Depression Counselling in Norfolk County, ON.

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.

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.

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.

We work with children, teens and adults dealing with depression. There may be many underlying dynamics for people coping with depressive symptoms including an unprocessed loss from the past, or difficulties processing emotions, including anger. We use a combination of approaches to support clients including CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), a psychodynamic approach, and IFS (internal family systems). We often incorporate creative approaches into our work with children and teens, including play, art and music therapy.

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.

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.