Online therapy across Ontario
Depression Therapy
Has everything started to feel like hard work, even the things you used to enjoy? Therapy can help lift the low mood, so daily life feels lighter again.
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Signs of depression
Do you feel like you’re just going through the motions?
Depression can creep in slowly. You might lose interest in things you used to love, feel tired no matter how much you sleep, or find that even small tasks take everything you’ve got.
It can follow stress, burnout, a loss, a big life change or a health problem, and sometimes there’s no clear reason at all. Many people keep functioning on the outside while feeling empty or hopeless inside.
It’s okay to ask for help before things get worse.
Why it happens
Depression often has more than one cause
About 1 in 13 Canadians aged 15 and older had a major depressive episode in 2022, up from about 1 in 21 ten years earlier.[1] (source, opens in a new tab) Depression usually comes from a mix of what’s happening now, what’s happened before and how your body is coping.
Stress that won’t let up
Long stretches of pressure at work or home can slowly wear down your energy and mood.
Loss and big changes
A breakup, a death, a move or a new role can shake your sense of who you are and where you fit.
Older hurts
Past trauma or harsh messages you grew up with can feed self-criticism and hopelessness.
How therapy helps
Get your energy and interest in life back
Therapy helps you understand what’s keeping the low mood in place and gives you practical ways to lift it. We start small, because when you’re depressed, small steps count.
Lift your mood
Notice the patterns that keep you stuck, and build small routines that help your mood start to lift.
Quiet self-criticism
Ease the harsh inner voice and the guilt, and start treating yourself the way you’d treat a friend.
Reconnect with people
Feel less alone, and more able to reach out to and enjoy the people who matter most to you.
Rebuild motivation
Find your way back to the activities and goals you care about, one small, manageable step at a time.
Work through the past
Untangle past losses, hurts or trauma that may be quietly feeding the low mood today.
Our approach
Well-studied therapy, at a pace that feels manageable
Sessions are warm and down to earth, and we go slowly when you need to. We draw on CBT to shift harsh thinking, ACT to reconnect with what matters to you, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) when depression is tied to relationships, change or loss.
Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C)
Postpartum Support International
EMDRIA Certified Therapist
EMDR International Association
A plan built around you
We draw from several approaches and shape a plan around your goals, rather than a one-size-fits-all program.
Help with what’s underneath
If past experiences are feeding how you feel now, EMDR can help those memories settle and lose their charge.
Sessions anywhere in Ontario
Sessions are by secure video, so you can join from home or another private space. Saturday appointments are available too.
Nicole Graff-Rowe
MSW, RSW · PMH-C · EMDRIA Certified Therapist
- Online sessions, anywhere in Ontario
- Based in Waterloo Region
- No referral needed
About your therapist
Hi, I’m Nicole, a Registered Social Worker and EMDR Certified Therapist
I started Nurtured Family Counselling so people have somewhere to say the hard things out loud without being judged. Here, you can stop holding it all together for an hour.
I want to understand your history, your struggles and your story, and help you move forward in a way that’s rooted in your own values and goals.
My goal is to give you a supportive space to gain clarity and build resilience, so you can begin to feel more like yourself again.
FAQ
Questions people ask before booking
It’s normal to have questions before reaching out. If yours isn’t here, you can send us a message.
Is it depression or just a rough patch?
Everyone has low days. If the low mood, tiredness or loss of interest has lasted two weeks or more and is getting in the way of daily life, it’s worth talking to someone.
Can therapy help if I don’t know why I’m depressed?
Yes. You don’t need to know the cause to start. Part of therapy is figuring out what’s keeping the low mood going.
What if I don’t have the energy for therapy?
That’s common with depression. Sessions are online, so you can join from home, and we keep the first steps small and manageable.
Do I have to take medication?
No. Therapy can help whether or not you take medication. Decisions about medication are made with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or psychiatrist.
Do you help with depression during pregnancy or after a baby?
Yes. Depression in pregnancy and after birth is a big part of our practice. You can read more about postpartum depression.
Is therapy covered by insurance?
Many workplace health plans cover therapy with a Registered Social Worker, and you don’t need a referral to book. Fees, receipts and how to check your coverage are on the Fees and insurance page.
Get started
Depression is treatable.
You don’t need the right words or a plan before reaching out. We can talk about how things have been and what might help.
Book a Free Consultation (opens in a new tab)