Does it feel like a cloud hangs over you all the time, sapping your energy and motivation? Do you suffer from anxiety or depression? Do you feel bad about being depressed or anxious and beat yourself up for it?

Depression and anxiety are actually common experiences but for some people they are debilitating. When struggling with anxiety or depression, some people feel like:

• you can’t manage stress
• you feel sad, empty, or hopeless
• you are easily frustrated and irritable
• you feel nervous or restless
• you feel worthless or guilty, fixating on past failures or self-blame
• you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm
• you feel tired and lack energy, even for small tasks
• you have a loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
• you feel tense and have unexplained pain or physical symptoms
• you have difficulty controlling worry
• you can’t sleep or sleep too much
• you lose your appetite or overeat
• you can’t concentrate and struggle to make decisions

In therapy with me, we will look at the biological, psychological, and environmental factors that contribute to your depression or anxiety, so you understand what contributes to them. This is an important part of you getting perspective on yourself and your emotional life.

How therapy helps with anxiety and depression

Therapy will help you develop and refine different coping strategies and figure out which strategies are best for relieving your symptoms and improving your mood. Some types of problems require reframing one’s thoughts and emotions or active problem solving while other problems benefit more from a mindful, acceptance-oriented approach. Oftentimes, a combination of these approaches is the ideal coping strategy.

What therapy techniques are effective for anxiety and depression?

Mindfulness is now a component of many types of therapy, and it is central to my therapy approach. In addition to teaching clients mindfulness techniques, I also help clients understand mindfulness concepts such as a nonjudgmental attitude and letting go. Mindfulness is often the critical ingredient in clients finding a sense of calm and obtaining lasting improvements in their mood. I will help you get ahold of rumination and worry so they are no longer controlling you. In fact, you will learn to view rumination and worry as valuable teachers, a window into your mind that you can learn from. You will learn how to be curious about your mind and kind to yourself rather than beat yourself up.

Are you ready to feel better?