Depression Counselling
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depressive Disorders
Help for Depression
Everyone experiences periods of unhappiness at times, where they may feel depressed temporarily. Depression becomes a concern when feelings such as sadness, disappointment, or worthlessness last for several weeks or longer.
When a person experiences symptoms of depressed mood or a loss of interest in most activities, it can interfere with all areas of life. It can change the way a person thinks, feels, and acts, and also the way that their body functions.
The negative effect of thoughts, behaviors, the environment, and the physical self can all be causal factors in depression. Through the use of different exercises and tools, these factors can be identified and mood can be improved.
For example, in counselling someone who is struggling with depression, some of the things I do to help that person is to identify negative core beliefs (beliefs about the self), and cognitive distortions (distorted ways of thinking) that are contributing to depressed mood. Once these beliefs and distortions are identified, they can be targeted for change. Similarly, other concerns such as unhealthy behaviors, issues at work, school, or in relationships can also be worked on to improve mood and decrease depressive symptoms.
Symptoms of depression include the following:
Changes in sleep patterns (more or less than usual)
Changes in appetite
Difficulty with concentration or decision making
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
Isolation from others
Feeling overwhelmed with sadness, irritability, or anger
Decreased interest in normal activities
Loss of energy
Thoughts of death
Questions on Counselling
How do I know if I need counselling?
Sometimes we need to seek help from a trained professional to work through problems that we are encountering. You may need counselling if:
- you are feeling overwhelmed, and your problems do not seem to improve despite your best efforts
- you are having difficulties in your relationships
- it is difficult to carry out your daily routine, performance at work is affected, relationships are strained, or you are not feeling like you are coping effectively
- You are using alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, or other means that are negatively affecting your life
- You feel unhappy or hopeless
What can I expect in a first session?
During the first session, paperwork is completed as well as a functional assessment. I will ask about your concerns and what has brought you to therapy. Once all information has been gathered, goals for therapy and a treatment plan can be discussed.
How do I know if it’s the right fit for me?
You should feel comfortable with your psychologist and be able to discuss personal information. It is important to have a good rapport with your psychologist and feel at ease with him/her.
In order to determine if we are a good fit for each other, I offer a free 20 minute consultation.
How long are sessions?
Sessions are 60 minutes in length, which includes admin time (i.e. payment, booking next appointments, etc). Longer sessions may be arranged in 15 minute segments.
How many sessions are required?
Therapy is individual to each person and the amount of time required is dependant on several factors. Some of these factors include the nature of the concerns brought to therapy, complexity of the issues, amount of work completed outside of sessions, and motivation to change.
What is the cost?
The Fee Schedule recommended by the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta is a guideline for setting fees for services. My fees are set using this schedule as a guideline. You can access this fee schedule on the Psychologists’ Association website at www.psychologistsassociation.ab.ca.
My fee for individual sessions is $220/hour.
Alberta Health Care does not cover the cost of psychological services. However, I will issue a receipt for fees paid, and if you have an insurance plan, this may be submitted to your insurance company for full or partial re-imbursement.
Live Your Best Life
I can support you in finding the path to health and healing.