MY SPECIALTIES
Depression Therapy
Have You Been Feeling Empty Or Unfulfilled In Life?
Are you feeling “off,” tired, overwhelmed, or unmotivated?
Do you have nagging thoughts of not being good enough no matter how successful you are or how much you’ve achieved in your life/career/business?
Do you often find yourself saying “yes” to things you don’t want to do to avoid feeling guilty or bad about yourself?
Maybe you find yourself worrying a lot about what other people think of you, so you strive to make everyone happy—even at your own expense. Perhaps you have trouble feeling present in the moment because you’re always worrying that you’re not doing enough. Despite all of your efforts, you still feel a bit empty inside, disconnected and exhausted. This has been nagging you for a long time and you’re thinking that maybe professional guidance could help.
Depression Often Goes Hand In Hand With Overwork And Burnout
When you’re in a constant cycle of overworking, overdoing, and people-pleasing, depression and burnout can follow. And when you’re in one of the stages of burnout, you may find yourself asking questions like, “Why am I doing all of this, anyway? What am I really striving for?”
Sometimes you might feel like you don’t even know who you are—you’re so preoccupied with accomplishing things and saying yes to people that you have no room in your life for much else.
Over time, the need to be constantly productive can lead to a state of emotional disconnection and difficulty regulating your emotions. It’s like you’re not in tune with your feelings, values, or what you really want in life. Even your relationships may suffer, as you’re unable to feel present with the people you love.
Thankfully, there is another way to live. As a therapist who specializes in working with high-achieving, goal-oriented people, I’m confident that I can help you manage your depression symptoms and live a more balanced and purpose-driven life.
Have any questions? Send me a message!
Our Culture Prioritizes Hard Work Over Happiness
We live in a fast-paced, success-crazed society that honors hard work above all else. Our “sleep when I’m dead” culture has created generations of people who put achievement and productivity above happiness, joy, and fulfilling relationships. There is such a constant drive to succeed and prove yourself that many people are afraid to slow down, rest, and take breaks. It just doesn’t feel safe to do that.
For women and minorities, these problems tend to be even worse, since they feel like they have more to prove. After all, they often have to work twice as hard as men to merit the same rewards in the corporate world. Additionally, many of them struggle with trauma responses because of past abuse or discrimination, which only exacerbates their need to overextend and prove themselves. This creates another layer of healing to address in therapy.
Entrepreneurs And High-Achievers Have Unusually High Rates Of Mental Health Issues
Many of my clients are high-achieving professionals who have founded their own startups or worked their way into corporate leadership roles. And although it isn’t talked about much in our culture, there is currently a mental health epidemic among entrepreneurs and leaders. In fact, a recent study found that entrepreneurs suffer from depression at nearly twice the rate of the average person, and they are more likely to be diagnosed with a wide range of mental health issues.*
Unfortunately, many leaders and CEOs struggle with their mental health in silence, because they live in a culture that tells them to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and push through challenges alone. Therapy is a chance to reframe this mindset and learn that it’s okay to practice self-care and lean on others for support.
*There is a mental health crisis in entrepreneurship. Here’s how to tackle it | World Economic Forum
Therapy Can Give You The Tools To Overcome Depression And Forge A New Identity
Over the years, many clients who’ve come to me seeking relief for depression have already tried many different medications and forms of therapy. Rarely have they ever done deeper work to uncover the root of their challenges. They usually try to overcome depression through achievement and are incredibly hard on themselves to get things done.
In therapy, what we’re doing is peeling back the layers of perfectionism and people-pleasing that you may have devised to protect yourself from feelings of rejection, feelings of not being good enough, and the pain of trauma. Together, we’ll explore what lies beneath the need to overextend yourself so that you can unlearn negative patterns of behavior and shape a new identity that excites you. The goal is not to scale back your ambitions or aspirations, but to allow more breathing space in your life and more room for self-care. When you do this, it becomes much easier to manage your depression symptoms.
Tailoring My Approach To Depression Treatment
Depression can show up on a spectrum and can be somewhat complicated to unravel. There can be many, many factors that play into a dysregulated mood (such as depression), and we will explore these factors together in therapy. Some of the main therapeutic approaches I draw from are listed below:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—So much of life is lived on autopilot. In fact, over 95 percent of what we do, feel, and think is unconscious. The goal of CBT is to help you raise your self-awareness so that you can identify unconscious patterns in your life and challenge the negative beliefs that you believe without thinking (such as “I have to keep overworking in order to prove myself”).
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction—Through mindfulness exercises like meditation and breathwork, you can learn to stay grounded when your depression symptoms arise. These activities not only address symptoms as they arise, but create a state of overall wellness.
Nervous System Regulation—Throughout counseling, I will teach you quick and easy nervous system regulation exercises so that you can feel safe, comfortable, and connected to your body.
Self-Compassion Work—Perfectionism is a big sticking point for high achievers. By increasing your self-compassion, you can learn to accept yourself for who you are and hold yourself to healthier and more realistic standards.
Through a combination of evidence-based approaches and compassionate support, I believe that I can empower you to live a life that is personally and professionally fulfilling. You do not have to continue an exhausting cycle of constantly feeling like you have to prove yourself. People will love you for who you are, not what you accomplish—but first, you have to feel grounded in who you are. Shedding layers of protection and the need to please others will allow you to finally enjoy your life and your relationships.
You May Have Some Questions About Depression Therapy…
Won’t talking about my issues in therapy just make things worse?
This is a common concern, but the truth is that avoiding your deepest thoughts and feelings won't make them go away. In fact, avoidance often leads to unhealthy patterns of behavior that don’t serve your higher self. I often tell my clients that the only way out is through—by exploring your challenges in a safe, supportive space with a counselor who understands how depression works, you can find long-lasting relief from your symptoms.
What if therapy costs too much?
Therapy is an investment in yourself and your long-term health that usually results in a happier and more joyful life. The skills and insights you will learn in therapy are not one and done, as you will take all that you learn with you for years to come. I encourage my clients to view our work together as a long-term investment not only in their own lives, but also in the lives of their future generations, as they take it upon themselves to break generational patterns of unhealthy behaviors.
What if my schedule is too full for therapy?
All of my clients are busy professionals (as am I), so I feel this one deeply. In the end, we all decide what our priorities are, and I believe that if we want something badly enough, we make time for it. Yes, creating space in our schedules for appointments can feel challenging, but I encourage you to focus on the possible outcomes of making that choice—more fulfilling relationships, an improved mood, and a more balanced life.
Another Way Of Life Is Possible
You don’t have to keep overworking yourself or burning yourself out to achieve happiness in life. With the right help and support, you can put the pain of the past behind you and learn to love yourself for who you are. To learn more about my approach to depression counseling, I invite you to book a complimentary consultation call (phone or Zoom).
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