Depression Counseling

Do You Feel Down, Defeated And Alone?

Are you struggling with feelings of helplessness and/or hopelessness? Has life lost its luster, purpose, and meaning? Perhaps you’re in a dead-end relationship or job, and every day feels repetitive and empty. Or maybe you’re constantly reliving painful memories from your past and feel paralyzed, as though it’s impossible to move forward. You might feel frustrated and angry, but also unable or unsafe to express your true feelings. And, you may be beating yourself up for these melancholy thoughts and emotions, especially if you feel guilt and/or shame for not being able to get it together. Do you wish you could regain a sense of meaning and purpose in your life and truly believe that you are worthy?

Living with depression can be a frustrating, confusing and deeply lonely experience. You might be living with an inner tormentor that constantly beats you down, tapping out any zest you had for life and making you want to cover your head and hide. Perhaps you feel like you should be doing better, but a lack of motivation and ongoing feelings of exhaustion make completing even simple tasks difficult. You might be eating and sleeping too much or too little, although you never feel rested or satisfied. It might be that you feel totally numb. Or, alternatively, you might feel extremely emotionally and physically sensitive, prone to aches and pains and overwhelmed by difficult emotions. Regardless of your depression symptoms, are you suffering from a lack of vitality, wondering if feeling better is even possible at this point?

Depression Is Increasingly Common In Our Culture

Although you may feel very isolated in your depression, you are far from alone. Statistics show that more than 15 million American adults suffer from some form of depression every year, and some studies indicate that this number is steadily on the rise. Many people have a predisposition to developing depression, which can be triggered by heightened stress or a challenging experience. Others develop situational depression following trauma, a loss or a significant life transition. Women are diagnosed with depression twice as often as men, with depression symptoms in women often presenting as a deep level of sadness. Alternatively, depression symptoms in men tend to be associated with anger, aggression, and irritability. Symptoms in all genders also present on a wide spectrum, with people on one end of the continuum feeling a low level of sadness, lethargy and lack of purpose and people on the other end of the spectrum experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or finding it nearly impossible to get out of bed or leave the house.

While you may desperately want these feelings to lift, it’s important to understand that depression is sending you a message that something in your perspective, direction or life needs to be addressed and likely changed. The good news is that there is hope for discovery, growth, and healing. An experienced, skilled and compassionate depression therapist can help you shift your outlook, identify your values and regain a sense of meaning and purpose in your life.

Depression Counseling Can Provide You With Guidance, Support, And Relief

In safe, confidential depression therapy sessions, I can help you learn how to be present with uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, shift your perspective, connect to your values and take committed action that is in alignment with those values. Together, we can explore the inner tormentor beating you down so you can create distance between what is fueling your depression and the authentic you. As you define what is important to you, I’ll take you through experiential exercises that can help in your discovery and healing process and keep you moving toward your goals. I can also help you identify and name the self-defeating thoughts that keep you from moving forward, as well as equip you with practical, proven strategies to get you back on track even on the most challenging days.

In counseling for depression sessions, we’ll also take the time to explore whether you’ve been living in alignment with your values. Often, depression is a sign that you’ve drifted away from what is truly important to you. Together, we’ll identify personal motivators and actionable steps that you can take to realign yourself with what fills you with happiness and contentment. And, I’ll be there to help you celebrate your successes—even the smallest ones—as even just one small step forward is still a step forward.

I understand that everyone is unique, which is why I’ll draw from empirically proven and effective approaches and strategies to tailor-make a depression treatment strategy that best fits you as an individual and honors your values, history, needs, and therapy goals. In addition to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and other effective forms of therapy, we can utilize Mindfulness Therapy, which can be especially helpful for treating depression. It can help you awaken your dormant spirit and allow you to notice when you’re living in alignment with your values. It can also help you develop the understanding that no matter how hard you try, you cannot erase or alter the past; however, you can take action in the present. Through this process, you can learn to embrace your history rather than continue to fight against it.

I’ve been helping people heal from depression for almost a decade, and I know that it’s possible to learn how to make effective decisions that are in alignment with your values, live with a sense of purpose and regain your vitality. With guidance, support and the right approach for you, you can develop courage and self-compassion. You can begin to understand that we’re all flawed as humans and that we are all also worthy. You are worthy and have a special place in the universe. Though increasing your awareness and self-love and acting in accordance with your values, you can discover the authentic you and live with peace, balance, and clarity.

You still may have questions and concerns about therapy for depression…

I’ve tried everything to deal with my depression and nothing works. I’m not sure that anything will.

It’s understandable that you feel hopeless—which is a primary symptom of depression—but it’s important that you don’t give up. Healing is possible, and there are multiple paths to the same destination. It’s just that you haven’t discovered what works specifically for you yet. In depression counseling sessions, we’ll look at what hasn’t worked so we don’t repeat mistakes, as well as what has worked and which innate strengths and resources you can build upon. We’ll also identify the values and goals that can help you stay motivated and moving forward. And, throughout the depression therapy process, we’ll regularly access your progress and tweak strategies as needed.

I’ve heard that treatment for depression can take a long time.

With the right approach, a trusting therapeutic relationship and the careful monitoring of progress, depression counseling can be relatively short-term. The average length of most therapy is 26 sessions, and there is a lot we can do in a few months to help you connect with your values, learn valuable skills and create actionable steps you can take to get to where you want to go. You can shift your perspective and the relationship you have with suffering and develop the awareness needed to foster the change you wish to see in your life.

I’ve been feeling low for a long time, but I’m not sure I need therapy. Shouldn’t I just be able to get over it?

Sometimes you really need to feel your feelings in order to heal, which may be the case if you’ve been experiencing a low level of depression for quite some time. In sessions, we can explore your experience and address specific depression symptoms. It may just be that you need a little extra support and guidance right now, which can make a significant difference in how you feel and engage with your life.

You Can Live A Balanced, Peaceful Life

You don’t have to navigate the frustration, loneliness, and uncertainty of depression on your own. If you’re in Denver or Lakewood, CO, I invite you to contact me at 720-260-7702 to schedule a free 30-minute call. I’m happy to discuss your particular needs and answer any questions you have about depression counseling and my practice.

Due to a busy practice and an ever-increasing passion working as a coach, I am not taking on therapy clients in my Lakewood, CO office at this time, and only taking on a limited number of therapy clients for meetings via secure telehealth and online counseling platforms. I will continue to take on new clients for coaching. For more information, visit the business and career  coaching, empowerment coaching, relationship coaching, habit coaching, and getting unstuck coaching information on my site, and become the change you wish to see in your life!