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Counselling for depression in South Surrey, BC
Depression & Low Mood
Help for concerns impacting your emotional & mental well-being
OPEN UP POSSIBILITIES
FEEL LIGHTER
When Depression Steals The Light
THERAPY CAN HELP YOU FIND THE SPARK
"The most beautiful people I've known are those who have known trials, have known struggles,have known loss and have found their way out of the depths"
- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross-
When you're suffering from depression, energy and hope can be hard to come by. Getting through day-to-day activities can seem like an insurmountable task and you might move between feeling very sad and teary, to numbed-out. You know you want to feel better but simply can't "will" yourself to get there or don't even know where to start.
Depression can become it's own feedback wheel - bringing you to isolate and disconnect from the very connections you need in order to feel better.
Therapy can help you find the first step when you can't see the path.
How Depression Shows Up
(OR SHOULD WE SAY, SNEAKS UP)
Depression can look different for everyone. Some people will continue on with their everyday activities but feel as though they are dragging their feet or that they are "on the outside" of their own life. Others may have difficulty getting out of bed, wanting to shut out the rest of the world. Often depression is a progression, which is why it can be so hard to notice when it is happening to you.
Depression has a way of convincing us that our thoughts, perceptions and feelings are true and that difficult truth will last indefinitely. Counselling can reveal new possibilities and truths. Below are some additional indicators of depression.
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low self-worth & guilt
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ruminating negative thoughts, self-blame
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numbness, emptiness
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ongoing sadness, anger, irritability, anxiety
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difficulty experiencing joy or pleasure
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difficulty concentrating
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feelings of hopelessness, helplessness,
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thoughts of suicide
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muscle tension & pain
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low energy & fatigue
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difficulty with sleep and appetite
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headaches,digestive issues
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restlessness
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slowed body movements and speech
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avoidance (of people, places, situations, convos)
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isolation and withdrawal
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loss of interest in things you love
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difficulty with motivation and taking action
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desire to stay in bed
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lack of self-care
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increased use of drugs of alcohol
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interpersonal tension
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pulling away from others
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reduced communication or increased conflict
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decreased time spent in relationship, overfocus on other areas such as work
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decreased intimacy
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increased dependence
Did you know?
Statistics indicate that 1 in 8 Canadians will be affected by depression in their lifetime (CAMH article). The good news is that depression is treatable with the right kind of support and care in place!
Big Picture, Small Steps
You didn't get to this place all on your own. There are a number of societal, environmental, interpersonal, biological, medical and individual factors that can contribute to the development of depression.
The important thing to know is that in therapy, you will be seen as a whole and good person, within the larger context of your life. We will work collaboratively on a evidence-informed treatment plan that aims to not only help you feel better, but also empowers you to regain a sense of self - including a trust in your ability to lean into yourself and trusted others to maintain your wellness.
For many people with depression, the thought of seeking help and engaging in therapy can feel overwhelming. Where to start? The impact of beginning with supported micromovements in counselling cannot be overstated. Eventually, these small steps contribute to a larger momentum that will propel you forward to feeling better.
How Depression Therapy Can Help
Here are just a few of the ways therapy might help you to re-connect with yourself and your life again.
01
Provide authentic human connection
Isolation and loneliness play a large role in depression. Many people find it difficult to allow others to see them in a difficult, vulnerable place. It may be hard to be around others, let alone feel connected. Therapy offers you the opportunity to experience being in a genuine, safe, & non-judgemental connection - exactly as you are, in the moment. It may take some time to feel good - or feel any feelings again, but often a sense of being cared for makes room for more.
03
Find ease in your body & mind
Depression hurts - literally. Often people experiencing depression find they are physically, mentally and emotionally impacted. Pain may increase and tolerance decrease, along with a host of other ailments which may worsen with emotional intensity (or numbing). Using mind-body therapeutic approaches can assist you to develop increased nervous system regulation and opportunities to feel comfort, ease and safety in your body and mind.
05
Identify and understand vulnerabilities
For those interested in further understanding their experience or root causes of depression, therapy may involve taking a look at particularly impactful experiences. These experiences may have occurred at vulnerable times in our lives - or set up future vulnerabilities - depending on the supports that were available, age of occurrence and (often unintentional) lessons "learned." Sometimes taking "one step back" to allow for new meaning-making around old experiences can create "two steps forward."
02
Activate helpful habits/behaviours
As mentioned above, depression can create its own feedback loop, with thoughts, feelings, and behaviours all impacting and influencing each other. Thankfully, we are able to utilize this very interconnectedness to also skillfully create new kinds of feedback loops that work in your favour. Making small steady shifts in behavioural habits (also referred to as behavioural activation) in therapy can start to open up new possibilities in how you think and feel.
04
Better understand your inner world
So much happens inside of us that we often don't have the chance to explore. Often we have patterns of thinking, ways in which we speak to ourselves, and assumptions or perceptions that go unquestioned. Depression therapy often involves exploring and understanding what motivates you, what brings feelings of self-worth, what coping responses/strategies/stances you have developed along the way and how you can intentionally access self-compassion.
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Put you in the driver's seat
Experiences of depression commonly lead people to be wary of future experiences of sadness. Therapy plays a strong role in helping you develop a skill set to distinguish feeling sad from depression, identify early warning signs, and have a plan in place to sustain your wellbeing in an ongoing manner. Feeling sadness is part of the human experience and at times when experienced with safety, even the paradoxical antidote to depression.
If you are in crisis:
Please note: this is not a crisis centre and I am not able to respond in a timely manner to adequately provide care to immediate crisis situations.
If you are in crisis and need immediate support, here are some options:
Call 9-1-1
Visit your Nearest Hospital Emergency Department
Fraser Health Crisis Line at 604-951-8855 or 1-877-820-7444
BC Mental Health and Crisis Response Line 310-3789 (no area code)
National Suicide Crisis Line 9-8-8 (call or text)
