You can heal from depression! Taking action is the necessary way to combat depression. Seeking counseling can help you thrive!
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It’s okay to get help!

Some see depression as a sign of poor will and their attitude is that you should just snap out of it and move on. Some are afraid of the stigma of getting psychological help because they think depression is a mental illness and they are afraid of being perceived as “crazy”. There are many factors that lead to depression (biological, psychological, relational, etc.), if depression is eroding your life, it is critical to get professional help and stop the downward spiral.
Emotions have meaning!

Most people see depression as negative or bad, something to get rid of. However, my approach is to help you take a closer look at your depressed state of being and to find out the meanings behind it. Often, depression is associated with experiences of loss and/or unmet needs. When we have not grieved about our losses, mourned about our disappointments or experienced our hopes and dreams, our unresolved emotions can get trapped and prevent us from experiencing life fully. In therapy, I will provide you the necessary support to help you express your tender and “frozen” emotions, so that those emotions can be eventually integrated and no longer become obstacles in realizing your new hopes and dreams.
Thrive, don't just survive!

Depression is a wake-up call for better self-care. My approach is holistic, focusing on helping you to foster a better life style, which looks after your physical, psychological, emotional, relational and spiritual well-being. I will help you examine your coping styles and challenge you to explore new alternatives to how you address meeting your wants and needs. I will discuss with you strategies that will help give you the best possible support and resources (e.g. choosing the right people to be around). We will practice new skills so that you can better respond, instead of react, to challenging situations. You will expand your self-awareness, build your self-confidence and make better choices for your life, choices that have the best potential for bringing you joy and fulfillment.
More thoughts on depression...

Everyone has experienced moments of feeling “down” or “blue” at some point in their life. This is a normal reaction to stressful situations and experiences of loss or disappointment. However, when these feelings persist and start to color and interfere with many aspects of your life, you may be suffering from depression. Some of the symptoms of depression are: chronic lack of pleasure and feelings of sadness, worthlessness, excessive guilt, hopelessness and helplessness. Depression can also cause physical symptoms such as sleep and appetite problems, weight issues and lack of sexual desire. Suicidal thoughts may be present in more severe cases.

In my opinion, one of the worst consequences of depression is that it causes someone to withdraw from their life, thus limiting their potential and their ability to live and love fully. Depression is a complicated phenomenon and its cause is multi-faceted. Some of the causes can be attributed to genetics, chemical imbalances, challenging relationships, life circumstances, learned helplessness, chronic negative thought process and inadequate environmental support. Regardless of the cause, depression is a signal that calls for you to pay attention and to take care of your body, mind and soul so that you can have a fulfilling life. Without proper care, depression can become a lifelong pattern that robs you of your hopes and dreams.

Sometimes anti-depressants are used to manage depressive symptoms. While it is important to treat the biological roots of depression, research clearly shows that therapy can increased the effectiveness of treatment. In my own clinical experience, psychotherapy helps someone not only to reduce their depressive symptoms but also to heal from the emotional roots of depression. Healing from depression is possible! Counseling helps by providing a uniquely safe place to better understand and address your innermost emotions and to develop valuable skills that will allow you to get your wants and needs met.
Depression  -  a few thoughts...