CLEAR LIGHT COUNSELLING
Face to Face and Online Counselling for Individuals and Couples
What is depression?
Depression can affect people in different ways. It can often involve persistent and overwhelming feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and it can feel impossible to be able to find any joy or happiness in most activities. It goes beyond normal feelings of sadness or temporary mood fluctuations and can significantly impact your daily life, including your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and enjoy life. Many people with depression can also show signs of anxiety. It can feel as if there is no hope and that life will always be this way. At it’s very worst, it can lead to people feeling as if life is no longer worth living. The important thing is, you don’t have to suffer on your own. Reaching out to someone to talk can help you through what can feel like the darkest of times
Symptoms of Depression
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Persistent Depressed Mood: You may find yourself in a long-lasting low mood that lasts longer than usual temporary sadness.
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Loss of Interest or Pleasure: You may find it difficult to find interest or pleasure in activities that you used to find enjoyable.
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Fatigue and Low Energy: You may feel a constant feeling of tiredness or a lack of energy, even after a good nights sleep.
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Changes in Appetite or Weight: You may find yourself having significant changes in appetite, leading to weight gain or loss.
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Sleep disturbances: You may start to suffer from insomnia or oversleeping, along with other sleep-related issues.
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Feelings of Worthlessness or Guilt: You may start having excessive feelings of guilt, self blame, or worthlessness.
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Difficulty Concentrating: You may start to find it difficult to concentrate, make decisions, or remember things.
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Physical Symptoms: Some people with depression may experience physical symptoms like headaches or digestive problems.
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Suicidal Thoughts: In severe cases, depression may lead to thoughts of death or suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing such thoughts, it is crucial to seek immediate help. Details for the Samaritans can be found on their website https://www.samaritans.org/ and you can call them on 116 113
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Some of the ways counselling can help
Emotional Support: One of the primary benefits of counselling is the emotional support it can provide. In my work, I create a non-judgmental and empathetic space where you can hopefully feel safe express your emotions and feelings without fear of criticism
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Identifying and Understanding Causes or Contributing Issues: Together we can help you identify the underlying causes or issues that might have led to your feelings of depression. This may involve exploring past experiences, relationships, or life event. It can sometimes feel difficult to do but greater understanding can be a crucial step forward.
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Developing Coping Strategies: Over time we can look at how you might develop effective coping strategies. These strategies may include relaxation techniques and way to handle difficult emotions.
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Setting Realistic Goals: Depression can often lead to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. It can sometimes help to set achievable goals, both short-term and long-term, which can provide a sense of purpose and motivation.
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Helping look to the future: Even if, you start to feel more hopeful in the present, some people worry about how they might respond to life's ups and downs in the future. We can look at your worries and fears together and look at the strengths you will have found to help you cope in the future.
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Provide a Supportive Relationship: The relationship itself between you and your counsellor can be healing. That relationship, and trust built, can be a source of comfort and motivation for building relationships in the future and in building your own self-esteem and self worth.
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The Benefit of an Integrated Approach
As an integrative counsellor, I am able to use a variety of counselling approaches and create bespoke therapy that is specific to you. Whilst my core approach is to provide a safe space where I encourage you to explore your emotions, thoughts, and behaviours in a non-judgemental and empathetic way. I am also able to draw on other theories and approaches to help tailor the therapy to your specific needs.
Next Steps...
Please complete the Contact Me section and I will respond as quickly as possible. I am happy to have an initial 15 minute free telephone call and if you would like to proceed then we can set up an initial appointment. My What to Expect page can help you understand what your counselling journey might look like.