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Feeling weighed down doesn't have to be your normal.
Depression can feel like a persistent heaviness that pulls you down.
Or wading through thick mud just to get through the day.
A persistent darkness you can't seem to shake, or a harsh inner critic that constantly tells you that you are worthless.
When you live with depression, it can feel like your system is stuck in a state of shutdown. It can be an incredibly isolating experience.
Our therapists understand how depression shows up in daily life. For you, maybe it's the:
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overwhelming sadness that comes out of nowhere,
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heavy fog or numbness you don't even understand,
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feeling of being a ghost just watching the world pass by, or
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functioning without feeling much of anything.
Our job is to sit with you in that space and help you find your way back to connection with yourself, and with the life you want to live.
Your Guide to Depression Therapy
Jump to:
What is depression, really?
Depression is a persistent sadness or numbness that interferes with your ability to function or enjoy life.
It's a survival strategy designed to protect you from overwhelming pain, grief, or stress.
When your mind perceives a feeling or experience as too much, it can trigger a physical response of exhaustion, heaviness, and low energy.
For many people, this system gets stuck in the shutdown position, even when the original threat has passed.
Sometimes our bodies learn that the safest way to cope is to shut down all feeling.
Depression can leave you numb and running on empty, so you lose interest in activities you used to enjoy, and withdraw from others.
Therapy helps you learn to work with your emotions so you can feel connected in your body again.
Are you experiencing depression?
Depression can show up many different ways. It can look different for everyone, but there are some common signs.
Emotional Symptoms:
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Feeling persistent sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness
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Losing interest or pleasure from activities you used to enjoy
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Feeling irritable, on-edge, or easily frustrated
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Feeling worthless, low self-esteem, or excessive guilt
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Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Physical Symptoms:
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Significant changes in appetite or weight
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Sleep problems, like sleeping too much or not enough
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Chronic fatigue, low energy, or restlessness
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Feeling physically slowed down in your speech or movements
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Unexplained headaches, digestive issues, or chronic pain
Behavioral Symptoms:
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Withdrawing from family, friends, and social situations
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Crying easily, or feeling like you want to cry but can't
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Loss of interest in work, hobbies, or sexual activity
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Finding it difficult to start or complete your daily routines
Sadness is a normal human emotion, but depression can affect how you think, feel, and act at home, school, or work.
What causes depression?
Depression is a complex experience caused by a mix of your past experiences, current life stress, and biology.
Your body has learned to shut down for a reason.
Our job in therapy is to compassionately explore how your nervous system learned to cope this way, and what's keeping you stuck in the off position.
Some common contributing factors include:
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Past Experiences: A history of trauma, growing up in a harsh home, or experiencing neglect or loss can teach your body that shutting down is the safest way to cope.
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Current Life Stressors: Chronic work stress, financial worries, relationship conflict, or loneliness can exhaust your system and lead to a protective shutdown strategy.
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Biological Factors: Physical illness, chronic pain, and changes in your brain chemistry can play a role, and depression can also run in families.
Your relationship with your therapist is a powerful way to help you understand your experience of depression.
How do you know when you need therapy for depression?
Therapy is helpful when your mood interferes with your daily life, or you feel trapped or lost.
You might tell yourself it's not that bad, you're just tired, or you should be able to get over this on your own.
Depression might tell you things are hopeless or there is no point.
That deep-seated feeling of shame is often the clearest sign it's time to reach out.
We know you want to be present and connected with your family and friends, but if you feel like you are watching your life instead of living it, trapped behind a glass wall, or unable to truly engage or feel joy, therapy can help.
Here are other signs it might be a good time to seek support:
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You have thoughts of suicide or not wanting to live anymore
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You feel numb, empty, or weighed down most of the time
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You are withdrawing from friends, family, and activities
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You are tired of feeling worthless or listening to an inner critic
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You feel like you are just going through the motions
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You have difficulty keeping up with work or daily routines
We understand the very idea of finding a therapist can feel overwhelming and exhausting. You don't have to do this alone.
How can therapy help you with depression?
Therapy helps you change your relationship with depression and gently move toward connection and meaning.
The goal of depression therapy is not to be happy.
We believe your depression is a protective response. That hopeless and heavy feeling is a signal from your body. Our job is to help you listen to what it’s trying to tell you in a safe, compassionate space.
Our goal is to help you build a life that feels worth living.
Therapy for depression can help you:
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Feel heard, understood, and less alone
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Gently reconnect with your body and your emotions
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Soothe your inner critic and build self-worth
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Understand the roots of your shutdown response
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Rediscover a sense of energy, meaning, or hope
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Develop practical skills to cope on the difficult days
You do not have to carry this weight by yourself. Our role is to help you find your way back to yourself, one step at a time.
What therapy approaches work best for depression?
We collaborate with you to find the best approach that feels safe, respectful, and effective for your needs.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to depression.
Together, we explore where you feel stuck and create a plan that feels right for you.
We often draw from several research-backed approaches:
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When you are stuck in your head (thoughts): If you struggle with a harsh inner critic or thoughts of worthlessness, we use approaches like CBT or DBT to help you reframe difficult thoughts, or Narrative Therapy to help you externalize the depression and re-author your own story.
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When you are stuck in your body (feelings): If you feel numb, weighed down, or disconnected from your body, we use a bottom-up approach like Attachment-Based Therapy to build a safe relationship where you can process painful emotions, or Somatic Therapy to gently release heavy shutdown energy and safely reconnect with your body.
