Depression Therapy Calgary
When it comes to depression Therapy, there's no one-size-fits-all treatment.
Anger can impact your life and relationships in profound ways. When unmanaged, it can lead to conflicts, stress, and emotional pain. At One Life Counselling & Coaching in Calgary, we understand the challenges anger can bring and offer specialized therapy to help you regain control and find peace. Our experienced therapists are dedicated to helping you manage anger and build healthier relationships. Contact us today to start your journey toward emotional balance and well-being.
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What is Depression?
Counsellors for depression generally define depression as a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness and a loss of interest in things that were once pleasurable.
Feeling down every once in a while is completely natural. Sadness is a normal reaction to life’s challenges, and we all face internal and external events that can trigger a negative state.
However, if you carry a deep sadness with you almost every day for an extended period, there might be something more going on.
Depression and sadness go hand in hand, but clinical depression goes much deeper than an occasional bout of low mood. It sinks its draining tentacles in all parts of your life, affecting how you feel, think, and act. It can eat away at your energy and joy. This makes depression incredibly debilitating as it interferes with your ability to function and enjoy life.
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Depression therapy in NW Calgary for children, teens, and adults. Supporting you through every life chapter.
Types of Depression
Low mood is at the heart of any kind of depression, but this can manifest differently in various types of depression disorders.
Depression therapy can help treat the following disorders:
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or clinical depression: A severe and debilitating depression that lasts for two weeks or longer.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)
A chronic depression that lasts at least two years.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
A temporary but recurring depression linked to seasonal changes.
Bipolar Disorder
A cyclical mood disorder that involves extreme highs (manic or hypomanic episodes) and extreme lows (depressive periods).
Peripartum (Postpartum) Depression (PPD)
A much more severe and longer-lasting version of the “baby blues,” which can affect both the birthing and non-birthing parent.
Atypical Depression
A form of depression sharing many typical symptoms of MDD but characterized by a (temporarily) enhanced mood in response to positive events.
Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)
A depression that remains despite trying several treatment methods (typically two courses of antidepressant medication, taken for 4-6 weeks).
Treatment-Resistant Depression Still Responds to Care
While it’s estimated that one-third of people meet the criteria for TRD, this is no reason to give up seeking help. Most can still get this “stickier” form of depression under control with the right support.
The help you need is just a phone call away.
Frequently Asked Questions About Depression Therapy in Calgary
How does depression counselling differ from traditional talk therapy?
Is medication necessary in addition to counselling for treating depression?
Can depression counselling help with sleep issues and appetite changes often associated with depression?
Is it common for people to feel initially worse before feeling better during the depression counselling process?
When you first begin therapy, it’s not uncommon to have both new feelings of hope and energy for life in a positive way again and also have moments of despair. We always encourage our clients to embrace change, develop a growth mindset and that most growth is going to have moments of pain. The majority find the positives outweigh the negatives of professional depression counselling. A good counsellor will be able to help you feel comfortable, safe and secure to explore the challenges contributing to your depression symptoms.
Can you recommend some self-care strategies that can be incorporated into my daily routine during and after depression counselling in Calgary?
Yes. One of the main goals of depression counselling is to provide you with evidence-based tools, techniques, and strategies that can help you move forward in concrete and positive ways. The best depression counselling is when you have a deep personal commitment to change and specific actions that you can integrate into your daily life.
What are the symptoms of depression?
People with depression often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, such as:
- constant and intense sadness
- lack of interest in life/activities one used to enjoy
- feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness
- persistent lethargy
- etc.
While these common symptoms can be linked to most types of depression disorders, they generally show up in different ways. For instance, symptoms may appear according to seasonal changes or follow a cyclical mood-related pattern. Ultimately, depression impacts everyone differently. No matter the pattern of your symptoms, speaking to a therapist about your concerns is one of the surest paths to getting better sooner. Further, speaking with a counsellor for depression does not automatically mean you will receive a depression diagnosis. Whether or not you seek a diagnosis is always your choice, depending on your needs and preferences.
What are the reasons for depression?
You might have heard that depression results from a “chemical imbalance” that can be adjusted (or fixed) using antidepressant medication. This ultimately does not capture how complex depression really is.
It also ignores effective pathways to well-being that use talk therapy and medication in combination. Licensed counsellors for depression can work with you to identify the best approach for your symptoms.
