Depression Therapy

Another day feeling like sh*t…

• Do you have trouble getting out of bed?
• Is it a constant chore to drag yourself into school, work, or see your friends and family?
• Are you putting off everything? Maybe “sleeping it off” to make the feelings go away?

Faking A Smile, No One Would Ever Guess Just How Unhappy And Depressed You Are

Little do they know that you’ve been putting on a damn good show. But behind closed doors, you’re a mess.

The tears won’t stop, and you don’t even know what you are crying about half the time. Persistent feelings of unhappiness and emptiness have become a regular part of your life. You’ve become uncomfortable in your own skin.

Depression has taken over…

• “I’m worthless.”
• “I’m a failure.”
• “I’m broken.”

Does any of this sound familiar?

And to make it all worse, there’s seemingly no light at the end of the tunnel, and you’re too scared to tell anyone how you feel.

Your brain may be telling you there’s no hope, but it’s lying. Seeking therapy can help quiet the negative thoughts and shut off those lies depression wants to tell you.

Depression Can Affect Anyone And Rear Its Ugly Head In Any Situation Life May Throw At Us

The National Institute for Mental Health notes that “major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States” (1). And according to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 280 million people of all ages suffer from depression worldwide, which is about 3.8 percent of the global population (2).

What most people don’t realize is that depression is a complex condition that may have multiple causes. That could include biological, physiological, social, environmental, or spiritual factors.

Looking at it from a holistic lens, for example, physical factors may occur when we have poor health. This could be because we have issues sleeping, lack exercise, eat a poor diet, or abuse substances, etc.

Taking care of ourselves on the inside is super important, and it will reflect on the outside.

One of the psychological factors may be how we treat ourselves. It can also include any trauma we may have endured, grief, unhealthy coping mechanisms, etc.

Social and environmental factors come into play when we experience a lack of support, stressful life events, a job loss, or relationship problems. And when we feel a lack of purpose or isolate ourselves, this may also cause issues.

The Real Problem Is That Depression Often Remains Undiagnosed and Untreated

There is a lot of stigma around depression and seeking treatment for it. Some people may shy away from getting a diagnosis for that reason, or they may not be able to afford weekly therapy.

But whether it’s a hormonal, gut, or chemical imbalance in the brain, depression can be difficult to regulate without the right tools. And it may be a real pain to overcome negative thought patterns and low self-esteem without counseling.

We understand that if you are socially isolated and lack support, you may not know who to turn to. And that could make you withdraw even more.

But we’re here for you!

At Niyama Center, our therapists can provide you with the tools and support you need to make great strides in overcoming your depression.

Depression Therapy Can Help You Rediscover Yourself and Feel Less Alone

Want to get rid of that nagging pit of deep sadness in your stomach? It’s time for professional help from a depression therapist.

In depression therapy, our counselors look at cognitive distortions—biased perspectives we take on about ourselves and the world around us. These are irrational thoughts and beliefs we have. Usually, cognitive distortions are patterns of thinking or believing, false or inaccurate, that have the potential to cause psychological damage.

For example:

• All-or-nothing thinking: things are either black or white.
• Mind reading: you are sure you know what others are thinking – “They probably think I am foolish.”
• Overgeneralization: you draw a conclusion based on a small amount of evidence – “I do everything wrong.”
• Emotional reasoning: you believe something is true because it “feels” true.

Most likely, you have fallen for a few cognitive distortions at one time or another. These are just errors in thinking or false assumptions which can provoke symptoms of depression.

With practice and therapy, you can improve your ability to recognize and respond to these distortions.

How Do Depression Counseling Sessions Work?

We look at the individual from a person-centered approach, tailoring our approach to your specific needs. Together, we’ll develop interventions that will change your thinking and decrease your symptoms.

In sessions, we will educate you on how to feed your brain and make lifestyle changes. And we will provide you with a safe and supportive space to explore the root causes of your depression, develop coping skills, and work towards your goals.

Our practice is entirely holistic, so we use:

• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) – An approach that combines mindfulness meditation practice and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you develop greater awareness of the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that fuel your depression and learn new ways to respond to them.
• Mindfulness Exercises – With this, you will learn to recognize depression. And yes, we’ll give you a little homework at the end of each session, such as doing a positive self-statement log, practicing positive affirmations, or scheduling activities that are pleasurable, etc.
• Somatic Therapy – A treatment method that helps you to form a connection with your body to access and relieve deep feelings that depression may have blocked.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy – We use this modality to reduce any disturbing thought patterns or past traumas that may be the cause of your depression.

Utilizing these approaches, our counselors will teach you how to get out of the downward spiral of stress, depression, and sadness. We’ll inspire you to challenge your negative beliefs and realize there are other ways to interact and face life situations that result in positive outcomes.

Ultimately, our aim is to teach you strategies to continue helping yourself without the need for a depression therapist.

You May Still Have Questions or Concerns about Depression Treatment…

Is there medication involved?

We are therapists and cannot prescribe medication. Our practice work prefers a more holistic approach. We try to help you without medication. However, if you want to pursue medication, we will support you and can recommend consulting with a psychiatrist about which options are best.

Will depression treatment actually work?

If you come to sessions and are willing to do the work, including homework, then you can definitely feel better. We are confident that we can help you achieve your goals, and reduce your depression symptoms.

I have had depression for as long as I recall. I am not sure if I can get better.

You won’t know what therapy can do for you unless you give it a try. There is likely a deeper issue to your depression that a trained therapist can help you pinpoint so you can live a happy and meaningful life.