Depression can involve feeling low, lethargic, guilty/hopeless, and a variety of other uncomfortable things. Often folks who are depressed having difficulty completing meaningful activities throughout their days. Treating depression involves increasing meaningful activities, as well as learning to talk to ourselves in a more compassionate and balanced way.
Dr. Burgess has experience providing therapy for depression. She has extensive experience providing evidence-based treatment for depression using therapy modalities such as dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), radically-open dialectical behaviour therapy (RO-DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive-behavioural therapy, and mindfulness and self-compassion approaches.
Depression can be a debilitating mental health concern that impacts our well-being, relationships and daily living. These moments can be tough to navigate without someone to trust and confide in for support. The first step of seeking help can feel intimidating and overwhelming. I would love to make the process as comfortable as possible for you.
Focusing on treating depression, I provide a compassionate and understaning space where you can explore your emotions and callenges. My approach is tailored to your unique needs, helping you uncover underlying issues and develop effective coping strategies. Together, we will work towards reclaiming your sense of joy and purpose, empowering you to lead a fulfilling life.
You might have noticed that you have lost interest in activities that used to bring you joy, or you might feel an overarching sense of hopelessness in life and not feel like you have much to look forward to. Perhaps its hard to motivate yourself to do regular activities. I want you to know that it can get better, and you can feel better. We'll work together to identify what life used to feel like before depression, what brings you joy and pleasure and how we can integrate these reflections in to a course of action so that you're able to feel better.
Depression can leave people feeling hopeless about their present and future. These feelings can often create a negative impact on their personal and professional relationships. Therapeutic interventions to identify maladaptive triggers and thought patterns can often help individuals cope with their depressive symptoms.
Registered Psychotherapist, RP (Registered Psychotherapist), Diploma TIRP, member CAPT
Depression, hopelessness, powerlessness, loneliness, dead inside. Having a reliable and trusted relationship to provide support when we believe no one can bear to be with us can make the difference. We can begin to feel we're worth the time, the effort, that we matter. Eventually, with patience, what we feel (or can't feel) can begin to make sense. A sense of connection and agency can return.
Our work will be based on establishing a trusting and supportive relationship between you and I; it will include me getting to know your current and past circumstances, symptoms, medical history, your interpersonal experiences. We will want to identify and explore any underlying, perhaps previously unconscious to you factors contributing to your suffering. We will want to empower your ways of coping, which have proven helpful, as well as new more adaptive thoughts and behaviour to alleviate your symptoms and to improve your well-being.
Learn how to manage the symptoms of depression more effectively while increasing self-compassion, focusing on mindfulness-based training. Gain a deeper understanding of the role and function of depression in your life, as well as related causes and triggers. Develop more helpful ways of responding to difficult thoughts and feelings in order to increase flexibility and resilience to life stressors. Explore what makes your life rich and meaningful, and begin taking action towards building such a life while learning strategies for staying on course even when symptoms of depression show up. Depression doesn't have to define your life, and it doesn't have to steer your life towards suffering. Learn to take the wheel back, and get back on course towards a life that's worth living.