While brain chemicals are indeed involved, it’s not just about having too much or too little of them. Rather, there are many possible causes of depression that all interact with one another.
Some factors that play a role are faulty mood regulation, stressful life events, and isolation. These are all areas that therapists know how to target and treat, helping you get your depression under control.
What are the risks of not dealing with depression?
Having to deal with depression is hard, but not dealing with it at all can make matters even worse.
When left untreated, people with depression may experience a debilitating downward loop. The condition not only greatly impacts their well-being, but a diminished quality of life also further evokes feelings of despair and hopelessness.
Stressful life events significantly increase one’s risk of experiencing a depressive episode. At the same time, a depressive episode is also stressful in and of itself.
Due to its life-disrupting and isolating nature, depression can become a source of additional stressors too, such as a divorce, severed connections, or loss of one’s job. This piles more challenges onto an already difficult situation, initiating depression’s vicious cycle.
If this sounds like you, getting support to break the cycle is vitally important. But even if your situation is not yet severe, getting help early can help prevent this cycle setting in.
Consider seeking support sooner rather than later to safeguard yourself against life’s inevitable challenges.
How can depression therapy in Calgary help?
Depression therapy can help in numerous ways as it lifts the burden off those experiencing depression.
Depression is a state of disconnection, and a commonly named symptom is a sense of painful isolation. Perhaps you find yourself keeping those who love you at arm’s length. Or maybe your depression is like a rain cloud, dampening moods and moments with friends. Either way, finding ways to (re)connect with others is a vital aspect of any healing journey.
Counselling for depression can be your lighthouse in the storm. A counsellor for depression can offer you professional support within a non-judgemental and safe environment.
By getting the chance to dig beneath the surface and talk things out, a profound and much-needed shift can begin to take place. By talking through your experiences, you and your therapist can explore the psychological architecture that underlies depression, which involves your relationship to thoughts and feelings.
Through discussion, counsellors for depression can work with you to unpack and change this architecture. By doing so, you can learn to live in greater harmony with your mind and emotions.
Even better, you can get back to connecting with those you love sooner. Depression therapy in Calgary is in important and effective step in getting your life back.
How can I communicate my needs and concerns to my counsellor during the depression counselling process?
While every person’s communication style is different, being straightforward with your counsellor about your needs and concerns is recommended. As an experienced professional, your counsellor will best be able to respond to your concerns and help you make progress when they understand exactly what’s holding you back. This includes understanding how you see the world, getting to know you deeply and developing a therapeutic relationship with you. If you find it difficult to talk under pressure, consider jotting down some notes before each session.
Can depression counselling also address co-occurring conditions such as anxiety or PTSD?
Yes. Depression counselling is just one facet of individual counselling and doesn’t occur in isolation. Most often, your therapist will support you in holistically addressing any and all conditions or issues that are standing in your way.
How would you describe the difference between short-term and long-term depression therapy in Calgary?
Short-term depression counselling tends to focus on immediate strategies to resolve current issues and concerns. Long-term counselling may address many of the same issues and concerns but involves exploring the role that past events and experiences have played in shaping them.
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There's a life beyond your depression just waiting to be discovered.
At One Life Counselling & Coaching, we provide services for depression counselling in Calgary. Speak to us today to connect with a licensed depression counsellor and discover what awaits you on the other side of your depression.
Get Back on Your Feet With Depression Counselling in Calgary!
Counselling can help you do more than simply combat stress and illness. It’s an investment in your future happiness that gives you the keys to pursue a life you feel called to live.
We all have a fundamental desire not just to reduce our suffering but to find greater meaning in life. Depression often hints at something within us that feels stifled and yearns to be expressed.
There’s a life beyond your depression just waiting to be discovered.
At One Life Counselling & Coaching, we provide services for depression counselling in Calgary. Speak to us today to connect with a licensed depression counsellor and discover what awaits you on the other side of your depression.
Rates and Insurance
Insurance & Fees
If using your insurance benefits is important, we can connect you with a therapist, individual counsellor or couples counsellor, whose services are covered by most insurance plans. Please confirm coverage with your provider before booking.
You can find more details about our rates and insurance coverage here.
Our standard fees follow the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta’s recommended schedule with one key difference: we offer 60-minute sessions instead of the typical 50-minutes giving you more time for support and reflection.
Contact One Life
Today
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
We can help connect you with psychologist or therapist who understands your experience and your needs.
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”
— Nelson Mandela
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