MOOD DISORDER & DEPRESSION THERAPY
When feeling better isn't as simple as trying harder.
Thoughtful psychotherapy for depression, persistent low mood, and difficult mood patterns.
Maybe you're getting through your days but no longer feel connected to them. Maybe motivation has disappeared, your emotions feel unpredictable, or the things that once mattered no longer bring the same sense of enjoyment.
At Théla, we take mood difficulties seriously, whether they fit a specific diagnosis or remain difficult to understand.
BOOK A CONSULTATION →In-person therapy in Markham · Virtual therapy across Ontario
You don't have to look like you're struggling for your experience to matter.
Support that looks beyond the surface.
UNDERSTANDING MOOD DIFFICULTIES
Depression doesn't always look like sadness.
For some people, depression involves persistent sadness or hopelessness. For others, it appears as irritability, emotional numbness, exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, or losing interest in things that once felt meaningful.
You may continue working, caring for others, and meeting responsibilities while feeling disconnected or depleted internally. Or everyday tasks may become increasingly difficult.
Mood difficulties can affect your thoughts, relationships, physical wellbeing, and sense of self. Understanding your particular experience is an important part of treatment.
WHAT YOU MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING
Sometimes the signs are easy to miss.
Mood-related concerns can affect people in different ways and may change over time.
01.
Persistent Low Mood
Feeling sad, empty, discouraged, or emotionally flat for extended periods.
02.
Loss of Interest
Activities, relationships, and accomplishments no longer bring the enjoyment or satisfaction they once did.
03.
Fatigue & Low Motivation
Feeling physically or mentally exhausted, struggling to initiate tasks, or finding ordinary responsibilities overwhelming.
04.
Irritability & Emotional Changes
Becoming more easily frustrated, emotionally sensitive, withdrawn, or overwhelmed.
05.
Self-Criticism & Hopelessness
Persistent guilt, feelings of worthlessness, negative self-beliefs, or difficulty imagining a different future.
06.
Sleep & Concentration Changes
Changes in sleep, appetite, memory, decision-making, or the ability to focus on everyday activities.
These experiences are not sufficient on their own to establish a diagnosis. Medical conditions, medications, sleep difficulties, and other factors may also contribute to changes in mood.
BEYOND DIAGNOSTIC LABELS
What if your mood doesn't fit a clear category?
Some people experience longstanding low mood. Others notice periods of improvement followed by recurring difficulties, without an obvious explanation.
Your experiences may be connected with depression, grief, trauma, chronic stress, physical health concerns, or other psychological factors.
Therapy can help identify patterns and explore what contributes to them, even when a diagnosis has not yet been established.
"I can function, but I don't really feel like I'm living."
Your outward functioning does not always reflect your internal experience.
UNDERSTANDING MOOD PATTERNS
Depression and bipolar disorders are not the same.
Understanding the nature and timing of mood changes can help guide appropriate treatment.
DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS
When low mood becomes persistent or recurring.
Depressive disorders can involve sustained low mood or loss of interest, alongside changes in energy, thinking, sleep, appetite, and functioning. Experiences vary in duration, severity, and recurrence.
BIPOLAR DISORDERS
When mood episodes also involve mania or hypomania.
Bipolar disorders involve episodes of mania or hypomania, which may include changes in energy, activity, sleep, thinking, and behaviour. Depressive episodes may also occur.
These episodes are different from ordinary day-to-day mood fluctuations and require careful assessment.
If you experience periods of unusually elevated or irritable mood, substantially reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts, or marked changes in activity or risk-taking, tell your healthcare provider. These symptoms may warrant psychiatric assessment.
OUR THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
How Théla approaches mood disorder therapy.
Treatment is collaborative and individualized, considering your symptoms, history, goals, and current circumstances.
01.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Identifying unhelpful thought patterns, behaviours, and beliefs that may contribute to depressive symptoms, while developing more adaptive responses.
02.
Behavioural Activation
Gradually rebuilding engagement with meaningful activities, routines, and relationships, even when motivation is limited.
03.
Existential & Meaning-Focused Therapy
Exploring identity, values, purpose, personal meaning, and the sense of disconnection that can accompany persistent low mood.
04.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Identifying existing strengths, available resources, and manageable steps toward meaningful change.
05.
Trauma-Informed Care
Exploring the relationship between mood difficulties, adverse experiences, chronic stress, and grief when relevant to your treatment.
06.
Collaborative Care
Supporting communication with physicians, psychiatrists, and other healthcare professionals, where appropriate and with your consent.
