Depression Counselling in Oakville, ON.

Depression is not in your head but a real mental health issue that needs to be taken seriously. In our culture, depression is stigmatized and often misunderstood. When someone is depressed, they do not receive the same treatment as if they had a physical problem. Especially if on a medical leave from work, the shame and the judgement of others can be debilitating for patients. I can offer a space for clients to be themselves, to talk freely (without consequences and shame). Often, just feeling heard and understood does a great deal for the improvement of symptoms. I offer a listening, non-judgmental ear as well as practical and updated strategies to get back to your real self.

If you have lost interest in your usual activities, are feeling sad and/or more tired than usual, have noticed a change in sleep or appetite, have difficulty concentrating or are feeling that life isn't worth living, you may be experiencing depression. Research has shown that a combination of medical treatment and therapy is the most successful in treating depression. I have helped many clients reduce depression symptoms and have led depression support groups. I use a holistic approach that helps you change the feelings, thoughts and behaviours that contribute to depression

For anyone who has ever felt the hopeless, despairing numbness of clinical depression, it can be difficult to really believe that things could turn around, that you could ever hop out of bed with enthousiasm - much less ever feel like yourself again - but it is possible. Working together, we'll put one foot in front of the other and guide you, step by step, in simple but powerful actions you can take to help you get back to enjoying life again. Don't settle for feeling depressed, hopeless, tired, and bad about yourself for one more day. You CAN regain your energy, your motivation, and your enjoyment of living again...starting today.

Feeling depressed, discouraged, hopeless or helpless can be a painful "stuck" place to be in. We can help you process and overcome the adversity that contributed to this state of collapse, work through the thwarted survival responses that can underlie depression, well as develop skills to address the negative thoughts, assumptions, self-criticism and limiting core beliefs that might be maintaining your low mood and discouragement. We work with the emotional, mental and physical aspects of depression, using mindfulness, cognitive and body-based approaches that are trauma-focused. Together, we can support you to climb out from the depths, and restore hope and a sense of embodied aliveness.

Let's face it, life is not easy. Whether you feel trapped in life or your own poor self esteem and negative outlook, you can overcome depression and transform into a joyful and balanced individual who can solve life's problems. Utilizing the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness, I use a step by step approach to help you reconstruct old thinking patterns, deal with feelings and experience life with confidence.

Having symptoms of depression can be devistating. I can help you examine what life circumstances may have led to or may be contributing to how you are feeling. We can also uncover stressors and pressures that you may be experiencing, as well as lifestyle choices that may be contributing to your symptoms. I can help you in your journey to lifting the cloud of depression.

Depression is often the result of loss. It comprises a myriad feelings of despair and isolation and loneliness and lethargy which sever us from loved ones who we feel don't understand. So we don't talk ..or don't want to talk. Only if that depression would just go away. It can be a chemical imbalance from a family history or from reactive loss, it still isolates us. My approach is to help you feel you can trust to talk and explore the source of the "disconnect". I will listen without judging and guide you to express the "hidden" feelings that congregate into "depression". Gradually you will begin to understand and learn effective ways to handle and manage the various feelings of depression.

Depression is the most common mental-health disturbance worldwide and falls within a wide continuum of severity. There is an equally broad range of causes, including grief and loss and absense of a supportive community. Some believe it is biological. Whatever the cause, some individuals feel depression more acutely and more frequently than others. Current research recognizes the benefits of psychotherapy on positive treatment outcomes. My approach is to recognize the life experiences that have contributed to depression and to help address directly the feelings underneath. To find relief and hope is sometimes a matter of learning to dig deeper into feelings with help from a psychotherapist.

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.

Adolescence is a critical stage where rapid changes, physical, social and emotional take place in your child’s life. Sometimes, these changes feel too big for children to handle and the pressure of growing up can be really stressful for them as well. Adolescents can experience depression as adults do. Some of the common signs include, loss of interest in activities, irritable mood, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts. Counselling approaches such as CBT or DBT are the first line treatments for child and teen depression used in my practice.

Depression is debilitating for the individual and those closest to them. Effective therapy will help you gather the skills you need to deal with your current depression. It will also give you the confidence and the ability to recognize and stop the depressive thinking, feelings and behaviours that may indicate the beginnings of a future episodes should they occur.

Everyone feels sad at times. Getting over a ‘blue day’ sometimes takes a day or two. People living with depression feel ‘bad’ all of the time. When depressed, it can feel like ‘living’ hurts, making it harder to cope with daily life. Depression’s emotional and mental pain can affect you and the people around you. No one knows what causes depression. It’s a medical condition, just like a broken leg. Depression can run in the family, be triggered by stress, using alcohol or drugs, and even hormone rebalancing after having a baby. I encourage depressed and anxious clients to be followed by their medical doctor. Medication can help, as can exercise, psychotherapy, emotional support and healthy living. Counselling for depression involves being...(view profile to read more)

Depression is among the most common and devastating health conditions a person can face. Fortunately, there are treatments that are scientifically supported to provide relief to individuals suffering from depression. In particular, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is among the most researched and proven for mild to moderate depression. At Meristem, we strive to incorporate CBT interventions into individually tailored treatment plans that are wholistic and comprehensive because research and clinical experience has shown us that this eclectic approach gives us the best results at recovery for clients of all ages.