Feeling depressed?

Depression can manifest in many forms. For some, it’s an agonizing sadness that throbs like a physical wound. For others, it’s a dull numbness that isolates them from their own lives. Some people have somatic symptoms like frequent headaches, digestive trouble, and sleep disturbances while other people experience cognitive issues like brain fog, memory problems, and difficulty focusing. Many people experience emotional symptoms like worthlessness, hopelessness, and despair. Depression can occur episodically like crashing waves or consistently like a relentless downpour. However it presents, it often feels overwhelming.

But there is hope. I’ll provide an inviting and judgement-free environment wherein we investigate your depressive symptoms and any potential triggers. We’ll also delve into your past experiences and present situation to understand how outside influences impact your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Finally, we'll integrate evidence-based anti-depressive treatments that best align with your individual needs.

Empirically-supported treatment

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the benchmark for treating depression. Working within the CBT framework, we’ll first determine and challenge the negative thought patterns - referred to as “cognitive distortions” - that contribute to your sadness or numbness. Next, we’ll aim to substitute those negative thought patterns with the positive mental habits linked with happiness, gratitude, and a sense of agency. CBT is a skills-based model so you can apply these strategies whenever you experience depression in the future. Learn more about CBT here.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a scientifically supported approach that utilizes bilateral stimulation - usually horizontal eye movements - to reprocess the intense thoughts or distressing memories frequently associated with depression. Our brains naturally tend to rework painful experiences and unsettling thoughts into more useful forms that can then guide us in the future. However, certain negative memories or beliefs can become “stuck.” And this is where EMDR can help. Learn more about EMDR here.

Mindfulness has been a fundamental aspect of Eastern philosophy for millennia and was originally introduced into Western psychology in the 1970s as a means of treating depression and other issues. Mindfulness techniques encourage awareness and acceptance of our thoughts and emotions, kindness and compassion towards ourselves and others, and a gentle attention to the present moment. Learn more about mindfulness here.

A customized approach

Your experience with depression is unique to you and therefore requires a personalized approach. We’ll develop an individualized toolkit of self-care practices so that you’ll have strategies to implement during acute periods of emotional turmoil as well as on a daily basis to maintain your own psychological well-being. While depression can feel like you’re drowning in sorrow, psychotherapy can act as a lifeline. If you’re experiencing depression, then contact me using the form below or email me at sue@suebedfordpsychotherapy.com to book a free consultation. I can’t wait to hear from you!