Depression Therapy
Is Depression Interfering With Your Ability To Enjoy Life?
Have you been unable to enjoy the things you love? Do you find it more and more difficult to concentrate on accomplishing your daily tasks and goals? Are negative thoughts and beliefs draining all your energy and motivation to succeed in life?
Whether it’s your career, familial duties, or societal pressures that keep you up at night, it’s easy for the grind of life to get the best of you. Getting through the day can be exhausting and overwhelming. But if you’re facing prolonged feelings of hopelessness that won’t go away, there is a good chance that you’re experiencing something more than just fatigue.
Depression Can Make You Sad, Numb, And Ashamed Of Who You Are
Lately, the hobbies you love may no longer bring you the fulfillment you long for. You may feel overwhelmingly sad or alarmingly numb to your emotions. While you might put on a front for others—acting as if you have it all figured out—you may be indecisive about the decisions that you have to make. Perhaps you experience shameful feelings about who you are and feel like you’re unworthy of love and acceptance.
Depression can also take a toll on your physical well-being. It’s possible that you’re experiencing changes in your weight, appetite, or sleeping habits. Your muscles may become tense, and in certain moments, you could even find it difficult to breathe.
You may wonder if there are ways to overcome your negative thoughts and ruminations. And if you don’t know where to turn, your search for the proper resources could be a real challenge. Wherever you are in your journey, I can assure you that true and sustained healing from depression is possible in treatment with a specialized therapist.
Depression Can Be Caused By A Variety Of Factors
While symptoms of depression can strike at any point in life, unsettling changes are often main culprit. Going to a new school, embarking on a new career, losing a loved one, or even just the reality of getting older can lead to excessive thinking and intrusive thoughts. Certain environmental factors and chemical imbalances in the brain can also contribute to your negative emotions.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 21 million people (roughly 8.4 percent of all adults) in the United States have admitted to experiencing at least one depressive episode.¹ However, multiple factors such as age, gender, race, and the environment in which you find yourself can all play a role in the prevalence of symptoms.
And these statistics can’t possibly tell the whole story, as many cases of depression go undocumented. While the stigma for mental health has lessened throughout the course of the pandemic, the subject can still be sensitive for many people.
Different familial and cultural influences can easily lead us to believe that we should be able to handle all mental obstacles on our own. And when the weight of life feels overbearing, these same influences can lead to self-doubt and other negative ideas about ourselves.
Depression Is Common And Treatable With Counseling
Regardless of age, everyone longs for a sense of purpose. But like the idea of a snowball rolling down a hill, the negative thoughts and ruminations can gain momentum and overwhelm our thoughts.
Even if you haven’t been formally diagnosed with clinical depression, therapy can help you overcome the automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) that hold you back in life. Treatment can empower you to gain control over your thoughts and figure out your long-term goals to overcome your depression.
Positive Change Is Possible With Depression Therapy
You are the expert on your own life. No matter who you speak with, nobody will understand everything about who you are—so your input is the most important factor in your healing journey. As your counselor, I will help you figure out where you are in your journey with depression so that we can develop a treatment plan built around your needs.
Although my approach is very warm, compassionate, and down-to-earth, I aim to hold you accountable in therapy, as I believe that you should take the initiative for the change you want and strive to overcome your depression. We will focus on creating short-term goals for controlling your reactions to depression in the here and now. Then, when you’re ready, we can move on to the long-term goals designed to ensure that you can effectively manage your symptoms on your own.
What To Expect In Depression Counseling
The initial session consists of an evaluation in which I gather information about what you’re experiencing. I want to get to know you on a personal level, asking questions about how you think, feel, and react to your symptoms.
Typically, I use approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) to address negative thoughts in ways that don’t reignite your despair. CBT can help you reframe your thoughts and question the messages you tell yourself. DBT is more focused on practical skills for regulating your emotions and accepting who you are.
Additionally, we will work on various mindfulness skills and assignments, such as using the Subjective Measure of Distress Scale to figure out how depression affects you. We’ll also create a gratitude journal to document your progress in therapy.
No matter where you find yourself in your depression, my goal as your therapist is to guide you towards true healing. Helping others through their mental health concerns is my passion, and for the last five years, my clients have been vocal about the positive change that they feel in their lives. Let me lead you to sustained recovery from depression so that you can experience the life you desire.
Perhaps You're Interested In Depression Therapy, But Still Have Some Concerns…
I’m afraid that others will treat me differently if I go to counseling.
Therapy is a space where you can speak freely and with confidentiality. Establishing this safe space is one of my highest priorities. The information that you share with me will not leave the safety of our sessions, so you can solely focus on the deeper work of being open and honest about your feelings.
My practice is set in a house without a large sign in the yard, so when you arrive at your session, it looks as if you’re coming over to visit your neighbor or friend. Your peers and loved ones will never be made aware that you are coming for depression treatment or counseling services unless you tell them.
I’m worried that depression therapy will be too expensive.
Counseling is an investment that can help you overcome your depression and improve your overall well-being. I use a sliding scale when billing, so I try to work alongside you no matter your financial situation. I also accept coverage from a variety of insurance providers in order for treatment to be as affordable as possible. There are reimbursement options that we can discuss to make sure you come to the decision that works best.
A therapist can’t help me overcome my depression.
Your symptoms can be debilitating, leading you to believe that no one can help you reduce your pain or that your hopeless feelings will never cease. However, it is proven time and time again that treatment from a professional counselor can relieve you from the despair that depression brings.
If you find yourself depressed, you’re not meant to be that way forever. I aim to provide you with the skills needed to overcome these sorrows so that you can find more joy, happiness, and get the most out of life.
Depression Therapy Can Help You Discover New Possibilities In Life
If you’re ready to put the negative ruminations behind you and move forward with a more positive outlook, then I strongly encourage you to reach out. committing to treatment can open your eyes to new possibilities, helping you grow in miraculous ways.
To schedule your initial session, please visit my contact page or call (607) 287–0058. I look forward to working with you!
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