Depression Counselling in Haldimand County, ON.

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.

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.

Depression can be extremely debilitating for many people, leaving them feeling hopeless, unmotivated, and without feeling. My approach to working with people with depression is to first understand the factors that have shaped the person and their live, while at the same time exploring strategies to bring in experiences that are based in previously valued activities and identities.

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.

Depression stinks. Its ability to emotionally cripple you is frustrating and the way it can hold you back from being the person you were made to be is tragic. Fortunately, depression does not have to own your life. It can be overcome, and you deserve better than what it offers. You deserve happiness and together we will help you find a new way of living that will unleash your true potential and show the world how great you really are.

Therapy with me offers a safe, compassionate space for those suffering from depression to fully feel the lows without judgment. Together, we gently explore overwhelming thoughts and emotions with curiosity and care, creating room to feel truly seen, heard, and understood. This process can help bring clarity, empowerment, and motivation to begin moving forward at your own pace. In our work, we focus on discovering meaning and purpose, while also cultivating self-compassion for the unique process you are in. Healing is not about rushing, but about creating space for your voice, your story, and your capacity for resilience to emerge.

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.

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.

Depression can be a powerful force that can greatly impact our day to day. Depression can cause feelings of sadness, hopelessness, a lack of energy, or even numbness. You may feel stuck in previous patterns of behavior, or like you are running on ‘autopilot’. As a therapist, I know the impacts of these experiences, and I strive to work with you to better understand the depression, so that you can navigate it and develop the necessary tools to manage it. Connect with me today for a free consultation to begin your healing journey and move towards fulfillment, connection, and joy.

Are feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or exhaustion weighing you down? I’m Simona Ilieva, a Registered Psychotherapist specializing in depression therapy. Together, we’ll explore the underlying causes of your depression and work to develop strategies that empower you to regain a sense of hope and purpose. Whether you're dealing with chronic depression or a recent emotional struggle, I’m here to support you. You don’t have to face this alone; healing is possible. With the right support, you can reclaim joy and start building a brighter, more fulfilling future. Let’s take that first step together. Book a free consultation today.

Struggling with mood disorders can make life very challenging. The most basic tasks can feel overwhelming and unmanageable. I understand this from personal experience as well as years of work with clients who are diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder. It can be difficult to explain to others in our lives what it feels like to live with depression. I will validate and support you while helping you explore your feelings and find positive coping strategies that are the right fit for you. Book a free consultation to see if we are a good fit.

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.

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.