If you have been feeling depressed and you are looking for help, you are in the right place. Maybe you are struggling to get out of bed in the morning. You might notice that you are spending nearly all of your time off from work either sleeping, or “vegging out” You might also be feeling irritable, lashing out at others, or having difficulty sleeping. 

Sometimes depression physically hurts. You may notice headaches, body aches, stomach problems, or just a general sense of feeling heavy and drained. Crying spells and thoughts of hopelessness are not uncommon with depression. Maybe this is the first time you have felt like this, or maybe you have been through this before and you know it is time to do something about it.

There are many different reasons a person can become depressed and there are many different ways the symptoms show up. What is really important is that if you are feeling these things, it is time to get help. At Shift Counseling, PC, all of our therapists are experienced with treating depression and we can help you find the path to recovery that works for you.

Our therapists accept several types of insurance, provide in person and telehealth services, and have convenient appointment times available. We often can have your first appointment scheduled within a week of your reaching out.

How does therapy help with depression?

Talking to someone who is genuinely interested in understanding you and helping you can actually do a lot to help you feel unburdened. After a good first therapy meeting, people often say they feel “lighter.” It feels good to get things off your chest, but that is just the beginning of how things can change.

After you have a chance to let it all out and feel understood by your therapist, they will help you figure out what parts of the problem you have control over, and start working on a plan of action. This can mean learning coping skills, learning to reframe negative thoughts, setting limits, learning better ways to be kind to yourself, etc. As you start to apply the things you learn in therapy in your life outside of session, you will start to see changes and you will feel less hopeless. Over time, if you keep working at it, you will get better and better at making the changes that really make a difference in your life.

What is different about the therapists at Shift Counseling, PC?

We do not believe in burnout culture at Shift Counseling, PC. As caretakers, we also take care of ourselves by having boundaries and not seeing excessive numbers of clients. Our therapists have the time and emotional energy available to be present with you. You are not “bothering them” and you are not “wasting their time.” These are often fears that we hear from people who are seeking help but also struggling with the fear that they don’t deserve it. 

You don’t have to justify to us that you “deserve” help. Yes, there are others out there who may have it worse.  But if you are not feeling like yourself and we are happy to get help to get back on track. Then there is one less person in pain in this world and we see that as a wonderful thing. We also know the positive effect that healed people can have on those around them. Getting help for yourself often has a positive impact on others, as well.

What types of people do you help at Shift Counseling, PC?

We specialize in providing individual counseling for adults, young adults, and teens. Our therapists are from diverse cultural backgrounds and all of our therapists work with clients from backgrounds similar to, and different than their own. We have therapists who specialize in treating women’s issues and men’s issues.

All of our therapists are In Network with BCBS PPO, Blue Choice PPO, Most Aetna PPO plans (but not Aetna Better Health) and most Cigna/Evernorth plans.

How long does it take to get treatment for depression?

Sometimes people need short term help while they work through a temporary stressor that is causing their depression. Othertimes, therapy for depression is a longer journey as people unpack family issues, learn to manage a chronic illness, or slowly work their way out of an unhealthy relationship. Whether your path to recovery is long or short, we look forward to helping you find your way.

Begin Counseling for Depression in Chicago

Getting started with a depression therapist is easy. Our North Riverside, IL counseling practice is convenient to multiple areas of Chicagoland including Riverside, La Grange Park, Brookfield, Broadview, and more. If you’re ready to begin, simply follow these steps:

1. Reach out to schedule an initial therapy consultation.

2. Begin working with a skilled depression therapist like Saima Shaik, Nicole Powell, or Noel Cordova

3. Take back your life and thrive!

Keep scrolling if you would like to learn more about how we treat depression at Shift Counseling, PC

How do I know if I am depressed? 

Often, depression can be self-diagnosed. Individuals know that they aren’t feeling like themselves. There is often a pervasive feeling of sadness. They may feel tired, achy, lack motivation, want to be alone, find themselves lashing out at family and friends, having crying spells or struggling to function at school/work. Everyone’s experience of depression can be different. Here are some things to look out for: 

Common symptoms of depression include: 

*Crying spells 

*feelings of hopelessness 

*suicidal thoughts 

*lack of interest in things that the person used to enjoy

*isolating from family and friends 

*sabotaging relationships 

*Appetite disturbances (lack of appetite or increased appetite, sometimes with significant change in weight) 

*difficulty falling or staying asleep 

*early morning awakening or difficulty getting out of bed *fatigue during the day 

*feeling down on themselves 

*not showering or keeping home clean 

*feeling too tired to follow up on self-care 

*over use of substances

*irritability 

*rumination (going over negative subjects in their mind over and over) 

*feeling overwhelmed 

*difficulty concentrating 

*procrastination 

*negative thinking about themselves and others 

To meet criteria for a diagnosis of a depressive disorder, these symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. 

