Depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is a common and serious mental illness that can have a negative impact on how a person feels, thinks, behaves, and sees the world. According to a 2023 national survey, almost three in ten adults (29%) have been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives, and about 18% are currently experiencing depression. Women are more likely than men, and younger adults are more likely than older adults to have depression. Although depression can happen at any age, it usually first appears during late teens to mid-20s.

Symptoms of depression can vary from mild to severe and might appear differently in each person. These symptoms can include:

• Feeling sad, irritable, empty and/or hopeless.
• Losing interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed.
• A significant change in appetite (eating much less or more than usual) and/or weight (notable loss or gain unrelated to dieting).
• Sleeping too little or too much.
• Decreased energy or increased tiredness or fatigue
• Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech that are severe enough to be observable by others.
• Feeling worthless or excessively guilty.
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating, forgetfulness, and/or difficulty making minor decisions.
• Thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempts.

Registered Clinical Counsellors are trained to help patients recover from depression with various proven psychotherapy approaches, especially for mild to moderate cases. Counselling can help people with depression to:

• Pinpoint life events that contribute to their depression and help them find ways to change, accept or adapt to those situations
• Set realistic goals for the future
• Identify distorted thought processes or unhelpful behaviours that contribute to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
• Develop skills to cope with symptoms and problems and identify or prevent future episodes of depression.

Therapists collaborate with patients to create personalized treatment plans. Psychotherapy helps patients cope with stress, manage depression symptoms, and improve functioning. Our counsellors will combine Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Trauma-Informed Practice, and other modalities to support you in your journey.

Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress. Mild levels of anxiety can be helpful in certain situations, as it can alert us to potential dangers and help us focus and prepare. However, anxiety disorders are different from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness, as they involve excessive fear or anxiety. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders, affecting nearly 30% of adults at some point in their lives. Luckily, anxiety disorders are treatable with various forms of psychotherapeutic treatments, and most people find that treatment helps them lead normal, productive lives.

Anxiety refers to the anticipation of future concerns and is more associated with muscle tension and avoidance behaviour.

Fear is an emotional response to an immediate threat. It is more associated with a fight-or-flight reaction—either staying to fight or leaving to escape danger.

Anxiety disorders can lead people to avoid situations that trigger or exacerbate their symptoms, impacting job performance, schoolwork, and personal relationships. To receive an anxiety disorder diagnosis, an individual must experience persistent and excessive fear or anxiety.

• Be out of proportion to the situation or be age-inappropriate
• Hinder their ability to function normally

There are several types of anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, specific phobias, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and selective mutism.