Counselling for Depression
Maybe you're finding it difficult to get up in the morning and face another day. Even the smallest things, like showering or getting dressed, take so much effort. You haven't been eating or sleeping well. You feel exhausted. It’s hard to focus on what you need to get done.
The things you used to enjoy no longer seem interesting. You’ve lost your spark or sense of excitement for life. You seem to find the negative in everything. Including yourself. Depression has tried to convince you that you’re lazy, useless, or defective in some way.
You’re spending less time with family and friends. It seems like way too much work to talk and socialize with people. To put on a happy face and pretend that everything’s okay. Maybe you find yourself easily irritated and lashing out at those around you. Or you stay home because you feel like you’ll just bring other people down with your mood.
What is Depression?
The emotional effects of depression include low mood or sadness, as well as a loss of interest in the activities one used to enjoy.
Depression can have physical effects, such as feeling constantly tired or low on energy. People living with depression may notice changes in their appetite, including a lack of interest in food or increased eating to cope with difficult feelings. They may also notice changes in their sleep, from problems sleeping to sleeping more than usual while still feeling exhausted.
Depression can affect one's thinking, leading to issues focusing or making decisions. Depression is also associated with negative thoughts about oneself, such as feeling worthless or unlovable. Some people living with depression feel hopeless, as though things will never improve. They may have thoughts about death or suicide, with or without an intention to act on those thoughts.
If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please reach out to one of the crisis resources linked here: Crisis Resources. Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Counselling for Depression
Depression can feel like the weight of a thousand bricks - impossible to dig yourself out from. Depression might even be telling you that counselling is waste of energy, because nothing’s ever going to change.
My approach to counselling for depression involves helping clients take one step at a time. We’ll work together to plan small, do-able changes to your daily routine. If the next step feels too overwhelming, we’ll break it down into smaller pieces. Step by step, you can build positive momentum and move toward your big-picture goals.
While we’ll develop a counselling plan that fits your needs, this plan may include:
Exploring how depression has affected your life
Considering issues that feed into depression, whether that’s money issues or relationship problems
Examining the unhelpful stories depression tells you, such as that you’re not worthy of love or happiness
Identifying ways to push back against these unhelpful ideas, while considering new ways of thinking that better fit the life you want
Reconnecting with your strengths and values
Using your positive coping skills and trying out some new ones, such as adding mindfulness exercises or physical activity to your self-care routines
Schedule Your Free Call
To learn more about counselling for depression, schedule your free 20-minute phone call. I offer in-person therapy in Saskatoon and video counselling across Saskatchewan. Online booking is available.