Depression Counselling in East York, ON.

The fog of depression is often an isolating blackness, a heavy cloud that obscures the sunlight, casting shadows in all areas of our lives. You don’t have to endure this journey alone. In our sessions I will join you in this journey and sit with you in the darkness. Together we will navigate a safe path towards hope and healing knowing that even in the darkest moments you won’t be alone.

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.

Are you feeling stuck with feelings of sadness, a loss of interest, fatigue or the difficulty in concentrating? Dealing with depression is a constant battle for many. I will help you identify why it is that you are feeling this way. We will dig deep to identify the core of what is holding you back from leading the life you want. Together we will make a plan that will put you on the path to leading a full life, free of the struggles that are keeping you stuck.

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.

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.

Aside from bio-chemical imbalances in one's body, depression can arise from a number of situational and relational factors. We can explore how any of these can be understood, responded to, and lived with in a way which can help to alleviate depressive challenges. It can be difficult to gain awareness of what's not right, and how to get things right, when you're battling just to survive. Our work together can help to clarify what's happening, and how to put helpful coping practices to work.

Depression is not something to be ashamed of, nor is it a character flaw or a sign of a weak personality. No one with depression can just "snap out of it". You wouldn't ask someone to "snap out of diabetes or some other illness and you cannot expect it of a person with depression. Everyone gets sad sometimes - a brief blue mood, feelings of disappointment or loss. The great news is that up to 80% of people who receive proper treatment improve as a result. There are two principle modes of treatment for depression - Psychotherapy and medication. You’re not alone; millions of families and friends have felt exactly like you. Your one step closer to change.

For depression I use the technique of externalization - the idea that the depression is not part of you, but rather an external entity that can move closer to you sometimes, and sometimes is further away. I ask questions about what the depression wants from you, the lies it tells you, and we work together to gently tell it some truths, and have it move away for now, and eventually for good.

Have you lost all interest and pleasure in what used to bring you joy? Are you feeling hopeless and wondering if you're worthy? Instead of worrying, wouldn't you rather have energy, relief, and focus? Wouldn’t it be a relief to have someone hear your thoughts, knowing you won't be judged? Would it be appealing to have someone listen to you with compassion?

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 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 can leave you feeling painfully isolated and hopeless. Whether you are experiencing depression due to a difficult life event or as a result of long standing history of low mood, I will work diligently to help you create a sense of meaning, purpose and hopefulness. I draw from a broad range of approaches such as CBT and DBT, as well as trauma-focused approaches to uncover the roots of your depression.

I’ve been helping people lead more intentional lives for over 20 years. Depression can cause you to feel lonely, helpless, and confused. I’m trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, developmental models,and anxiety and depression management. I will support you in creating a set of tools to help you manage your depression. Most importantly, you're a distinctive person, with distinctive needs. My goal is to work with you as a unique individual, and focus on YOUR goals.

Sometimes we cannot explain how we feel to those around us. And sometimes we feel 'bad' because we don't have a reason for how we feel. We can feel alone, and not understood. Let's take a nonjudgmental lens to what we are feeling, thinking, and doing. From here we can regain some control over our emotions, and over our life. Depression and depressive symptoms can be managed. I look forward to working with you in managing your unique symptoms.

Depression affects both the mind and body. It can impact appetite, sleep, concentration, and even the will to live. What depression is like for you may not be exactly what it’s like for someone else, together we will identify your particular depressive symptoms and the impact they are having on your life. We will explore the origins of your depression and possible depression in your family. Through the process of therapy, you will develop insight and understanding about your depression triggers, process emotions and past experiences that contribute to depressive states, explore your relationship patterns (loss, abuse, and/or misunderstanding) as well as your strengths.

Depression-What it is and what it isn’t. Depression is a common illness worldwide, with more than 264 million people affected. Peoples’ experiences and feelings can differ greatly from mood fluctuations to some feeling suicidal. Affected people can suffer greatly and function poorly at work, at school, or in their relationships. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds. We know at some point, everyone experiences problems with irritability, sadness, or self-blame. Such responses usually don’t last that long. Clinical depression occurs when these feelings, along with a set of additional symptoms, become intense or remain for several weeks.

Depression is all encompassing. It affects all aspects of our life including our physical health, our emotional state, our thinking patterns, our behaviours and reactions, and our relationships. We often lose interest in participating in life and this can lead to feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness. Working together in therapy, we will reconnect you with your world using proven techniques, and help you reconnect with joy.

The symptoms of Depression make us feel unmotivated and immobile in our daily lives. No matter how much we want to and try to snap out of them, sometimes it just feels impossible. These feelings could be the residual effect of a major traumatic event or the result of an accumulation of seemingly insignificant factors such as the pressure of unrealistic and unreasonable expectations or the lack of a stable support system in our lives. You need to address these factors in order to pursue your goal effectively, but you shouldn't have to do it alone. I use techniques such as CBT to help clients overcome their feelings of Depression and begin taking charge of their lives again.

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.

Depressive symptoms include deep sadness or hopelessness that persists for an extended period of time and has multiple impacts on affected individuals. It can greatly hinder an individual's capacity to engage in everyday activities. Fortunately, the effects of depression are highly treatable through therapy, which can serve as a potent remedy. Therapy can help you determine which negative or distorted thought patterns lead to the helplessness and hopelessness that come with depression and set realistic goals that enable you to enhance your emotional well-being. You will regain a sense of control and pleasure in life while incorporating enjoyable, fulfilling activities back into your life.

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.

Depression is often associated with symptoms such as fatigue, loss of motivation, loss of pleasure, withdrawal, and feelings of sadness. Often, when individuals feel depressed, they stop engaging in activities they enjoy which can perpetuate depressive symptoms. There are a variety of evidence-based approaches to explore depression. Together, we will decide which approach is best for you. Please contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to determine if we are a good fit.

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.

Each New Leaf Psychology Centre associate has experience offering therapy for depression. Therapy can help you feel less depressed, engage more fully in life, and feel more optimistically about your future. Ms. Saliba specializes in providing therapy for youth who are depressed and engage in risky behaviors such as self-harm. Dr. Gilani specializes in depression related to pain, physical disabilities, and injury.

It feels like you’re stuck in this deep, dark hole and can’t seem to get yourself out. You put on a smile for your friends and family, but in reality you feel empty. You don’t remember what it’s like to be happy and don’t find joy in anything anymore. You feel alone, but also can’t find the will or energy to talk to anyone. Therapy can provide you with a safe, supportive environment so you don’t have to go through this alone. We can explore where these feelings are coming from (past, present, or future) and work towards finding your happiness again. Email me for more information or to book a free consultation today.