What if therapy progress stalls? 

If you are feeling like you are not making the progress that you were hoping for. Or feeling like you are not quite on the right path, please mention this to your therapist. This is actually really helpful feedback and our therapists are glad to hear how clients are feeling about their progress.

We are not going to be angry or frustrated with you. This as an opportunity to explore needs, and fine tune our approach. These conversations are usually quite fruitful and often improve therapy outcomes. 

What about using medication to help treat depression?

Sometimes medication is helpful, but it is not always necessary. At Shift Counseling, PC, our approach is medication neutral- If a client is interested in trying medication services in addition to therapy, we fully support this. If not, that is OK, too. We have no prescribers at our office, but we can provide referrals to people who provide this service.

The only time we might strongly encourage someone to use medications is if their symptoms are so severe that they are having a hard time taking care of themselves, or their behavior is putting themselves or others in danger. Everyone’s road to wellness is different. Using medication does not mean that a person is not trying hard enough in therapy or not doing enough to manage their symptoms between sessions. 

We do not believe in shaming people for using or not using medications. We understand that mental health issues have a variety of root causes including genetics, differences in brain structure, previous trauma history, and current contributing factors.

Young Adults with Depression

Young Adulthood is often a time of great turmoil. Most young adults are are going through difficult experiences that will challenge them. How a Young Adult gets through these experiences can define how they see themselves now and later in life. Much like trust, self-esteem is earned, not given. Young adults deserve our compassion and encouragement so they can begin to see themselves as capable. 

Many Young Adults don’t feel good enough, even if this is not objectively true. Even the smartest and strongest Young Adults will fail sometimes. The therapists at Shift Counseling, PC recognize the unique challenges Young Adults face, and can help clients recognize their own strengths, reframe mistakes as learning experiences, and overcome failures.

Other Services Offered in Chicago, IL

Shift Counseling, PC specializes in treating adults and with mental health concerns with a variety of techniques. We offer PTSD and Trauma Therapy, Young Adult Focused Therapy, and Anxiety Therapy online or in person.

If you have been feeling depressed and you are looking for help, you are in the right place. Maybe you are struggling to get out of bed in the morning. You might notice that you are spending nearly all of your time off from work either sleeping, or “vegging out” You might also be feeling irritable, lashing out at others, or having difficulty sleeping. 

Sometimes depression physically hurts. You may notice headaches, body aches, stomach problems, or just a general sense of feeling heavy and drained. Crying spells and thoughts of hopelessness are not uncommon with depression. Maybe this is the first time you have felt like this, or maybe you have been through this before and you know it is time to do something about it.

There are many different reasons a person can become depressed and there are many different ways the symptoms show up. What is really important is that if you are feeling these things, it is time to get help. At Shift Counseling, PC, all of our therapists are experienced with treating depression and we can help you find the path to recovery that works for you.

Our therapists accept several types of insurance, provide in person and telehealth services, and have convenient appointment times available. We often can have your first appointment scheduled within a week of your reaching out.

How does therapy help with depression?

Talking to someone who is genuinely interested in understanding you and helping you can actually do a lot to help you feel unburdened. After a good first therapy meeting, people often say they feel “lighter.” It feels good to get things off your chest, but that is just the beginning of how things can change.

After you have a chance to let it all out and feel understood by your therapist, they will help you figure out what parts of the problem you have control over, and start working on a plan of action. This can mean learning coping skills, learning to reframe negative thoughts, setting limits, learning better ways to be kind to yourself, etc. As you start to apply the things you learn in therapy in your life outside of session, you will start to see changes and you will feel less hopeless. Over time, if you keep working at it, you will get better and better at making the changes that really make a difference in your life.

What is different about the therapists at Shift Counseling, PC?

We do not believe in burnout culture at Shift Counseling, PC. As caretakers, we also take care of ourselves by having boundaries and not seeing excessive numbers of clients. Our therapists have the time and emotional energy available to be present with you. You are not “bothering them” and you are not “wasting their time.” These are often fears that we hear from people who are seeking help but also struggling with the fear that they don’t deserve it. 

You don’t have to justify to us that you “deserve” help. Yes, there are others out there who may have it worse.  But if you are not feeling like yourself and we are happy to get help to get back on track. Then there is one less person in pain in this world and we see that as a wonderful thing. We also know the positive effect that healed people can have on those around them. Getting help for yourself often has a positive impact on others, as well.

