what is keeping you depressed, which often is a resistance to or a fear of feeling and experiencing something or things. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can be very useful as we can begin to identify what is important to you and make actionable steps to going toward those values, which is a huge antidote to depression. ACT skills will also support you in having a different relationship with your thoughts and the inner critic. Self compassion is a huge antidote to depression, a lot of people have resistance to this concept, but lack of self compassion is a huge feeder of depression.

We are first interested in the context and history of the depression or sadness and what may it potentially be in response to. We understand that it is normal to feel extreme sadness in the face of trauma, violence, grief and loss, etc. We also know that clinical depression is something that deserves intentional support and intervention. We work to understand and provide the best support for each individual or family.