THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION
Not sure if you’re depressed?
Depression manifests uniquely in every individual. For some, it presents as a persistent sense of sadness, while others grapple with the loss of interest or pleasure in once-enjoyable activities. There are moments when the world seems muted or dull, and a pervasive sense of numbness takes hold. If your experience of depression starts affecting your daily functioning or if life begins to feel devoid of meaning, seeking support is crucial. I am here to help you navigate through these challenges and provide the assistance you need to rediscover a sense of purpose and well-being.
Depression can be sneaky because it looks so different in each person and can at times have a gradual onset. Unfortunately, there isn’t always a known “trigger,” which is frustrating. Need support? Please reach out.
“It is hard to fight an enemy who has outposts in your head.”
SALLY KEMPTON
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION
- Feelings of sadness or tearfulness
- Feelings of numbness, emptiness, and/or hopelessness
- Irritability
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to find pleasurable (e.g., sex, hobbies, career)
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue
- Increase/decrease in appetite and weight
- Restlessness
- Slowed thinking, speaking, or body movements
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Trouble concentrating
- Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death and/or suicide
HOW WILL WE WORK TOGETHER TO TREAT IT?
Treatment typically starts with gathering your history and understanding the role that depression plays in your life. I explore your coping strategies and help expand those skills to make sure that you have a strong base to work from. Depending on your history, this may impact the course of treatment. If you struggle with negative or spiraling thoughts, we focus on either reframing those thoughts or gaining distance from those unhelpful thoughts. If you aren’t connecting socially with others, we work on improving social skills and building your social network. If you feel as though you are lacking purpose, we explore what is important to you and start incorporating that more into your life.
With any treatment, I like to explore your values and what’s important to you. We would not do any treatment unless it feels as though it is moving you toward the person you want to be (e.g., if quality time with family is important to you, we would work on creating more work-life balance and engaging in activities you might want to do with your family). Also, I am a firm believer that emotions are a window into your values and needs. I will check in on your emotions every now and then to explore what your underlying needs may be and how we can meet those needs.