What types of people do you help at Shift Counseling, PC?

We specialize in providing individual counseling for adults, young adults, and teens. Our therapists are from diverse cultural backgrounds and all of our therapists work with clients from backgrounds similar to, and different than their own. We have therapists who specialize in treating women’s issues and men’s issues.

All of our therapists are In Network with BCBS PPO, Blue Choice PPO, Most Aetna PPO plans (but not Aetna Better Health) and most Cigna/Evernorth plans.

How long does it take to get treatment for depression?

Sometimes people need short term help while they work through a temporary stressor that is causing their depression. Othertimes, therapy for depression is a longer journey as people unpack family issues, learn to manage a chronic illness, or slowly work their way out of an unhealthy relationship. Whether your path to recovery is long or short, we look forward to helping you find your way.

Begin Counseling for Depression in Chicago

Getting started with a depression therapist is easy. Our North Riverside, IL counseling practice is convenient to multiple areas of Chicagoland including Riverside, La Grange Park, Brookfield, Broadview, and more. If you’re ready to begin, simply follow these steps:

1. Reach out to schedule an initial therapy consultation.

2. Begin working with a skilled depression therapist like Saima Shaik, Nicole Powell, or Noel Cordova

3. Take back your life and thrive!

Keep scrolling if you would like to learn more about how we treat depression at Shift Counseling, PC

How do I know if I am depressed? 

Often, depression can be self-diagnosed. Individuals know that they aren’t feeling like themselves. There is often a pervasive feeling of sadness. They may feel tired, achy, lack motivation, want to be alone, find themselves lashing out at family and friends, having crying spells or struggling to function at school/work. Everyone’s experience of depression can be different. Here are some things to look out for: 

Common symptoms of depression include: 

*Crying spells 

*feelings of hopelessness 

*suicidal thoughts 

*lack of interest in things that the person used to enjoy

*isolating from family and friends 

*sabotaging relationships 

*Appetite disturbances (lack of appetite or increased appetite, sometimes with significant change in weight) 

*difficulty falling or staying asleep 

*early morning awakening or difficulty getting out of bed *fatigue during the day 

*feeling down on themselves 

*not showering or keeping home clean 

*feeling too tired to follow up on self-care 

*over use of substances

*irritability 

*rumination (going over negative subjects in their mind over and over) 

*feeling overwhelmed 

*difficulty concentrating 

*procrastination 

*negative thinking about themselves and others 

To meet criteria for a diagnosis of a depressive disorder, these symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. 

What if therapy progress stalls? 

If you are feeling like you are not making the progress that you were hoping for. Or feeling like you are not quite on the right path, please mention this to your therapist. This is actually really helpful feedback and our therapists are glad to hear how clients are feeling about their progress.

We are not going to be angry or frustrated with you. This as an opportunity to explore needs, and fine tune our approach. These conversations are usually quite fruitful and often improve therapy outcomes. 

What about using medication to help treat depression?

Sometimes medication is helpful, but it is not always necessary. At Shift Counseling, PC, our approach is medication neutral- If a client is interested in trying medication services in addition to therapy, we fully support this. If not, that is OK, too. We have no prescribers at our office, but we can provide referrals to people who provide this service.

The only time we might strongly encourage someone to use medications is if their symptoms are so severe that they are having a hard time taking care of themselves, or their behavior is putting themselves or others in danger. Everyone’s road to wellness is different. Using medication does not mean that a person is not trying hard enough in therapy or not doing enough to manage their symptoms between sessions. 

We do not believe in shaming people for using or not using medications. We understand that mental health issues have a variety of root causes including genetics, differences in brain structure, previous trauma history, and current contributing factors.

Young Adults with Depression

Young Adulthood is often a time of great turmoil. Most young adults are are going through difficult experiences that will challenge them. How a Young Adult gets through these experiences can define how they see themselves now and later in life. Much like trust, self-esteem is earned, not given. Young adults deserve our compassion and encouragement so they can begin to see themselves as capable. 

Many Young Adults don’t feel good enough, even if this is not objectively true. Even the smartest and strongest Young Adults will fail sometimes. The therapists at Shift Counseling, PC recognize the unique challenges Young Adults face, and can help clients recognize their own strengths, reframe mistakes as learning experiences, and overcome failures.

Other Services Offered in Chicago, IL

Shift Counseling, PC specializes in treating adults and with mental health concerns with a variety of techniques. We offer PTSD and Trauma Therapy, Young Adult Focused Therapy, and Anxiety Therapy online or in person.