Depression Counseling in Union Hill Novelty Hill, WA.

Depression is sometimes describes as sadness. While sadness is often a very real part of depression, there is often much more to it than that. Feelings of emptiness inside, hopelessness about the future, feelings of guilt, worries and anxieties about the future, and a feeling of being weighed down by life in a manner that becomes suffocating often accompany depression. It is a very real problem that we are finding has very real negative effects in the lives of individuals, communities, and places of work. Treating depression takes time and commitment, but the truth is there is hope that you will not always have to feel this way.

You did not choose depression, and it is not something that can simply be “shaken off.” Depression is real, life-altering, and can convince you that happiness or peace will never return. Yet depression does not define you. Together, we can acknowledge its weight while also challenging the painful story it tells. My role is to walk with you through the heaviness, to hold space for the difficulty, and to help you discover that hope and healing are possible. You do not have to face this alone.

Social anxiety and shyness can easily lead to feelings of depression. If you feel depressed because you feel alone, isolated and have trouble making friends, you might be glad to know that there is a way to learn and practice the social skills you missed learning as a child. You can learn and practice new skills, meet new people, learn how to start conversations and create your own social circle. Life can change and it takes just one step to start the process rolling in the right drection.

Are you finding it difficult to get over past events? Depression arises when thoughts about the past consume you. Let me help you focus on today. I am a holistic practitioner, incorporating Mindfulness, Lifespan Integration, Family Systems, Cognitive techniques and essential oils in a blend unique to your context and goals. In our work together, you will discover new insights that connect your past and present in a new way that helps you move forward into a future of your design.

Research shows that the most effective treatment for depression is psychotherapy. Depression can range from feeling down to major symptoms such as having trouble even getting out of bed or contemplating suicide (if you have suicidal thoughts or plans, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255). Online counseling is effective for depression because it is easy to access: you can start treatment without even leaving the house.

Not only does depression affect our mental well being, it also affects and can be exacerbated or even caused by our physical body as well. Did you know that depression can be worsened or even caused by vitamin deficiencies in the body? The mind-body connection is the reason I am a proponent of the functional medicine model, which uses simple genetic testing to determine if your body is lacking important natural nutrients for overall health. When your body's in proper balance that overwhelming sadness won't be quite so insurmountable. I will not only work with you to heal your emotional wounds but I will also help you to find the right balance for your physical body as well.

Depression isn't just a lack of happiness, for many, it can also be a debilitating condition that robs you of the ability to live your life to the fullest. With understanding, care, and non-judgement, I will teach you the skills you need to help you overcome your depression so you can live the life you want, with the strength and resiliency you deserve.

We want to acknowledge how strong you are for looking for help. Our therapists cultivate a safe and nurturing environment to explore your emotions, thoughts, and behavioral patterns. Throughout therapy, you will gain valuable coping strategies to challenge negative cognitive patterns, foster self-compassion, and engage in meaningful activities that boost purpose and happiness.

Depression. It's one of the most core maladies to all of humanity. Catholic monks used to call it "acedia" or the noon day demon; robbing one's will, the ability to freely engage in life. In the modern day, we have more methods than ever to "escape" the feelings we don't like. Yet depression is one of the ones that stick around. My work focuses on facing depression while not villainizing it. I pay particular attention to both your life story and who you are here and now. Through this we can learn to work with our emotions and find new ways of dealing with the messiness of life.

When depression takes over, saps all color from life, drains passion from relationships and interest in activities, takes you by the throat, squeezing your chest, deadening your limbs, making it difficult to breathe or move, I hear a cry for the authentic being within to be truly seen, heard, loved, and accepted. We work to gently help the true you rise through the layers of pain, layers of expectations and lies, layers of imposed identity, that bury your heart and spirit. We work to release or transform all those layers, creating a foundation for and affirming the worth of your authentic self and rebuilding your sense of purpose.

The treatment of depression begins initially with the addressing the depression symptoms that are disrupting your life. Without attention to these symptoms first, it is difficult for individuals to begin to examine the reasons behind the depression without provoking more of it. Once these symptoms are looked into, we will start to examine the life situations you are in and the relationships, stories, family roles, events and unprocessed emotion that may be the root of the depression. With some time, consistency, openness and commitment to the process, individuals will find their symptoms eased and the enjoyment of every day returned.

There is a way to move beyond depression and make sense of suffering. We will work together to help you develop a new and different relationship with your painful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so you can have greater life satisfaction. Struggling with your feelings pulls you away from the life experiences you want. By learning ways to let go of the painful struggle with difficult thoughts and feelings, you are free to connect with what is meaningful to you. I want to help you become more grounded in the present moment, gain clarity on what really matters to you, and commit to living a full, satisfying life.

I work with many clients who are depressed and am generally very good at assessing which clients would benefit from medication in addition to talk therapy and which clients would benefit from therapy alone. I am very good at relating to depressed clients and try to help them regain connection to self and others as well as find meaning in their suffering.