By understanding how variable the symptoms of depression are and how they are affecting you in your day to day, we can better identify the root causes and tailor your treatment to your individual experience.

Whether you experience any symptoms in shorter periods or you’re experiencing longer episodes of depression symptoms, seeking help is a very courageous first step toward finding peace, happiness and purpose in your life. You could even be considering therapy because what you have been trying on your own to feel better doesn’t feel effective, and the depression you’re experiencing continues to make you isolate yourself more, or make you more moody.

The truth is no matter how scary it feels to take this first step, seeking help is never a sign of weakness or failure, but rather an opportunity to learn more about what you have been struggling with from an experienced professional and gain more insight during your healing journey.

How common is Depression? Is it treatable?

Besides the benefits of asking for help, depression is a common and treatable mental health concern:

• According to Canada.ca(2016) one in 8 adults experience the symptoms of a major depressive episode throughout their lifetime. Globally, 5% of adults struggle with depression (World Health Organization, 2023). This common problem with the right treatment according to CAMH British Columbia(2013) makes 80% of individuals experiencing depression feel better and experience no more symptoms at all. 

Statistics Canada has also said the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders has increased significantly over the past 10 years, if you’re wondering why this large increase?

• The answer is this rise in prevalence of depression might be connected to factors such as economic struggles increasing, presence of social media increasing, and a lack of support networks. 

Despite being a prevalent mental health disorder, depression can coexist with many disorders, such as anxiety, OCD, panic disorders, chronic pain disorders, and PTSD.

I understand seeking help can feel like an impossible thing to do, especially if your facing cultural biases or fears of judgment, but the issues surrounding our society today are even different than the ones surrounding our society 10 years ago, and today you are learning you don’t have to be alone in your journey, as there is help available. I want to create an open and supportive environment for you to get the support you need.Together, we can work on developing coping strategies and finding interventions that are aligned with your specific goals and needs

My Approach to Depression

As a psychotherapist, my mission is to create a safe space for you to learn more about your thoughts and feelings, and help you understand the roots of your depression, while guiding you towards effective strategies to overcome it. I practice Cognitive Behavioral therapy(CBT) which is an effective modality used to treat depression.

• The goal of CBT is to reduce thoughts that are negative or that are unhelpful as well as it has the goal to decrease behaviors common in people with depression. 

My approach to depression therapy is a mixture of various techniques accompanying CBT such as mindfulness, narrative therapy(NT) and goal-setting.Through having open conversations and exploring your own personal narratives, we can identify the core of what you have been struggling with and develop a personalized treatment plan. 

To find balance when struggling with depression means to learn how to handle the ups and downs learning and nourishing self-compassion. By identifying your negative thought patterns in your own personal narrative and identifying problem behaviors in CBT and NT, we can work towards shifting your current perspective to a more positive one. Through therapy I can also help you develop healthier habits that support your mental health, such as regular exercise, mindfulness, meditation and a good sleep schedule. These are small changes but they significantly positively impact your quality of life.

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