Depression Counselling in Alberton, ON.

Sadness is a common emotion. However, when sadness lingers in our lives, is long term, and affects our day to day life, then it is something to be addressed. I help clients to take steps towards reducing depression through related actions. Alongside this, I work with clients to understand how the depression is controlling them and what strategies we might consider to reduce this control. For example, clients often find it helpful to engage with others, challenge their thinking, consider their past positive experiences, and consider changes to their environment to begin to feel more and more positive emotions and less depressed.

The term depression has become a quite “popular” in the lexicon of people, almost synonymous to being “moody”. However, depression should be taken seriously because it can have dire consequences and can indeed kill. It kills your joy, your interests, your energy, your workability, your relationship and possibly literally you. If you have been moody for weeks, do not delay in seeking care and get professional help. Depression is not easy to treat. It is difficult to overcome on your own, but together we can find your way out of it and resources to get better over time.

When individuals are struggling with worries, fears, perfectionism, sadness, life stresses the most supportive help we can offer is to listen deeply and give them tools and skills which will build their core sense of self and ability to cope. The greatest gift we can give is to help foster well-being and resilience. Ellen's Thrive Counselling develops emotional resilience in individuals, children and teens which will stay with them for life. Research indicates that, after completing this kind of mindfulness/cbt program, a child reduces the possibility of developing ongoing depressive episodes and people with elevated levels of depress acquire the tools needed to find well-being.

I use an integrative non-pathologizing approach that validates the human condition. We all experience low mood and may live with symptoms of depression but I work with clients to accept and understand how they can be curious about what it is that keeps them feeling stuck in that low mood when they are in need of deep rest. Learning how to regulate our emotions supports our ability to maintain a balanced life. We have the power to switch from our fight/flight/freeze state to our rest/relax/digest state. Mindfully and with compassion, we can find a way through this together. Depressive symptoms often shows up with anxious symptoms and vice versa.

With proven strategies and creative, unique approaches, I can assist you with alleviating your depression. If you struggle with incorporating practices to manage your depression, I can offer attractive and practical ways that are easy to use. I also provide encouragement and practical advice when you struggle in relationships because of your depression.

When I work with people who are weighed down with symptoms of depression, I find that it is important to remember two things: go slowly, and go together. Employing a trauma informed, family systems and somatic lens to what you are experiencing can help provide insight into how to move through and manage it. Journeying with clients through their depression is a great honour, and is something I take very seriously. I find that for many people, holding onto hope that things could be different, is something that can seem too much. Part of my commitment to working through depression is that, until you are ready, I will hold onto hope for both us.

Those who struggle with depression can face a loss of their former self, lack of motivation, even a debilitating state of being that impacts one’s functioning. The positive news is that depression is treatable, and it does not define you! At Growth Counselling Services you can establish a new relationship with your depression. We will use an evidenced-based psychotherapy known as ACT. Research shows that ACT is an effective treatment for depression. In working together through the ACT approach, I am confident that a returned sense of purpose and meaning can become your reality once again. If you’re ready to take the journey toward improved well-being, call Growth Counselling Services today

Many times I find that people do not take a holistic bio-psycho-social approach to mood issues. My practice is different as I spend a lot of time taking a really detailed look at how you function in home, community and your school/work environments. We do explore themes in your life to date and understand exactly what we are goal setting around (and that is all done in the initial meeting). I can work with other health care providers including your family doctor - with your permission.

Depression can be one of the most difficult experiences a person can experience! It affects one in five of us. It travels in families. It feels like you are living under an ominous dark cloud. While it can make life difficult, it also can effect our concentration, our physical health, our relationships, our career and our self-esteem. Like cancer the early detection and treatment is in direct correlation to successful treatment. . I have journeyed with hundreds over the years. I am happy to help you through this!

It takes courage to come to therapy for the symptoms of depression, and I don’t take lightly the invitation to walk with someone through their struggles in this area. Together we look at how your thoughts impact your feelings as well as your life story to consider areas of healing from the past as well as solutions for the future. We also consider areas of your thought life that keep you stuck and hinder your forward movement in life.

Depression can grab hold of any of us. It's not a sign of weakness, but a sign of being human. Sherry uses multiple techniques and approaches, tailored to the individual. By looking at the past, present and future, she helps her clients break free of the hold depression can have on them. Whether it's situational or long term, Sherry helps her clients develop new skills and coping skills and helps them live life to the fullest.

Everyone gets down and sad once in a while. This is a normal part of life. However, any time your daily functioning is affected, it is time to seek outside help. You can take control of the situation! I have years of experience and offer you training, guidance, specific therapies and skills to identify the roots of depression and connect you with the supports you need.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach to depression. CBT elects not to focus much on the past and instead focuses on identifying negative thoughts and recognizing healthier and more realistic ones. When a change in attitude occurs, it leads to a change in behavior. As we identify these negative thoughts, we will work together to create treatment goals such as a change to negative behaviors. When we identify these negative thoughts and behaviors, we will practice techniques in a safe, controlled environment that will help you to respond successfully in situations where these become present.

