Teen counselling and depression
For Teens
Depression can affect all areas of your life and can be really isolating, but it doesn't have to be this way.
What if you could experience the lows and instead of them spiraling down, they would flow through and away? You can live the life you want to live with great friendships and worthwhile experiences.
What if you could experience the lows and instead of them spiraling down, they would flow through and away? You can live the life you want to live with great friendships and worthwhile experiences.
Imagine you are a boat at sea (hopefully you don't have a fear of water!) and your feelings and thoughts are the weather. Some days the weather may be calm with blue skies and other days there may be storms with lightning and thunder. When Depression is around, it may feel like there are more storms than calm days.
Learning ways to anchor your boat will help you weather the times where the waves have been kicked up by harsh weather. It can be tempting to think “I just want the storm to Stop!” OR “I just want to get my boat out of here!”. The reality is you aren’t able to control the weather (your thoughts and feelings) and the amount of energy required to outrun the storm (run away from your thoughts and feelings) is exhausting and usually temporary. |
Getting a handle on depression starts with learning more about depression and responding to crisis (and feelings of hopelessness). Then learning how to identify and change unhelpful behaviours, building supportive relationships, and taking actions (even the teeniest ones) towards the life you want to live.
If you’re ready for Depression to loosen its grip on your life, send me a message and we can get started. I am a psychologist in Calgary who specializes in working with teen girls (and their parents).
If you want to know more about teen depression click here
If you want some tips on how you can take action now click here
For Parents
You’re worried about the constant sadness and crying spells. You know things just aren’t going well at school and you hear the sidebar comments about being ugly and stupid.
Everyone experiences low moods and difficult feelings at times and it can be hard to know what are typical teen experiences and what might be depression.
If you are noticing persistent changes in your teen’s emotions and behaviours such as:
You are noticing they are feeling overwhelmed and unable to manage their feelings, it may be more than just low mood. |
What if your teen (and you) could learn helpful ways to manage depression, even if you have been to see the doctor and tried many different things, and really start to feel alive again?
By exploring and building up:
Check out Help Guide's Parents guide to teen depression for helpful information on symptoms, differentiating between typical development and depression, and ways to support and be supported.
If you are needing some extra help for your teen who is struggling, give me a call. I am psychologist working with teen girls (and their parents) to help them build bulletproof mindsets. |