Depression

Depression is more than feeling sad. It can show up as a persistent low mood that will not lift, a loss of interest or pleasure in things that used to matter, exhaustion that is not explained by how much you have slept, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite, and a pull towards withdrawing from the people and activities around you.

One of the things that makes depression hard to shift on your own is that the very things that would help, being active, staying connected, doing things that give you a sense of accomplishment, are the things depression makes hardest to do. That creates a cycle: the less you do, the worse you feel, and the worse you feel, the less you do.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the most well-evidenced treatments for depression. It works in two directions at once: gradually rebuilding activity and engagement through an approach called behavioural activation, and identifying the patterns of negative thinking that keep low mood locked in place. The combination helps to break the cycle from both sides.

Therapy starts with understanding how depression is showing up in your life specifically, and building a plan together that makes sense for your situation. Some people feel a shift within a few sessions; for others, the work is more gradual. Either way, you set the pace.