Do you feel sad, down and irritable?
Do you have trouble feeling enjoyment about things you used to enjoy?
Do you struggle to get out of bed and find energy for your daily tasks?
Depression is a struggle for many people and it can seem to rob you of joy and happiness. Feeling a deep sense of fatigue day after day can take away your sense of purpose and focus in life. When experiencing depression people may lose interest in what used to be fun and stimulating. They may lose interest in hobbies, attending social events, or in doing professional development at work. They may lose interest in eating and in taking care of themselves and feel like they don’t have the energy it takes to do things they know are good for them.
Many people with depression struggle to feel connected to their families and loved ones. They often don’t have the energy to share in conversations or spend time with others, and can lose touch with friends and end up feeling isolated and alone.
Depression may go hand in hand with feelings of guilt and hopelessness. People with depression often speak about wishing they could just “snap out of it” and then feeling guilty when they can’t. The overwhelming sense of despair, gloom and negative energy can be all consuming.
Depression is more than in your mind.
Depression shows up in the body with physical symptoms. It can often make the body feel heavy and muscles ache. Many people with depression feel extremely fatigued in their body. Depression can also affect your digestion and appetite. You may find you eat much more than you used to, or that you don’t feel like eating much at all. Changes in your digestion may have you gaining or losing weight.
Who am I when I feel depressed?
If you are experiencing depression you may feel unlike yourself, and wonder “Who am I, if I don’t do what I used to do, or I can’t manage what I used to?” Feeling a sense of loss of control as negative thoughts creep in is a common feeling when depressed. People may question their sense of themselves, and worry that people they care about no longer want to be around them. This is an isolating experience, for sure.
You are not alone if you experience depression!
Did you know that depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in Canada? Statistics show that one in four people will experience depression at one point in their life. Life is difficult, especially when there are multiple demands on your energy and there are times when it may seem like all your energy and reserves are just used up.
People struggle with depression for a variety of reasons. Stressful life situations can overwhelm the brain’s natural ability to cope, and symptoms of depression can occur. Coping with unexpected illness, job loss, financial difficulties, the loss of a loved one, or watching loved ones struggle with difficult life events can all play a part in how our brain handles life’s struggles. Genetics also play a part in how our brain functions and how our mood is affected.
The good news is that if you are experiencing depression you do not have to cope alone.
Counselling can help you manage depression and help you heal and strengthen so that you feel confident to tackle life’s demands. Counselling offers tools for moving forward that gets you back on track, and able to focus on what is most important in your life.
What We Believe About Counselling
At Transforming Tides Counselling we believe the client is at the center of our work together and everything we do as therapists is designed to support and strengthen the resilience of each client we work with. Our counsellors are first and foremost compassionate. We have all been there, and we know how hard it can be to talk with a stranger and try new things when you are already feeling overwhelmed.
We believe we are there to guide and support you by using a variety of approaches, tools and strategies to help you find the way to minimize your distress and strengthen your confidence and ability to move forward.
Treatment Approaches
At Transforming Tides Counselling we offer depression treatment and counselling using approaches that have been researched and shown to make a difference in people’s lives. The main treatment approaches we use are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of therapy that helps you be mindfully present in the moment and accept the difficult thoughts and feelings that are happening to you without judging and criticizing them. ACT helps you move through difficult moments where difficult thoughts and feelings are present so that you can put your energy into strengthening, healing and living the life you want, rather than being stuck in the negative thoughts, feelings and struggles.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that helps you become aware of the thoughts you are having and how they cause upsetting emotions. CBT helps you see how thoughts can be distorted and it helps you change your thoughts and not be stuck in problem habits or behaviours that may encourage negative emotions.
Counselling Sessions
Counselling Sessions are helpful for people struggling with depression, who feel too weighted down to handle what life is throwing at them . The conversations you have with your therapist will help you find ways to re-energize and strengthen so that you can focus on what really matters to you in life. Counselling helps people feel like they can breathe again and can build the confidence they need to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Sessions at Transforming Tides Counselling are approximately 50 minutes in length. Sessions can be in person in Truro, Nova Scotia or through a video link from anywhere in Nova Scotia.
When you begin working with one of our therapists you will discuss how we carefully protect your privacy and confidentiality, and we will explain the limits of confidentiality that we are legally and ethically bound to uphold.
We will talk with you about your struggles and explore how these struggles are impacting you and how they are holding you back from living the life you most want. We will offer techniques, tips and strategies that help you lessen the impact of your symptoms, and that help you move beyond the struggles that are holding you back.
Can I bring a Support Person with me to my counselling session?
You are welcome to bring a support person with you to your first session. Clients who are youth are most welcome to bring a parent or guardian along in the first session. This support person can help explain the struggles you as the client are facing and talk about the picture of health they most want for you to grow into.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
The number of sessions you may need varies with every client, and it depends on many factors. Some people who come for counselling only want to focus on learning strategies to feel better quickly. Other clients want to go deeper and work on how they feel about themselves, and perhaps address painful parts of their history that have been bothering them for a long time. Whatever the case, our therapists will discuss a plan with you for the length of time you may work together.
Our Therapist’s Experience
With well over twenty years of experience in the field of Social Work, Psychotherapy and Counselling, our therapists have countless examples of how their work has helped clients and changed lives in their communities. We have seen first hand how our work has moved clients from being stuck and isolated in emotional pain to living productive, confident and meaningful lives.
With our lived experience and through training in anti-oppressive, trauma informed and client centered practice we bring a holistic understanding of the struggles people face in everyday life. We know that our clients have experiences beyond that of their mental health that impact their sense of self and their identity within their communities. This understanding helps us support our clients comprehensively and advocate for wellness within the broader community.
Counseling Works
Counselling works when clients are committed to the process of learning and putting into practice the tools and techniques their therapist shares with them. When clients take time to reflect in a safe space and work through difficult thoughts and situations in their lives they experience a profound sense of renewal. Using the support of an experienced therapist is an opportunity to be open to new perspectives that are free of the judgment many of us carry around with us every day.
Working with a therapist that chooses techniques that fit your unique situation and circumstances is a real way to make change in your life. When clients work with the therapists at Transforming Tides Counselling they tell us they feel like they matter and they feel cared for no matter what they share or what difficult circumstances they have experienced in the past.
Common Questions
“What if I tried therapy before and it didn’t work?”
Various factors impact how well therapy works for you. Coming for therapy when you feel ready, when you are committed to changing and adding healthy practices to your life makes all the difference. The connection you have with your therapist and the type of therapeutic modality can also make a difference for the outcome of your therapy experience.
“What if I can’t afford the fee for counselling?”
Many people have private health insurance through companies that cover private counselling. We recommend checking with your insurance company to see what coverage you have and then sharing that information with your therapist. At Transforming Tides Counselling we can submit insurance claims on your behalf to a variety of insurance providers. This way you don’t have to pay the full fee out of your pocket and wait to get reimbursed from your insurance company.
“What if I’m so tired I don’t feel like I can get out of bed to go for counselling?”
Travelling for counselling can be a burden for some people, especially if you struggle with depression and summoning the energy to leave the house. Choosing to meet with your therapist over a video link is a great way to keep your appointments. At Transforming Tides Counselling we offer video appointments to fit your schedule and we will work with you to make the appointment an easy one to have.
Have questions or are interested in exploring counselling with Transforming Tides Counselling?
Click this link to book a free twenty minute phone consultation. In this consultation you can start to get to know your therapist and explore what working with them would be like.
