Depression Counselling in North Vancouver and across British Columbia
Feeling exhausted, disconnected, or like you're just going through the motions? Lacking motivation, struggling to get out of bed, feeling hopeless, inadequate, or weighed down by helpless thoughts? Whether you're dealing with depression, a temporary low mood, or grief that you can't seem to shift, we can work through it together.
How do I know if I have depression or low mood?
Low mood can be a normal response to stress, disappointment, loss, or difficult circumstances, and it may gradually lift. Depression tends to feel more persistent and can begin affecting many areas of your life. You might lose interest in things you usually enjoy, feel exhausted or emotionally numb, struggle to concentrate or make decisions, experience changes in sleep or appetite, or find that everyday responsibilities require far more effort than usual.
Depression does not always look like obvious sadness. You may still be working, caring for others, and appearing to cope while privately feeling disconnected, irritable, hopeless, or unlike yourself.
You do not need to know whether what you’re experiencing “counts” as depression before reaching out. If your mood has been weighing on you or interfering with your daily life, it may be worth talking about.
What does depression feel like?
You may find yourself thinking:
"I can't do this anymore."
"I feel like I'm functioning in slow motion."
"I can't get myself off the couch."
"What's the point?"
"I have no energy."
"I can't concentrate."
"Nobody really cares."
For many women, depression doesn't always look like sadness. It can show up as constant self-criticism, irritability, emotional eating, perfectionism, people-pleasing, feeling disconnected from yourself, or a persistent belief that you're somehow not enough. You may continue showing up for everyone else while quietly struggling beneath the surface.
Am I broken?
Depression can make you believe that something is fundamentally wrong with you. You may judge yourself for not being more motivated, productive, grateful, or able to “snap out of it.” But depression is not a character flaw or a personal failure. Things that once felt manageable may now require tremendous effort because your emotional and physical resources have been stretched too far. You are not broken, weak, or damaged. You may simply be carrying more pain, stress, or exhaustion than other people realize.
Why do I feel this way?
Depression can develop for many reasons, including difficult life experiences, trauma, loss, chronic stress, relationship challenges, divorce, illness, perimenopause, menopause, or like many women, simply carrying too much for too long. Whatever the cause, one thing is certain: you're tired of feeling this way and want things to change.
How can counselling help with depression?
Counselling offers a place to understand what may be contributing to your depression and what is keeping you feeling stuck. We can explore what depression has taken away from your life while also identifying what you would like to move toward.
Together, we may work on:
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understanding the experiences and patterns affecting your mood
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responding differently to harsh or hopeless thoughts
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developing more supportive ways of coping
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reconnecting with relationships, activities, and parts of yourself that matter
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taking small, manageable steps toward greater energy, meaning, and motivation
My approach is compassionate, practical, and tailored to your circumstances. Change does not have to begin with a dramatic transformation. Sometimes it begins with feeling understood and finding one small place to start.
Together, we can help you better understand your experiences, build effective coping strategies, reconnect with what matters to you, and begin creating meaningful change. If you'd like to learn more about me or how counselling can help, I'd like to invite you to reach out to arrange a free consultation or head over to my contact page to see if we're a good fit.