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Depression, fear, and anxiety are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we can experience at some point in our lives. Through counseling and treatment, we are able to help you recover the motivation, 

perspective, and joy that you once had in your life. 

Life is filled with ups and downs and it’s normal to be sad at times. However, depression is different than sadness.

When we talk about clinical depression, we are describing a mood disorder causing deep sadness that is difficult to shake on your own. Depression interferes with being able to function or carry out normal daily tasks.Depression also manifests differently in everyone and the symptoms can range from mild to severe. People who suffer with clinical depression often share the following:

• Feeling down for periods longer than two weeks
• Loss of interest in activities that they previously enjoyed
• That they don’t get the same pleasure out of things that they did in the past
• Difficulty remembering things
• Experiencing negative self talk
• Isolation

These symptoms may also be coupled with low levels of energy, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, feelings of worthlessness or guilt. These symptoms may result in thoughts of self-harm or suicide as well.Not only does depression affect the mind it also affects the body. People may experience difficulty with sleeping patterns, changes in appetite leading to weight gain or loss, headaches or upset stomachs.

If you are struggling with depression, you may have had a friend, significant other, parent, or family member say things like:

• “Just snap out of it!”
• “Pull yourself together”
• “You don’t look sick” “you look
• Why can’t you just get over it
• You are acting lazy
• You should be over it by now

These kinds of comments from well meaning loved ones cause more harm than good because a person suffering with depression often already feels misunderstood, judged, lonely, and guilty. Depression is not a state of mind, or a moral failure, or something a person can heal from just by snapping their fingers. Current research suggests that a combination of psychological, biological and social sources of distress, and/or unresolved trauma may cause changes in brain function leading to altered activity within certain neural circuits in the brain.In other words you have a sad brain and that is not your fault. If you believe that you are dealing with depression, I encourage to reach out for support.There is help and healing so that you can experience joy, fulfillment, and plug back in to your life they way you are intended to live.

Perinatal EMDR therapy for depression and anxiety is a rapidly growing form of psychotherapy that can provide invaluable help and support to women before and after they give birth. Perinatal EMDR therapy focuses on the emotional health of pregnant women, as well as those who have recently given birth. This therapy helps new mothers manage their emotions, thoughts, and feelings during this time of immense change in their lives. Perinatal EMDR practitioners are specially trained to work with pre-natal, birth, and post-natal issues such as anxiety, depression, stressors related to labor and delivery, as well as dealing with the psychological effects of losing an infant or multiples. Perinatal EMDR therapists provide safe, supportive help from the pre-natal period through the first few weeks postpartum. By providing compassionate assistance throughout this time of transition, Perinatal EMDR therapists can be incredibly supportive in offering help and understanding during this emotionally challenging journey.

Many individuals can experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness are a few emotions that can linger post traumatic events. We can help you overcome these symptoms and guide you through the process of grief and healing. 

Factors that may contribute to developing PTSD, include:

• past life experiences such as childhood trauma or sexual abuse
• experiencing trauma over a long period of time
• having a job that exposes you to repeated trauma such as police, ambulance officer, firefighter or military
• genetic factors (family history of mental health issues)
• previous mental health issues like anxiety and depression
• brain chemistry
• your body’s stress response
• your support network (colleagues, family and friends and access to professional help). 

We can experience more than one mental health issue at the same time. This is called a ‘co-condition’ or ‘co-morbidity’.

 For example, someone with PTSD may have generalised anxiety disorder or depression at the same time.

Sometimes people try to ease the pain of PTSD by using drugs and alcohol. 

Alcohol and drug abuse is a common co-morbidity with PTSD and can hinder recovery.

PTSD has been known by many names in the past, such as “shell shock” during the years of World War I and “combat fatigue” after World War II, but PTSD does not just happen to combat veterans. PTSD can occur in all people, of any ethnicity, nationality or culture, and at any age. 

People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. 

They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people.

 People with PTSD may avoid situations or people that remind them of the traumatic event, and they may have strong negative reactions to something as ordinary as a loud noise or an accidental touch.

• Re-living the traumatic event through distressing, unwanted memories, vivid nightmares and/or flashbacks. This can also include feeling very upset or having intense physical reactions such as heart palpitations or being unable to breathe when reminded of the traumatic event.

• Avoiding reminders of the traumatic event, including activities, places, people, thoughts or feelings that bring back memories of the trauma.
• Negative thoughts and feelings such as fear, anger, guilt, or feeling flat or numb a lot of the time. A person might blame themselves or others for what happened during or after the traumatic event, feel cut-off from friends and family, or lose interest in day-to-day activities.
• Feeling wound-up. This might mean having trouble sleeping or concentrating, feeling angry or irritable, taking risks, being easily startled, and/or being constantly on the lookout for danger.
• It is not unusual for people with PTSD to experience other mental health problems as well, like depression or anxiety. Some people may develop a habit of using alcohol or drugs as a way of coping.

Counselling can be beneficial to individuals & couples who are looking to strengthen their emotional connection, in all stages of their relationship. Online sessions are held from the safety of your own home with both couples at a time that is convenient for you through our easy scheduling platform.