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When you are stuck in the past (memories): If your depression is connected to past trauma, significant loss, or difficult childhood experiences, EMDR Therapy or Trauma-Sensitive Therapy address the root causes to help you reprocess the traumatic events and heal.
Our therapists are trained in multiple, evidence-based models so we can work with your unique experiences and preferences.
To learn more, explore our full Approaches to Therapy library.
What happens in depression therapy?
Therapy is a collaborative process where we move at a pace that feels safe for you.
We understand that just showing up is a huge step, especially when you feel exhausted or hopeless.
There is no pressure to be ready or to have all the answers.
Our first priority is to create a space where you feel safe, seen, and heard.
Here is what you can expect:
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The First Session (Starting Where You Are): Your first session is a conversation where we talk about what is bringing you in and what your life looks like right now. We get to know you as a person, not a list of symptoms.
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Building Your Foundation (Resourcing): In the early sessions, we focus on building a foundation of safety to help you find tools for the hard days. We might create a safety plan, find small ways to get through the day, or identify what makes things feel slightly more bearable.
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Going Deeper (Finding Your Version of Okay): Once you feel safe and resourced, we can start to explore what is underneath the numbness. We help you reconnect with yourself, your values, and your world.
Whether you join us for In-Person or Walk & Talk Therapy in Calgary or Online from anywhere in Alberta, our goal is to create a space where you feel safe enough to heal.
Meet our featured Depression Therapists
Depression is a common reason people seek therapy, and every member of our team is trained to support you through it.
Below, you can meet a few of our therapists who have a specific passion for working with depression and who are currently accepting new clients.
CERTIFIED CANADIAN COUNSELLOR
I offer a compassionate, somatic approach for those whose depression shows up as overwhelm, tension, or people-pleasing, helping you heal relational wounds and reconnect with yourself.
REGISTERED PROVISIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
I offer a grounded, safe space for BIPOC individuals whose depression is connected to racial trauma, discrimination, or feeling hopeless, helping you find a new sense of self-worth and control.
CERTIFIED CANADIAN COUNSELLOR
I offer warm, trauma-informed care for individuals whose depression is rooted in trauma, grief, chronic pain, or caregiver fatigue, helping you feel safe, seen, and supported as you heal.
Why does life feel so hard right now?
Living in Alberta comes with heavy weights to carry.
Sometimes the relentless pace says that you are not doing enough, that you are falling behind, or that your worth is tied to your productivity.
Calgary's high expectations, economic uncertainty, and constant pressure to perform can fuel burnout and be a significant source of depression.
When it's hard to get outside, that shutdown feeling can intensify, leaving you feeling isolated, lethargic, and cut off from the world. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. You might notice a shift in your mood during our long, dark winters with short days and narrow windows of sunlight.
Our therapists understand these local pressures because we live here too.
We believe healing is about giving yourself permission to slow down. You can reclaim quiet moments of genuine connection, find small ways to feel joy again, and reconnect at your own pace, not at the pace the world demands.
We are here to help you navigate this environment, resist the burnout, and find a more compassionate, sustainable way to live.
We are here to help you find your way back to that feeling of hope.
What's the first step to starting depression therapy?
It's okay to need help.
We know the first step can feel like the hardest one.
You do not need to do anything to be ready, and you do not need to have any answers.
If you know which therapist you want to see, the next step is simple. You can book a free 20-minute consultation to see if it feels like a good fit.
A consultation is just a conversation. No pressure. No commitment.
If you don't know who you want to see, you can book based on availability or contact us to help you choose.
Our therapists offer daytime, evening, and weekend appointments to fit your lifestyle.
Common Questions About Depression Therapy
What if I’m having thoughts of suicide?
Please know that you matter and support is available right now. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. For compassionate, 24/7 support, you can call the Distress Centre Calgary at 403-266-4357, or visit our Crisis and Distress Services page for more resources. Therapy can help you find relief and safety.
How do I know if I have depression or just sadness?
Sadness is a normal human emotion. According to AHS, depression is persistent (at least 2 weeks), interferes with daily life, and is accompanied by physical symptoms and a loss of interest in usual activities.
What if I'm too depressed or exhausted to even start therapy?
The first step can feel impossible, especially if you've already tried to find a therapist. We make it as simple as possible. Your first step is just a 20-minute phone or video consultation from your own home.
Do you offer direct billing?
Yes, many of our therapists direct bill most insurance companies. If we can't direct bill your plan, we give you a receipt for reimbursement. Learn more on our Insurance for Therapy in Calgary & Alberta page.
How much does therapy cost?
Our fees follow the Psychologists' Association of Alberta Recommended Fee Schedule. Rates vary depending on the therapist's credentials and are listed on our Fees & Payment Policies page.
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
No, you don't need a referral to see a private therapist at Therapy Alberta. However, some insurance plans may require a doctor's note for reimbursement, so it's a good idea to check your benefit plan details.
Can you prescribe medication for depression?
No, our therapists do not prescribe medication. However, medication can be a helpful tool, and we can work collaboratively with your family doctor or psychiatrist who can prescribe medication for depression.
Is therapy effective without medication?
Yes, therapy is a highly effective treatment on its own. For many people with mild to moderate depression, research shows therapy can be as effective as medication. We support whatever path feels right for you.
Do you offer online depression therapy?
Yes, we offer secure video therapy to anyone in Alberta. Online therapy for depression is convenient and effective and allows you to do the work from the safety and comfort of your own space. The best therapist to meet your needs might live in a different area. Sometimes the distance makes it a little easier to connect.
If you have more questions about therapy or the process, visit our FAQ page or contact us.