WHAT TO EXPECT
We begin by understanding your experience.
Your first sessions may focus on understanding when your symptoms began, how they have changed over time, and how they affect daily life.
Your therapist may explore sleep, energy, relationships, stress, medical history, and any previous mental health treatment.
Together, you can develop treatment goals and review progress as therapy continues.
Treatment may involve:
Identifying mood patterns and triggers
Understanding thoughts and emotional responses
Building sustainable routines
Developing coping and regulation skills
Addressing isolation and relationship difficulties
Monitoring progress and adjusting treatment
WHEN MOTIVATION IS MISSING
You don't always have to feel motivated before taking a step.
Depression can create a difficult cycle: low energy makes activities harder, withdrawal reduces opportunities for enjoyment or accomplishment, and mood may decline further.
Behavioural activation helps you identify small, realistic activities connected to your needs and values.
The goal isn't to pressure yourself into constant productivity. It's to rebuild engagement in ways that are manageable and meaningful.
PSYCHOTHERAPY & MEDICATION
Therapy can be part of a broader treatment plan.
Some people benefit from psychotherapy alone. Others may benefit from a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and additional healthcare support.
If you are taking medication, therapy can help you explore coping strategies, relationships, daily functioning, and emotional experiences alongside medical treatment.
Our psychotherapists do not prescribe or adjust medication. Medication decisions should be discussed with your physician or another qualified prescriber. With your consent, we can collaborate with your healthcare team when appropriate.
OUR CLINICAL TEAM
Meet your mood disorder therapists.
Our clinicians offer collaborative, individualized psychotherapy for depression and mood-related concerns.
CLINICAL DIRECTOR & PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Bonny
Offers psychotherapy for depression, persistent low mood, emotional regulation, and mood difficulties connected to trauma, grief, or life transitions.
In-person in Markham · Virtual across Ontario
BOOK WITH BONNY →REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST (QUALIFYING)
Jennifer Gibbons
MA, RP (Qualifying)
Supports clients experiencing depression, emotional distress, relationship concerns, and questions of identity and meaning.
Virtual appointments across Ontario
BOOK WITH JENNIFER →FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions about mood disorder therapy?
Do I need a diagnosis to begin therapy?
No. You can seek support for persistent low mood, recurring depressive symptoms, or concerning mood changes without an established diagnosis.
How is mood disorder therapy different from bipolar disorder therapy?
This page focuses primarily on depression and broader mood-related concerns. Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mania or hypomania and may require different treatment considerations, including psychiatric care.
Can therapy help if I'm functioning well but feel depressed?
Yes. External functioning does not necessarily reflect emotional wellbeing. Therapy can help explore persistent numbness, exhaustion, low enjoyment, and negative self-beliefs.
Can I attend therapy while taking antidepressants or other psychiatric medication?
Yes. Psychotherapy can complement medication management. Your prescribing clinician remains responsible for medication decisions.
What if I have periods of unusually high energy or very little need for sleep?
These experiences may have several possible explanations, including mania or hypomania. A clinical assessment can help clarify the pattern and determine whether psychiatric evaluation is needed.
How long does treatment take?
Treatment duration depends on your symptoms, history, goals, and response to therapy. Some people benefit from short-term treatment, while others prefer longer-term support.
Is therapy available virtually?
Yes. Bonny and Jennifer offer virtual mood disorder therapy across Ontario. Bonny also offers in-person sessions in Markham.
What if I'm not sure whether I'm depressed or simply overwhelmed?
You don't need to determine that before seeking help. Therapy can explore the duration, context, and impact of your symptoms, and identify when additional medical or psychiatric assessment may be helpful.
EXPLORE RELATED SUPPORT
Mood difficulties can overlap with other experiences.
If your symptoms are connected with loss, trauma, or other life experiences, you may also find these services helpful.
GRIEF & LOSS THERAPY TRAUMA & EMDR THERAPYA NOTE ON IMMEDIATE SUPPORT
When more immediate care is needed.
Mood disorders can sometimes involve significant impairment, thoughts of suicide, or symptoms requiring urgent psychiatric care.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency department. For suicide-related crisis support in Canada, call or text 9-8-8. Routine psychotherapy appointments are not a crisis response service.
BEGIN WITH A CONVERSATION
Your mood doesn't have to define your whole experience.
Whether you've been living with persistent depression or are trying to understand changes in your mood, we can help you explore what support may be appropriate.
BOOK A CONSULTATION CONTACT OUR TEAMQuestions? hello@thelaclinic.com