Mood problems affect and thoughts about ourselves, others and impacts the way we see the world. Depression is a very common disorder and can be disabling to the person as well as those with whom you interact. Depression can be caused from many factors: genetics, situational crises, and unmet interpersonal needs. The good news is that depression is treatable. Through counseling and sometimes with the use of medication prescribed by your doctor, one can gain the tools to help you throughout the rest of your life.

My approach includes using empathy and being non-judgmental during interactions with clients, in addition to meeting the client where they are at in their journey. Clients will benefit from depression counselling as they will have a safe environment to share and will be reminded that that with ongoing support they will be able to feel better because they are deserving of living a happy and healthy life.

I combine therapeutic art making with multiple therapeutic techniques and talking therapy based on my client’s need. Clients may be required to create directed pieces of art to gauge their moods and work through things and/or thought patterns that they are struggling with. I guide my clients to focus on their hidden strengths or things that are going well in their lives. This may be difficult to achieve at first, but as my clients work through the process they learn or rediscover things about themselves that may have not been known or lost to them. My clients learn to recognize what they are feeling, identify their triggers, and ways to manage these feelings and care for themselves.

There are many reasons why people suffer from depression. We help to find the reasons why and also work in collaboration at implementing a variety of supports to help you through. We do not diagnose but we do help you manage your depression. There are many steps that you can take to help you move towards a healthier way of functioning. We offer a safe environment for you to take those steps.

Whenever I have worked with clients during the past 10 years who have experienced depressive symptoms, I have found that they have found that both a client-centred and Cognitive Behavioural Theoretical approach seems to be appreciated by them. Within the CBT model, I also have relied on Dialectical Behavioural Theory also to gain understanding and to move on towards coping strategies. I think this therapeutic pattern has been helpful to many of my past clients, as they have said that need to be heard first, gain understanding to their struggles, and then find solutions to alleviate the symptoms which they are experiencing.

At Atlas Therapy, we specialize in supporting individuals facing depression, leveraging our expertise derived from both extensive training and personal experiences. Depression can significantly affect various facets of life, including relationships, work, motivation, and overall functioning. We understand the varying degrees of depression and tailor our approach and treatment plans to meet the unique needs of each client. Rest assured, effective tools, strategies, and methods are available to offer essential support and relief to those navigating through the challenges of depression.

Depression is among the most common and devastating health conditions a person can face. Fortunately, there are treatments that are scientifically supported to provide relief to individuals suffering from depression. In particular, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is among the most researched and proven for mild to moderate depression. At Meristem, we strive to incorporate CBT interventions into individually tailored treatment plans that are wholistic and comprehensive because research and clinical experience has shown us that this eclectic approach gives us the best results at recovery for clients of all ages.

In working with individuals who struggle with depression, I primarily use a cognitive behavioural therapeutic (CBT) approach. The principal aim of this approach is to increase awareness that thoughts and behaviours drive emotion. In addition, the goal is to increase consciousness of distorted perceptions. That is, often individuals who struggle with depression do not think accurately, and if their thoughts are not accurate, than they cannot be trusted. The purpose of CBT is to bring awareness to cognitive distortions and then teach individuals how to rebalance their thoughts to be more accurate.

Depression robs us from enjoying relationships and activities that were once fulfilling. There are many reasons people experience depression and there is no need to suffer alone. Psychotherapy can help by exploring aspects that are influencing depression as well identify strategies to manage it. It would be an honor to journey with you in managing depression.

Negative commentary colours the experiences of individual’s living with depression. Negative thoughts, maladaptive attitudes, and perceptions of despair often are characteristic of people’s experiences with depression. Through Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), these individual thought-processes can be altered in favour of ones which facilitate emotions and behaviours more advantageous and functional to an individual’s daily life. As a practitioner of CBT, an awareness of how an individual’s beliefs may be maintaining symptoms of depression as well as the requisite skills provided to facilitate more adaptive ways of thinking to overcome it will be taught.

I have seen many clients who have either given up or whom are on the verge giving up on, what many claim is ‘everything’…. Nothing seems to be of interest to them. Nothing really is happening in life that they want to talk about. But the persistent sadness and lack of personal drive becomes a constant burden and the constant persistence of everyone telling them to get out of their ‘funk’ is starting to take its toll. Using Dialectic Behavioural Therapy, guided meditation, mindfulness, and other strategies we work to successfully get clients “out of this rutt” and truly realize their potential.

While we all have days where we feel sad and 'depressed', if it goes on day after day so that negative thoughts make us feel exhausted, powerless, empty, discouraged and hopeless, then we need help. Leaving depression untreated can lead to several physical and mental complications and even suicide. Fortunately, trained counsellors can assist us in retraining our mind and teach us new skills to challenge depressive thinking so that we can lead a confidently depression free life.