Depression Counselling in Norfolk County, ON.

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.

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.

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.

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 is a challenging experience where people often feel stuck and hopeless about how to move forward. Therapy can help in identifying the root cause of depression and supporting individuals in small, incremental behavioural changes to start to feel better. Evidence based approaches to depression include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Internal Family Systems approaches.

Experiencing depressive symptoms, low mood, low affect, low-ness is hard. Using psychodynamics and person-centered, strengths based therapies, I strive to aid clients in understanding the patterns of these symptoms so we can, collaboratively work together to process these feelings and devise ways that work for you to regulate and improve mood over time.

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.

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.

Depression is a result of non-processed grief, which itself comes from a sense of loss. It is the mechanism through which the mind tries to “take it easy” and focus on the loss. However, in today’s society, we do our best to avoid it or even deny it. Sometimes, we take the easy way of medication so that we do not face this darkness inside. A successfully therapy accompanies the client through this journey of introspection and creates supportive environment in which the client faces the loss. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit.

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).

When it comes to depression, I believe that small change leads to bigger change. In my work with clients who experience feelings of depression, I take a more concrete, solution-focused approach and aid clients in taking small steps towards a greater goal, all while soliciting strengths and resources and moving at the client’s pace. In doing so, my hope is to help clients see how capable they are and transfer this knowledge into other domains of their lives. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ensure 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.

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.

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

Sadness is a normal human emotion. Feeling sad, hopeless and experiencing dark thoughts for a long time is an indicated of depression. I support you in getting to the root cause of your depression to heal what has hurt you. We will also focus on coping skills, challenging thoughts, behavioural activation and finding activities that bring joy back into your life!

Depression can bring an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, through difficulty of accepting limitations and the loss of joy in your life. My approach is rooted in compassionate understanding through the integration of somatic work and cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT) to address the various aspects of depression. By recognizing the impact of a shut-down nervous system and lack of interest, we work on gradually reengaging in life through small, manageable steps toward achieving meaningful goals. The therapeutic process involves separating negative thoughts from actions and aligning them with core values, empowering clients to live authentically and with integrity despite depression.

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.

Experience the difference with our personalized approach to depression therapy. Depression isn't just about feeling sad; it's about reclaiming your life from its grip. Our integrative therapy combines proven techniques like CBT, DBT, and mindfulness to tackle depression head-on. Discover hope, purpose, and resilience as we navigate your journey together. Take the first step towards a brighter tomorrow with us.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The goal of counseling is to help alleviate depressed mood and help you recognize, accept, and cope with the feelings of depression. You will be supported in developing healthy cognitive thinking patterns and beliefs about yourself and the world that helps alleviate and prevent the relapse of depression symptoms. Developing healthy interpersonal relationships help ease and prevent the relapse of depression symptoms And, if necessary, you will be encouraged to appropriately grieve the losses in your life to help you normalize your mood and ‘dig out’ from under the heavy blanket of your depression to reclaim hope to your life.