Depression Counselling in Aurora, ON.

Many years ago depression was called melancholia and was not considered so negatively as it is in our current "performance" focused culture. We are expected to be "up" continuously in today's busy life-styles, with work, children, relationships, and even in our playtime. The result of this sort of expectation can be debilitating and certainly can lead to long bouts of feeling out of control, unfulfilled, unmotivated and ultimately immobilized. Depression can certainly be dealt with through very effective therapeutic techniques. I work with clients to better understand the root cause of their sadness and help them to look at the possible meaning behind their depression and how to best cope.

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.

You have been down for such a long time, or maybe you go in and out of feeling blue and want to get off the rollercoaster. I use Emotion Focused Therapy to help you explore and experience safely the emotional spectrum that underlies depression. I will work slowly and carefully with you to help you to resolve the heaviness that has robbed you for too long so that you can be more resilient and joyful in life.

Our emotions work to provide us with information about a situation, environment, or relationship. When we experience depression, it is typically because we have experienced many disappointments in our life, or believe that we have let important others down. Our coping strategies become overwhelmed and we experience feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Together, we can explore the circumstances surrounding your depression symptoms to develop an understanding of them. This will assist us in identifying new ways of reducing and managing these emotions, to improve your daily functioning and overall quality of life.

Depression can cast a shadow over every aspect of life, but there is a way forward. In a compassionate and non-judgmental space, we'll work together to understand and alleviate the symptoms of depression. I'm here to support you on your journey towards renewed hope and self-empowerment. Reach out for a free consultation, and let's begin your path to healing.

Depression can affect every aspect of your life from creating changes in your mood, intense feelings of sadness, to impacting your work performance, disrupting your sleep, and causing changes in your enjoyment of once pleasurable activities. I utilize evidence-based practices, including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and narrative therapy, to examine both the current impacts and potential underlying causes to help you manage and break the cycle of depression.

In many cases, I view depression as an "alarm bell" that tells the individual that there is something wrong in their life. Have they turned their anger in life toward themselves? Are they not living their best, or preferred, life? Is there something that's happened in their life that is getting them down, but they don't realize how much power it truly has? Depression can also be about learned helplessness, or having a sense, through experience, that there is no point in even trying at something. Such helplessness can come from feeling defeated, feeling significant guilt about something, & even from self-defeating 'self-talk' that an individual engages in (without completely realizing it).

Our team will determine a unique treatment plan that is unique to your life. There are many symptoms of depression, which can vary from mild to severe. Several factors can contribute to depression such as, biochemistry, genetics, personality, and environmental factors. Depression can be treated using different approaches. Everyone is affected by depression differently, thus, treatment plans are unique to the individual Our team of professionals will work with you in order to find treatment options that work best for you and your life.

Studies have shown that psychotherapy for depression can be as effective as taking antidepressants. Depression can range from mild feelings of sadness and emptiness to all-encompassing, fully debilitating darkness. If you are experiencing feelings of depression, emptiness, hopelessness, and sadness and are finding it difficult to function in your day to day life, psychotherapy can be helpful in helping you to understand what is going on with you and help you to rise up from the depths to lead a more satisfying and meaningful life. It can also assist you in re-engaging in the process of living and in relationships with the people who are important to you.

Shyamala has extensive experience working with clients that struggle with feelings of sadness and depression, including experience working collaboratively with a medical team. Her approach includes cognitive behavioural therapy to help clients in coping with the symptoms of depression and creating a plan to move forward, as well as exploring patterns of emotional regulation that may lead to longer term success in managing this very common issue.

Depression is different from ordinary sadness. With sadness, the person experiences a negative event, cries, and grieves over what happened. Afterward, the person feels a little bit better. Depression, on the other hand, occurs when the person falls into a pattern of negative thinking and inactivity. It is associated with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. After an episode of depression the person does not feel any better. Treatment of depression largely involves teaching people skills to identify and modify negative thinking patterns; reversing withdrawal from activities; finding ways of managing or solving life problems; developing acceptance for things that cannot be changed.