Therapy for Depression
There is hope. Find pleasure, meaning, purpose, and life satisfaction.
Adult depression is painful and can be caused by a wide range of issues including loss, grief, high stress, trauma, major life transitions, illness, and relationship problems. It can be a very isolating and hopeless experience as depression can make difficult it to feel joy, complete your day-to-day tasks, and socialize with your friends and family. You may also experience changes in eating, sleeping, and energy levels. Feelings of isolation, self-criticism, guilt, shame and worthlessness are often present and you may blame yourself for how you’re feeling. Know that many excellent treatment options exist and that you do not have to do this alone.
Individuals who belong to historically marginalized groups may be particularly at risk for depressive symptoms given the negative impacts of chronic stress resulting from experiences of racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, and xenophobia. We get it as we have also lived it. Research shows that individuals from marginalized communities may be less likely to seek and receive effective treatment given the difficulty of finding therapists who we feel safe with and feel understood by.
There is hope. Therapy with an anti-oppressive and culturally safe mental health professional can help you find pleasure, meaning, and purpose for your life.
Depression FAQs
It is natural to have questions about therapy for depression as you consider seeking support for yourself or a loved one. We have compiled answers to commonly asked questions below. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.
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I’m afraid of therapy and what I might discover in our sessions. What do I do?
Your depression symptoms are telling you that something is not quite balanced in your life. It is important for us to pay attention to our feelings and to their underlying messages.
When you better understand your symptoms, you will better understand yourself, improve your coping skills, and become better equipped to handle life’s difficult situations. Know that depression treatment will progress at a pace that feels comfortable for you and that you will never be forced to speak about something you don’t feel comfortable speaking about.
I am depressed, but I don’t want to go on medication. Do I have to?
Medication is often not needed for mild to moderate depression. In these cases, therapy combined with lifestyle changes can be very effective in alleviating symptoms. Ultimately it is your choice to pursue medication treatment. We are a team of mental health clinicians who provide assessment and psychotherapy services.
We help you better understand your depression and learn techniques to manage depressive symptoms in your day to day life. We do not prescribe medication. Should you require a medication consult, we will discuss it and you may be referred to a psychiatrist or physician for this purpose.
What are the benefits of therapy for Depression? Is it worth my time?
It may be helpful to view therapy for depression an investment in yourself now and for the future. A course of psychotherapy for depression with a licensed mental health professional can help you face the barriers to sustained happiness.
You will make room for healthier relationships, increase your productivity, and overall gain a more positive view of your life.
In my culture, we are taught to always be grateful and to count our blessings. I feel guilty about feeling unhappy and depressed. I know I have lots to be grateful for, but I still feel down.
There is no question about benefits of a gratitude practice. It is such a beautiful practice and important coping tool. Unfortunately, when taken to the point of invalidating very real and difficult emotions, it can become a problem.
We invite you to give yourself space and compassion to accept all parts of you – even the parts that feel unsatisfied or hurt. Those hurt parts are holding important information about your needs.
It’s amazing what can happen when we listen to parts of us that we’ve ignored for so long. Our therapists can help you connect to and honour all parts of you. This will ultimately improve your mood.